Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
"They’ve installed new security cameras everywhere. We have new panic buttons installed in every private room and a safety protocol at the bar. No one's allowed to post to social media from the club anymore and they put a moratorium on any guests."
I laugh, polishing off my muffin. "And you guys think that has to do with little old me? What about this gorgeous woman over here?" I gesture toward Eden who shakes her head. "She's married to the owner, so obviously this probably has something to do with her, too."
Eden and Flo share a look that I don't quite understand.
"Have ya met Brick?" Flo says.
Eden shakes her head. "Brick?" I ask.
"His real name is Bruce,” Eden says. "Because he's actually descended from Bruce Lee. Yes, THE Bruce Lee."
"Ah… no, I have not met Bruce. Who is Bruce?"
Eden sighs. "She calls him Brick because of the way he's built."
"Built like a brick shithouse," Flo says with a grin. "He's the new enforcer here at the club. Only he's here to watch you, honey."
A little tremor runs through me. "How do you know that?"
Flo shrugs and takes a big bite of a cookie. "I asked him."
The door swings open and Marialena walks in, tossing her beautiful, brunette head.
"Babe, do you even ever go to that gorgeous mansion in Tampa?" Flo asks, affectionately giving Marialena’s perfect ass a little slap.
"Not when Salvatore isn’t home," Marialena says with a little pout. "It feels so empty without him there. And I love to travel, and you know how much I love my family."
"Yes, but you're not at The Castle with your mother, you're here with us."
She waves her hand in the air. "First, that's because I had to visit Rosa at the shop." Her older sister Rosa owns a retail shop in Boston. "But it's also because I heard our newlyweds were in town."
Eden opens the oven and takes out a large tray of cookies. I gasp. "Are those your triple chocolate chip? She does love me. She loves me!" I squeal.
Eden begins to slide them on a cooling rack. "Now don’t touch, Quinn, you're going to burn your fingers."
"Since when has the fear of being burned ever stopped me?"
"That's what I'm afraid of," Eden says. Is it my imagination, or is she holding something back from me?
"Hey, can we talk in private?" Flo and Marialena are having an in-depth discussion about the most expensive line of foundation a woman can wear, the need for getting rid of wrinkles around your eyes, and how to look youthful. They're both stunningly gorgeous, but fashion is their thing.
As soon as Eden and I step over the threshold of the kitchen door, I notice the whir of a camera. I look up to see a video camera overhead. I also notice the line of guards standing at all the entrances and watching my every move. If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't even know who they were and wouldn't give them a second thought. But I notice how they come to attention when I walk through the door.
I notice how they follow me when we walk down the hallway toward the other rooms lining the hallway.
I turn around and look at them. "Hey. Are you following me?"
"Of course,” one of the men says.
"Did my husband tell you to?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Call me ma'am again, and I'll report you to my husband." I would have to make something up, but it seems threatening them with Adriano is probably the best thing to do.
He immediately looks abashed. "So sorry, ma—so sorry."
I take Eden by the hand and open a door.
“I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to go in a room alone."
I spin back to them on my heel and demand, "Says who?"
"Says me." Apparently, Adriano is done checking in with Sergio.
“Ah. Just the man I was looking for. We need to have a talk."
"We do," he says tightly. Eden squeezes my hand and vanishes.
The door clicks shut, closing me and Adriano in a private room.
As soon as we're alone, he presses me up against the door. He pins my hands by my shoulders and keeps me in place with a knee on either side of one of mine. I can't move, and I love it.
"The only reason why I left you with Eden in the kitchen was because I had to talk to Sergio," he says, his mouth to my ear. "I do not like being apart from you."
Oh, boy. Intense much? But of course, I love that. He doesn't want to be away from me, he likes being near me. And I sure as hell like being near him. He smells so good, and honestly, once you get past that gruff nature, he’s kind of nice to be around.
"Remember, I told you not to fall in love with me," I admonish, wiggling a hand free and waving a finger at him, which is quickly pinned right back to my side again.