Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I rub my chin, frowning. “Sounds like you’ve had this figured out for a while.”
“I’ve had nothing but time and pain over the last couple of weeks, and honestly, Dante doesn’t have enough brains to make complicated plans.”
“She’s not wrong about that,” Antonio mutters.
“We don’t need to discuss anything,” she says shrugging. “But, Niko?”
“Yes?”
“I want Katherine out of this house. In fact, when you’re better, you need to find a realtor because we’re moving. I will not stay in a house where you’ve fucked that whore.” She turns and stomps away.
“Christ. Are you sure you want to marry her? Because I’ll clean my bank account out right now to keep her. She’s perfect,” Antonio says, shaking his head.
That she fucking is and she’s mine. All mine.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that so I can continue to work for you,” I grumble.
Antonio laughs before instructing his guards to get Katherine out. “Drag that bitch back to my house. We’ll keep her there until we question Dante.”
“Are you going to kill her?” I ask.
“Do you care?” he counters.
“Not in the least.”
“Probably. It depends on how she answers her questions tonight, but in my experience, you can’t leave vipers alive to strike.”
He’s not wrong. I don’t need to learn this lesson twice.
Katherine’s muffled screams as she kicks and thrashes to get away, interrupt us as they drag her out.
Antonio looks me over. “Do you need help to lie down on the sofa for a bit?”
“I need help getting up from this damn chair. I’m going to try using a cane or walker, but I’ll hate every minute of it. I start a more rigorous physical therapy tomorrow. I hope it works fast.”
“Don’t rush it. If therapists hadn’t been working to move your arms and legs to give you exercise, it’d be worse.”
“And had you been fully vented we wouldn’t hear your sweet voice,” Vic says.
“I know. I’m lucky, but damn this is not a good time for my body to be weak.”
“It will come back, old friend. You just have to give it time,” Antonio answers.
“That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have a wife waiting for you in your bedroom.”
“You got me there,” Antonio acknowledges.
I grimace, leaning on them as they help get me to my feet. It’s damn embarrassing. I must work through this as quickly as possible. I don’t want anyone to see me this weak…
It’s too damn embarrassing.
CHAPTER 44
Emilia
“God, I hate this. I don’t want to share the same air as these people,” I whisper harshly. My heart is racing as I wait for the impending moment that everything goes down. Until then, I’m stuck sitting here, watching people mourn for my father for a second time. It’s too hard…
“We’ll confront Dante and get out of here, Em. Just hold on.” Niko replies, trying to console me.
I lean over kissing his cheek. “I’m sorry I know you hate being here.”
“No, I like being here for you. I hate using a damn wheelchair. I wanted to be able to walk.”
“You are doing so good, though.”
“It doesn’t feel like it. My own damn voice doesn’t even sound familiar.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. It sounds beautiful. It’s the same, just a little huskier,” I tell him, watching his lips twitch. “It’s sexy.”
“How are you holding up?” he asks, staring at me intently.
“I’m okay. Tonight, is the first step towards avenging my father. It won’t bring him back, but it will help a little knowing they won’t get away with taking him from us.”
“You know Katherine was lying. You do know I was serious. Your father didn’t pay—”
“Stop. My father showed me the contract—all of the contract.”
“I would’ve pursued you the moment you were legal, with or without a damn contract, Em. You were mine the moment I kissed your forehead on your birthday. Back then, mine to protect. Now, you’re mine in all ways. You were just too young back then.”
“You had no idea what I would be like at this age.”
“I knew you’d be mine,” he says. The intensity in his stare warms me all the way through.
Closing my eyes, I breathe as I try to center myself. Whatever is about to happen, I know I’m not ready. At least not to deal with the people. I’m ready to get justice for my father. “Do we have to let those idiots in here?”
“As soon as we confront Dante and Antonio gets him in custody, we can leave. Once that’s done, Antonio’s men will escort the others out. Your father had his service already. He’ll stay in our hearts.”
“Okay. He sure deserves better than this.”
“And you deserve better than to get married to a man who couldn’t even tell you how beautiful you are,” Niko says, pointedly.
“I wore black and looked like hell. That’s not an exaggeration. Ask Callan.”
“You’d still be beautiful to me.”