Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 39687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“Are you going to hide in there forever?”
“I don’t know why it’s any of your concern. You can leave. I didn’t come here with you.”
“I saw David on the dance floor. That dude does not know how to move.”
“So you’ve met my charming bodyguard. I don’t even know why that doesn’t surprise me.”
He knocked on the door.
“Go away.”
“Nope. I’m staying right here.”
“Women will walk in here.”
“I know, and again, I don’t give a fuck. You know my dad owns this place, right? I can do whatever I want. Even stay and linger outside a woman’s door.”
She got to her feet and opened the stall. “What? What could you possibly want?”
“You want to go out there and dance?”
“No!” She scoffed, the lie falling easily from her lips, and she hated herself for it. Was it that obvious she just wanted to have some fun? She couldn’t recall a time when she had been this controlled. She was supposed to be able to come and go as she pleased.
“You’re cute when you lie. Come on.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the bathroom.
David, her annoying bodyguard, was there, waiting, and one look at him, she knew he didn’t approve of what was going on.
“I’m Marcus Giovanni, and I’m taking her to dance. You got a problem with that?”
She expected David to put up a fight, to embarrass her. He didn’t do a single thing.
He merely nodded and allowed them to step away from him.
She was in shock. Her mouth dropped open, and she looked over at Marcus in amazement.
“How did you do that?”
“My name, baby! It’s all in a name. Now, don’t go thinking this is a fucking truce. A girl deserves one dance before the rest of her life is decided for her.”
He pulled her into his arms, and for the first time in her life, Marcus didn’t seem so freaking bad.
****
“Do you have any idea what this means?”
“Yes. It means Marcus and I are going to have a baby.”
“No. We have to get her out of there. We have to protect our child. We can’t let them hurt her like they hurt me.”
Laura sat at the dining room table, still reeling from the secrets her mother had spilled to her.
Her father, he’d not disputed them. He’d just sat in his office looking scared and staying mute as she learned the true horrors of the family she’d been married into. They had risked their lives to tell her the truth, and she felt sick to her stomach. The soup Rosa had lovingly prepared for her sat in front of her, mocking her.
It looked delicious, but right now, there was no way she could have lifted up the spoon and taken a mouthful.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
This shouldn’t have been her life.
Tears filled her eyes.
She and Marcus had found the news out about her pregnancy a week ago. During that time, he’d been pulled away for more work-related matters, and she knew Antonio now considered their honeymoon over.
Marcus had done what was required of him.
At least three nights this week, she had seen the blood on Marcus’s shirt, had witnessed him burning the remains. He’d visited the gym down in the basement, punching the bag over and over until it didn’t resemble anything.
This was her life now.
He’d be gone.
She would have to stay at home or get permission to be driven to wherever she wanted to go.
She sniffled, using the tissue to dab at her eyes, hoping to wipe away the anger, sadness, and bitterness that threatened to consume her.
Marcus worked for a man who would do that to a woman.
Her mother had been on the operating table when they had taken away her ability to have children.
She felt sick to her stomach. There was just no way it was a coincidence. She didn’t believe in them.
The door opened, and she heard it close again.
Her entire body tensed up, but she didn’t move.
“Something smells good,” Marcus said, entering the dining room. “Is mine in the kitchen?”
She didn’t say a word as he hugged her close. He didn’t even notice the tension in her body as he pressed a kiss to her temple.
Marcus was oblivious.
She picked up her spoon, turned it over, and put it back down into the bowl, staring straight ahead.
What was she going to do?
If she stayed here, her baby was in danger.
Marcus returned and sat beside her, at the head of the table, where he would always sit. When his father passed over the capo crown, Marcus would wear it.
“Sweetheart, are you okay? Rosa said she dished you up an hour ago.”
She turned toward him, making him see her face. She had no doubt the evidence of her pain, of her fears, was there for him to see. “Is it true?”
“Is what true?”
“I went to see my parents today. To tell them the news. You know how I had to ask permission, and you got one of your faithful dogs to drive me.”