Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
I swallow hard, my voice a breathy whisper through my room. “I’m under no illusion that you are a hero. However, when I look into your eyes, I know that you won’t hurt me.”
He holds my stare, almost looking just as confused about this as I am. “No, I will not.”
“I don’t know what this is,” I murmur, our hands still joined over his chest, “this connection between us, but I know you feel it too.”
He nods. “I find it better not to ask questions. Don’t try to confuse this.”
I nod, realizing I’m starting to push him too far. I pull back out of his hold and fix him with another stare. “I just have one more condition,” I whisper, my hands starting to shake again. He narrows his gaze, probably wondering what else I could possibly want, but considering he’s been so generous in our negotiations, I figure now is the best time to ask. “I need to know if you only brought me here because you want me to give you a child.”
His eyes widen with surprise. “How do you know about that?”
I shrug my shoulders. “You’re the head of the DeLorenzo family and splashed all over every news channel that ever existed. You’re the world’s most wanted man, so would I be crazy in admitting that I’ve watched more than one true crime documentary about you?” I question. “Now, I don’t know much about mafia politics or how things are supposed to work, but what I do know is that you require an heir to inherit your position after you pass. I guess I can’t help but wonder if that’s the reason why I’m here. Also,” I admit, “I kinda heard whispers about it.”
Killian arches a brow as he watches me. “I won’t lie to you, Chiara,” he says, and my name in that accent does wicked things to me. “The thought of impregnating you with my heir has occurred to me on more than one occasion, and in case you haven’t noticed, we haven’t exactly been practicing safe sex. If you were to fall pregnant, then so be it.”
“And if I’m not ready to be someone’s mother?”
“Nobody is asking you to be a mother,” he offers. “Not unless you feel that you’re ready to take that step. However, I see how strong and courageous you are and believe any child would be lucky to have you as his mother.”
I let out a shaky breath. “Okay. Shit just got real,” I tell him, trying not to let on just how shaken the idea has made me. Is he actively trying to knock me up? Fuck that. I’m not ready for this. I’m barely even an adult myself. “How is it that I’m cool living in the home of the world’s most terrifying man, but the thought of having a baby at twenty-three makes me want to hurl?”
“Do you need a moment?”
I stumble back, breathing heavily as my ass finds the edge of my bed. I bury my face into my hands, leaning forward as I try not to fall into a panic attack, but truth be told, I think I’m already there.
“I forgot to feed my goldfish once,” I tell him. “He died. I can’t be trusted with a baby. You know they need constant supervision, right? Plus, they suck the life out of your tits.”
“Okay,” he says, moving to my side. “We’ll shelve the heir idea for now, but just know that in time, I will require a child. Just as you require honesty and equality from me, I require an heir from you. It’s non-negotiable.”
Non-negotiable.
I glance up at him. “So, it doesn’t have to be now?” I confirm, a sliver of hope beginning to burn through my chest. “It can happen in ten, maybe twenty years down the track?”
“I am not waiting twenty years,” he growls in that thick, delicious accent. “You get two.”
“TWO YEARS?” I panic, my eyes widening like saucers. “Holy fuck.”
“Alright, I see that I’ve upset you,” he tells me, beginning to back up from the hysterical woman, clearly way out of his comfort zone. “That was not my intention. I don’t know how to fix this.”
“Vodka,” I say. “Lots and lots of vodka.”
He laughs, and the sound lifts my gaze from my hands. I hadn’t realized a man like this was even capable of laughter. “That,” he says. “I can do.”
15
CHIARA
I’m surrounded by the Romanian Mafia. Every damn member is dressed in five-piece suits while their wives sip red wine in their spectacular gowns, eyeing me with distaste. One thing is for sure, if Killian hadn’t filled me with vodka before making our way here, I probably wouldn’t have the balls to look a single person in the eye.
I knew my Romanian captor was the head of the DeLorenzo family, but hearing it and seeing it are two very different things. The people here—the very ones he calls family—fear him, and it’s clear that Killian DeLorenzo is a wicked man.