Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
“I’m going to show you what comes naturally when we get home,” Dante promises me, and I almost melt at the heated look he throws my way. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Dmitri smirking and nearly choke on the overabundance of testosterone swirling around the large hospital room.
Once Dante was out of the woods, we transferred him to one of the hospital’s private suites. “Who said I’m going home with you?” I argue, knowing it’s a useless gesture. I’m slowly getting used to his tendency to get his way.
“Until we get this situation under control, I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Dante is back to his pre-poisoned, bossy self. In fact, looking at him now, no one would ever be able to tell he was on death’s door a few days ago.
“I don’t remember agreeing to this.” I’ve found that giving him hell is my favorite pastime.
“You expressed your agreement when you spent every night since my poisoning curled up in the hospital bed next to me.” Dante has a point, but I still refuse to let him win too easily. It sets a bad precedent if I let him have his way right out the gate.
“Everything is in place for your discharge,” Dmitri walks up and informs Dante. After this went down, I got to see the full power of the Arakas Family. In my mind, I knew they were one of the most powerful families in the country, but I didn’t equate what I knew of them with the man who I’d met and fallen for. Evidently, they’d been in the process of building a protected fortress on the outskirts of town. In the meantime, Dante and Dmitri have been staying in a penthouse close to the strip club. When the cartel got someone close enough to poison Dante, they took the threat seriously and pooled their resources. Somehow, they were able to convince the builder to work day and night to finish one of the main buildings on the compound.
“Did you bring everything you’ll need for a while?” Dante turns to me and raises an eyebrow. Darn. I realize I’m about to have a huge fight with the mob boss.
“No.” Dead silence meets my answer. “I never agreed to move in with you.” His tendency to assume he’s going to get his way is really freaking annoying.
“You don’t have a choice.” Dante slams his hand down on the bedside table. “I’ll kidnap you if I have to.”
Dmitri looks back and forth between us before smirking. “I’m going to step out and get a coffee while you two work this out.” Dmitri has been around throughout Dante’s entire hospital stay, but he somehow manages to stay on the sidelines. It’s scary how fast I’m becoming accustomed to their crazy lifestyle.
I hold my own fighting Dante’s demands until he pulls out the big guns. “I know this is happening quickly, and I’d like to give you more time to get used to this situation, but I don’t have the fucking time.” Not exactly the most romantic declaration, but his actions over the last few days have shown me that the mob boss really is serious about me. Scarily serious.
My heart might never be the same again if things don’t work out between us, but I know I’m going to give him a chance. He’s saying all the right things, and hopefully, he really means them. “My enemies could use you to get to me.” Dante runs his hands through my hair and pulls my face close to his, bringing my attention back to him. “You can have your own room, and I’ll try to give you space.” My heart melts, watching the powerful mob boss negotiate. “But I have to know you’re safe. Plus, you’re getting away from your pain in the ass roommate.”
I guess that is one huge positive to this situation. Then he kisses me to within an inch of my life. As his tongue explores my mouth, I actually forget all about what we’re talking about and kiss him back with all the pent-up desire and worry I’ve been feeling the last few days.
Before I let him have his way, I make sure he knows where I stand. “I’m not quitting my job.” I’ve worked too freaking hard to give up my career now. “But I’ll stay at your compound.” Although I’m giving in awfully easy, I can’t seem to stop myself.
“We’ll discuss your job later.” Oh yes, we will, Mr. Mob Boss. He might think he’s winning, but Dante has a surprise coming.
Chapter
Six
BELLE
Over the next two weeks, most of my stuff makes its way to Dante’s new home. I’m not really sure how it happened, but I’m powerless to stop it. Since I’m not going to have to pay rent for the foreseeable future, I use some of my savings to pay my half of the rent for the remainder of my lease with Macy, telling myself I’ll find another place if things don’t work out with Dante. Macy gives me a hard time for abandoning her, but I have too much on my plate to worry about how she’s going to deal.