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)
Niko sways beside me. I hug him closer letting him lean on me as he gets his cane righted beneath him.
“Fuck.” I can tell he hates every minute of needing my help, making me hold him even tighter.
Antonio motions his men over. “Carry this traitor out. You know where to take him.”
“I want to go home,” I tell them.
My aunt who smartly kept her mouth shut through the exchange starts back in on me. “Home? What about the funeral? How could you allow all this to happen? What are they going to do to poor Dante? What does this mean for the marriage to Angelina?”
“My father’s funeral was last night—with the people who loved him and a private viewing for my husband this morning. A funeral you might have been invited to if you didn’t spend your time trying to convince me to betray the man I love,” I tell her pointedly. “I never want to talk to you again.”
My aunt stands there, mutely, opening and closing her mouth as the security guards try to help Niko back into his wheelchair.
“I don’t need it,” he says.
“Niko, use it. I want you healed and back to normal so you can give me a honeymoon sooner rather than later,” I murmur.
I relish the surprise and pleasure that is broadcasted on his face. Antonio—having caught our exchange, shakes his head. “I’m telling you, I’ll empty my bank accounts now.”
“It wouldn’t be enough,” Niko responds with a sigh as he all but falls into the wheelchair.
“I think you’re underestimating the amount of money I’m talking here, Niko.”
“I’m not. I just know my wife’s value,” he murmurs, giving me a wink. I blush, which makes his smile deepen. “You’re going to have to make this up to me, wife.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I tease.
Vic pushes Niko’s chair as I walk beside my husband. We hold hands as we leave the cathedral and I know somewhere, my father is watching and most definitely gloating—as he should.
I love you, Daddy.
CHAPTER 45
Niko
Four Days Later
Emilia wakes up as I pull my shirt off and lay down on top of the bed. I hover over her and capture her eyes with mine. She reaches out to touch the side of my face. “Are you okay?” she asks, sleepily.
“Yeah.”
“You were gone all night. You are over doing it, Niko.”
“I’m fine. I want to be there every time Antonio questions Dante.”
“How is that going?”
“It’s almost over,” I promise, more or less lying and feeling much older than I am.
“I should probably feel guilty, but I can’t. I don’t want men like Dante breathing the same air our kids do.”
“Are you saying you want kids?”
“Well, yeah. I’ve always wanted kids. Don’t you?”
“I haven’t thought about it. I never thought I’d have a life where that was an option,” I respond honestly.
“It’s an option now.”
“One of the last things your father said to me was he couldn’t wait until we gave him grandbabies,” I respond and instantly regret my words when I see the harsh shadow of pain that moves across her face. She lays her head on my chest as I hold her close. This is just one more thing to carve out of Dante. His pain won’t ease hers or mine, but it’s the only thing I can do. We’ve already tracked down the sniper he hired. I spent a day dealing with him, before ending it. I can’t seem to do the same with Dante. I have no idea what Dante did with Katherine. I haven’t asked, and he hasn’t volunteered the information. Frankly, I don’t give a damn as long as I never see her again. I turn my attention back to Emilia. She’s all that matters.
“I miss him,” she whispers. I can hear her heart breaking. I curl my fingers into her hair, wishing I could take her pain.
“I miss him, too.”
I feel her tears against my chest. I raise her head up, gently. “Sweetheart.” I can hear the grief that permeates my voice.
“It hurts.”
“I know sweetheart, me too.” I move my hand up under her shirt, needing to touch her smooth skin.
“Niko?”
“Yeah, baby?”
Her body trembles as I flatten my hand on her stomach, slowly traveling up to her breast. My thumb caresses the underside. I barely keep myself from moaning.
“You can’t do this. You need to heal.”
I lean forward kissing her lips. “Shh…what I need is to make love to my wife.”
“Are you sure you’re up to this right now? We can wait a little longer.”
I roll to my back, pulling her on top of me. I hold her ass as I rock her against my hard cock. “I’m more than up to it, Emilia.”
“I’m starting to feel that you are,” she says as she giggles, her cheeks blooming with color. “Niko, seriously. We should wait until you heal more. I’m okay, I promise.”