Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 102566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
On the men's signal, the doors to the church are broken down.
I see Vitto first. Without thinking, I shoot. Once in each shoulder, enough to compromise him but not enough to kill. I'm not done with this bastard just yet.
He screams like a wounded fucking animal. His arms won't work and his gun uselessly clatters to the floor.
My men storm the church while a woman screams and the priest pulls her away, running off.
I don't try to stop them.
My attention is focused solely on the figure dresses in white lace. I can't see through her veil, but my heart is telling me it's my bambina. I've finally found her again, and this time, I'm not letting anything break us apart.
She slowly rises up from the floor.
I approach her with steps that are slow and measured despite—the world descending into chaos around us. I motion for my men to put down their guns and gently lift the veil from her face.
And there she is, my beautiful bambina.
"Marzia," I breathe. "I finally found you."
She presses her lips against mine and my arms gratefully wrap around her waist. I lift her up, holding her body close to mine as we share the deepest kiss we've ever had. I can taste and feel the tears dripping down my woman's face as we kiss. I can also hear Vitto's enraged screaming in the background.
I let her down a moment later, giving myself some time to closely inspect her. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"He tried, but he didn't…" She shakes her head, her voice trembling. "How did you find me?"
"The priest."
"Don't kill him."
"I won't." I squeeze her hand. "What about Donatti?"
Everyone in the church is silent as we look at Vitto squirming on the floor, bleeding profusely from the two gunshots I've already given him. Everything depends on Marzia's decision. I don't know what happened while they were alone, but if she wants to spare this son of a bitch, I'm willing to let her.
"I don't give a shit about him," Marzia finally says while Vitto's face falls. "Kill him, torture him, do whatever the fuck you want. He's a monster."
"You fucking bitch!" Vitto calls out from the altar where he's lying on the ground surrounded by guards. "I'm going to fucking kill you for this!"
"No, you're not," I tell him calmly. "In fact, you're done killing altogether. Where's Luigi?"
"He's gone," Marzia whispers.
"That's right," Vitto mutters, looking proud of himself. "I fucking killed that bastard just like I'm going to kill you all."
"You sound really confident for someone who's about to get their brains blown out," I hiss at him. "Maybe you should reconsider the words leaving your filthy mouth, if you want to be around longer than the next few minutes."
"Fuck you!" Vitto snarls at me.
"You got any attachment left for this piece of shit?" I motion to Vitto's figure on the floor, addressing Marzia. "Or am I free to fucking end this once and for all?"
Marzia ponders her words. Whatever she sees, Vitto's a fucking goner. "He’s killed so many people…Kill him."
"What?" Vitto's eyes widen in disbelief. "No, Marzia! I love you."
"And I don't love you," she replies with a wicked smile.
I raise a gun to the man who hurt her. "Look away," I order my bambina.
She does as I say.
Vitto's scream of anguish is cut short by the bullet I lodge in his brain.
And just like that, it's fucking over.
Marzia lets out a sigh of relief as if she's been holding it in for weeks.
I embrace her then, feeling her frail body against mine. I briefly wonder whether she's realized she's pregnant yet, reminding myself she had no idea when she left the Estate. "Promise you won't leave me again," I whisper against her silky hair. "Promise you won't run from me, bambina."
"I promise," Marzia breathes and we share another deep kiss full of emotions.
Once we pull back, I put on my stern face. I know I have to give Marzia a choice now. I've fucked around with her head enough and she deserves to be happy with our without me. "My father has told me to give you two options," I begin. "You can come with me, back to the Estate... or we can give you some money, start you over in the States."
"I have to leave?" she whispers.
"Only if you want to," I tell her. "It's up to you, bambina. I'm here to give you whatever you want and need."
"I want to stay with you."
My heart soars and as much as I want to instantly accept her answer, I know I have to make her think before I do that. It wouldn't be fair to anyone if she changed her mind weeks into this. "Are you sure? Because once you make up your mind, there's no going back."
"Of course." She looks at me with a shy expression. "I hoped you would come here and save me... I want to be with you, Adrian. Being away from you only made me realize how strong my feelings are for you."