 by Cora Reilly.jpg)
Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Amo
Do you believe in love at first sight? In a love so strong and bright, it ignites you even in your darkest hours? Do you believe that somewhere in this world there’s someone who’s destined to be your other half? Your soulmate?
I didn’t.
Until I met her.
Greta Falcone.
Protected mafia princess from the madmen of Las Vegas, she’s forbidden to me.
Greta
My love for my family and my animals was all I needed. I never thought I’d fall in love. Until I met him.
Amo Vitiello. Future Capo of the Famiglia. Cruel and cold. The smiles that he has only for me quiet the chaos in my head.
What if you find your soulmate at the wrong time?
I knew the cruelest men, and yet nothing could ever be crueler than fate itself.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Twelve years old
I was only a young girl, dressed in my favorite tutu, when I came to the realization that the men in my family were like the monsters in the scary movies that Nevio loved to watch.
And a piece of my heart broke.
Screams and laughter rang out, filling our backyard, and the lingering smell of charcoal tickled my nose.
Mom caught my eye where she lounged on a sunchair next to our huge pool landscape where my twin Nevio, and cousins Alessio and Massimo had a water battle with Fabiano’s son Davide and my uncle Savio. The women of the family lounged on the sunchairs around them, having drinks. Only Aurora who was three years younger than me stood at the edge of the pool watching the fight as if she might want to join in. I sat on our patio, needing space, but even here the sounds became too much. It had been a long day filled with presents, cake, singing and hugs as Nevio and I celebrated our twelfth birthday.
If it was just my birthday, I wouldn’t have celebrated at all, but it was also Nevio’s day and so I braved the excitement.
I sent Mom an apologetic smile and rose from the chair. She nodded, a few blond strands falling out of her messy bun. She knew I had to leave and find peace in my room for the rest of the evening. I glanced around, looking for Dad to say good night as I always did. I found him, Nino and Fabiano in the common area of our mansion. It was a place that was busy most days. With three families living under this roof, everyone always used this area to gather—to celebrate and to argue alike. And Fabiano, who was like a brother to my dad and uncles, though he wasn’t blood, was over often too.
They were talking in quiet voices. I could tell something was up. A nervous energy was in the air, one that made my skin prickle in a way that made me long for a dark corner to hide. Dad fell silent when he spotted me. For a moment his dark eyes—the same dark brown as mine—held a gleam I couldn’t read before they became tender. I went over to him and briefly hugged his middle. “I’m off to bed.”
“Do that.” He kissed the top of my head before I pulled away and gave Nino and Fabiano a smile that felt a little tight from overuse today, then I headed into my family’s wing and into my room.
Until a couple of years ago, Nevio and I had shared a room but when I got overwhelmed by events, I often sought absolute quiet and Nevio wasn’t the quiet type. His room was a zone of war while mine was organized and spotlessly clean. Yet, our rooms were joined by a door so we could easily visit the other.
I got ready for bed despite it being only eight, but I felt tired and preferred to read in bed.
It was nearing eleven when I realized my mind and body wouldn’t find peace any time soon. I was still too overwhelmed by the day. Outside it had gotten quieter.
I got out of bed and put on my favorite white leotard, tights, tutu and ballet shoes before I headed downstairs. Through the French doors I could see that Mom, Nino’s wife Kiara, Savio’s wife Gemma and Fabiano’s wife Leona were still talking and drinking wine. Farther down, I could also make out movement, probably the other kids.
I decided against my ballet room in the small garden house. I didn’t like to dance there when so many people were in the garden.
Instead, I headed for the basement. Dad didn’t want me to be down there. But since Nevio had figured out the code for the steel door, I often went there when I couldn’t find solitude anywhere else.