Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Her eyes come back to me, and they show so much loss yet hate.
“They tried to kill us, and they could try again, and I could be pregnant when they do.” She stops for a moment, really thinking the next part over. “Yes. But not my mother.”
“She was awful to you, Emelia,” I remind her.
“Yes, but now she will have nothing, and I won't let you kill a woman in my name. Call me sexist, but I won't. She hurt me most anyway. I want to watch her live a poor life. Empty and alone. Don’t kill her.”
Giulio and I look at one another, and we both share a shocked yet proud grin.
“Anything you say.”
The plane lands, and we prepare for what's to come.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
EMELIA
Nico and I got to the hotel room and immediately went to sleep. We each had nothing left to offer in those early-morning hours. And we didn’t wake until nearly noon the next day. Breakfast, or lunch, was waiting for us already, and that first sip of coffee was what I needed to start the day.
Nico showered first, as he has business to attend to before the big night tonight.
I can't believe this is going to happen. My brothers and father will be gone. Their reign of terror will be over, and for my mother, well, her terror will truly just begin.
Part of me knows that if they hadn’t attempted to kill us, then I wouldn’t have let this take place tonight, but when my father admitted it on the phone and with so much hate in his voice, I knew what I had to do to not only protect Nico and me, but to protect the future of us. Meaning my children. My father would never stop. He cannot be stopped unless he’s dead.
I will be free forever. And something I truly never thought I would say—Nico will also be free. Just a short time ago, I wouldn't have cared about his freedom. But now, that’s all changed. Feelings developed, love blossomed, and I want his parents’ retribution.
Nico emerges from the suite bedroom, and he’s dressed in a suit, as always. Never a workday he would be in anything else.
“You’re so handsome,” I say unprompted. I'm so lucky. Nico is the epitome of God's gift to women, over six feet with black hair slicked back in a way only he can pull off. His green eyes compliment his strong facial features. He is a work of art, and I am merely a woman.
“You’re beautiful, principessa.”
I am still in a robe, and my hair is a mess on the top of my head. But I take the compliment, because it's coming from him.I open my mouth, and what comes out next seems to come out of nowhere, but we never talked about it after it happened.
“Nico, I want to thank you for what happened with Damian. Thank you for protecting me and getting rid of all the pictures and videos,” I tell him, and he eyes me over curiously.
“Where is this coming from? And you don’t need to thank me. That’s my job.”
I roll my eyes, because even after all the emotions we’ve shared, he will keep some sort of nonchalant, “this all business to me” energy.
“I just keep thinking about the past couple of months and how we got to where we are, and I never thanked you. For your business,” I add, teasing him.
He understands what I meant, and he instantly corrects me.“I didn’t mean it was my mafia responsibility. It’s my job as your husband to always protect and defend you, Emelia.”
“Oh, well thank you,” I reply bashfully.
“I will do it again and again.” He doesn't say it outwardly, but he’s insinuating what he’s planning to do tonight.
“Are you going to eat?” I change the subject. This is all a bit much for brunch talk. We will be knees-deep in it soon, and I want to try to make every last minute count.
“Yes, I am, but I’m going to take it to go. I have something I need to do before I come back here this afternoon to get you. The makeup artist will be here in an hour, and your dress should be here soon as well,” he tells me, grabbing an apple and toast before leaning down and kissing me.
“Oh, okay. Well, I will miss you. See you tonight?”
“See you tonight, baby.” He starts to walk away, but he stops. “And Emelia, please wear my mother’s pearls tonight. They mean a lot to me.” He leaves like a gust of wind that came and went.
My heart starts to flutter. So he did give me those pearls because he was falling for me. It was intimate. It did mean something to him. And now, knowing how much he loved his mother, they will hold a special place in my heart.