Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
After getting out of the shower, I select a pair of jean shorts and a tank top. It’s almost the end of Spring and quite a warm day. I sit on the bed and wait for Nero to unlock the door, but when the knob turns, it’s not him, but a beautiful raven-haired woman with a baby in her arms.
“Hi. Sorry to barge in on you like this, but Luca and I needed some time away from the guys, and my sister has abandoned me for Ireland. Like what the heck does Ireland have that I don’t? Oh, I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Aria Bianchi, and I’m Dom’s wife. I don’t know if you know who he is, but anyways, Dom and Nero are cousins. So I came to welcome you to the family.”
“Welcome me to the family?”
“Yeah. Pretty soon you’ll be a Bianchi as well.”
“Did Nero tell you that I’m his girlfriend or something, because that’s not…”
“Please. I know exactly what you’re doing here. He’s an idiot. A kind-hearted killer, but he’s a man with very few brain cells when it comes to women. So anyways, this little guy is my sweet Luca, and we’re gonna have some breakfast together. Now that you’re dressed, how about we head downstairs? I brought my chef, Giuseppe, with me. You’ll love him. Although don’t let Nero hear that. They get really possessive when you mention love, but Giuseppe’s food is to die for. Come.” She stands with the baby and walks to the door. “Well, are you coming?”
I like her. She seems a bit over the top, but she’s nothing like I expected. We head downstairs and there’s a handsome man standing at the bottom, scowling at Aria. He looks so much like Nero that it’s shocking, and then he pulls Aria into his arms for a kiss. “What did I say about going up and down the stairs with the baby?”
“He’s not heavy, Domani.”
“I don’t care. You’re pregnant. Get your pretty ass in the kitchen and eat. I’m going to take my little boy with us to talk shop.” Does he mean they’re talking about killing more people? He nods at me without a word and takes the boy with him as if he read my mind. Fuck, did I say that aloud?
“Ugh. That man thinks I need to be on bedrest when I’m pregnant. Anyway, let’s eat. I’m starving.” She takes my hand and leads me into the kitchen.
“Did he kidnap you too?” I ask Aria, wondering if that’s how they get their women. Fucking cavemen.
A man with a chef’s uniform starts laughing as he comes out of the pantry. Oops—I hadn’t seen him there. “Giuseppe, this is Mariana. She’s new to our world,” she says with a wink.
He sets down the ingredients that were in his arms onto the counter in front of us. “It’s a pleasure to meet such a lovely creature. Now, what can I make you for breakfast?”
“You don’t have to.”
“Ah, very charming, but you’re too modest. How about some pancakes and sausage?” he insists and frankly it sounds too good to pass up.
“That’s fine.”
“So, anyway. I wasn’t kidnapped. I was promised to my husband.”
“They still do things like that?” I know that I’m being rude, but I thought women had backbones—like I’m one to talk.
She giggles and then takes a drink of juice that her chef set down for her. “Yes and no. Honestly, I’m not complaining. I was at first, but I’d already had a crush on the big goon before I learned of our engagement.”
“So you weren’t mad at your parents?” I’d tell them to fuck off and run away.
“Hell, yes, I was. I was afraid to marry him because I thought he believed I was nothing but a piece of property. Honestly, I couldn’t resist him. Anyway, it wasn’t long before I learned that my husband was obsessed with me and had asked for my hand two years before we got married. Crazy, right?”
“Very.” And yet, I want to know more about their relationship.
“So here we are. Happily married and with a small and ever-growing family.” She rubs her baby bump, grinning from ear to ear which makes me sad.
I’m not here because Nero’s madly in love with me. “What does it matter? I’m just a liability. I saw something I shouldn’t have, so he took me captive.”
“Yes, you did, but that’s not why he brought you here. He’d already decided to let you go, and then he couldn’t stay away. It has nothing to do with what you saw. Nero doesn’t believe you’ll snitch on him, but he needs an excuse to keep you close to him.”
“Are you serious?” I wonder if she’s right about that.
Giuseppe nods while Aria continues. “I’m telling you that’s the truth. He’s a fool, but the man is a little crazy about you.”