Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 48371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 242(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 242(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
It has nothing to do with Desiree, the luscious home healthcare nurse whose scent is still in my nostrils after I drove her home this morning.
And no, sadly, it wasn’t after spending a hot night tapping that juicy ass of hers. Her car wouldn’t start, and I insisted on calling a mechanic to fix it and driving her home myself.
See, she works for me. I hired her to be with my mom as she recovers from her hip surgery. She’s the fifth nurse I hired, and the only one who stuck. My mom can be a real bitch when she wants to, and who can blame her? The woman’s in pain. Anyway, Desiree has this way of giving it right back to my mom, while still taking care of her every need. Somehow, in the matter of twenty-four hours, she had my mom eating out of her hand.
If I didn’t fear I’d need her for my mom again in the future, I’d see how far she’s willing to take the personal service. See how she is at taking care of my needs.
Nico and Sondra come into the private box, along with Stefano and Corey and Tony’s mom, who I haven’t seen in years. I stand up and offer double kisses to the women, ignore my younger brothers.
“Where’s Tony?” I ask his mom.
“He’s backstage with Pepper, managing the show. Won’t let her out of his sight.” His ma is proud of him. If I weren’t wondering how the hell the toughest enforcer in the family got his balls cut off, I might think it was commendable, too. But we just lost one of our best assets to the Pepper Heart organization, so I’m a little grudging with my well-wishes.
Nico shoots me a suspicious look. He’s probably worried I’m gonna give Tony a hard time about leaving the organization. If Nico hadn’t fallen in love himself last year, he might’ve fought Tony’s request to leave. But he and Stefano are as hopelessly lost as Tony. Love has a curious habit of transforming the meanest men into something much more noble.
But I wouldn’t know.
Tony
I will never get tired of watching Pepper perform. Not if we did this every night until we’re ninety. Or I’m ninety and she’s seventy-something. My girl is a genius. And beautiful. And pure magic.
Tonight she has everyone eating out of her hand. I think there must be a special vibe at a charity event—more love going around than usual.
“Thank you, everyone,” she calls out after she finishes her song. “As you know, rape is an issue near and dear to my heart. I am a rape survivor.” The crowd rumbles, same as I do every time I think about what happened to her. “I’m here to take a stand against sexual assault. Will you join me?”
The crowd lets out ear-splitting cheers.
“One hundred percent of tonight’s proceeds go to benefit the non-profit organization Take Back the Night. I want to thank Bellissimo Hotel and Casino and the Tacone family for donating tonight’s venue and all of you for showing up and making a difference in women’s lives. Every time you stand up against sexual assault, you make the world a safer place, so thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
“I also want to say that I wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for two really important people in my life. The first one is Izzy, my stage manager, who knows that we women have to look out for each other.”
The crowd goes wild again.
“She’s had my back from the beginning, and I can’t express how grateful I am. The other is my boyfriend, Tony.” She smiles and looks in my direction, even though the lights blind her too much to see me. “We met here, at the Bellissimo. He’s the kinda guy who would do anything for the people he loves, and I count myself very lucky to be included on that list. I wrote this song for him. I hope you all enjoy it.”
She adjusts her electric guitar and starts playing. It’s not a song I’ve heard before
All I know, is you’re the one
who always stands with me.
And all I see, is when you’re here
I never need to go.
Stick around, and I’ll sink into you
Stick around, and I’ll never let you go.
I just want to be forever, be forever,
Be forever with you
I just want to know forever, know forever,
Know forever with you.
And baby if you want forever, want forever,
Want forever with me
You just gotta bring forever, bring forever
Bring forever, bring forever
My eyes are wet. One song was enough. Then I find out she’s written more. But this one? This one is ripping me bare.
And she keeps singing, her face lit up like a goddamn angel’s, rivaling the lights shining down.
When it’s over, the crowd flips out again and she takes a bow, blowing kisses before she hangs the guitar up and jogs offstage and into my arms.