Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“You do not call me Victorio. That is not who I am to you.”
“It’s your name,” I breathe out, suddenly feeling very tired.
“To you I am Victor. That’s your name for me, and only yours.”
“I have to go, Victorio.”
“I’ll be home in two days. I won’t be able to stay. I know I’ll have to head out again, but I’ll be home, and you and I are going to hash this out, Kitten.”
“There’s nothing to hash out.”
“There is and you know it.”
“You’re right. You need to get it in your brain that just because you don’t see me as someone you want to be close to and have a friendship with, it doesn’t mean other people won’t. You can’t ruin that for me. I’ve cut myself off enough. I’m going to do what Deanna says and start living. I want to make a life for myself.”
The words hurt to say. I didn’t mean to cause more issues with Victor. I am only trying to do what I need to do so that I don’t go crazy and confess to him how much I love him. Victor is making that impossible and I’m starting to feel desperate. I was already on the precipice of telling him I’m trying to find someone I can spend time with, so I don’t make a fool of myself and kiss him.
“You can, but it will fucking be me in that life with you, Gia. Not some dumb fuck who wouldn’t even know what to do with a woman as special as you are.”
“I… What exactly are you saying?” I’m trying to ignore that small hope that begins to bloom inside of me.
“You’re mine, Gia. You’ve been mine from the first moment I laid eyes on you. When I said it was you and me, that’s exactly what I meant.”
“But—”
“Two days, sweetheart. I’ll be home in two days and then we will have this out. Understand?”
“Not really,” I tell him truthfully.
“You will,” he warns me and then he hangs up. I stare down at the phone and go over the entire conversation—trying to make sense of it. It doesn’t help. I’m still confused as hell.
“Do I get my phone back now?” Zane asks.
I force myself to look up at him and sigh, handing it to him. “Here.”
“Thanks, Angel. Do you want me to take you to get something to eat?”
“Victor is supposed to call you and tell you that you’re released from duty. It’s not like I’ll be going out with Caleb tonight anyway.” I sigh and I don’t bother calling him Victorio. I only did that to piss him off anyway.
Zane laughs. “Angel, we’ve been watching you since Victorio left for Greece. He called and asked Antonio to put some guards at your door. I volunteered. I’m just back from Greece and worn out. I’d much rather spend the evening with you than get a harder job handed to me. Jet lag is a real thing.”
“I… he…”
“I can tell you’re upset,” Zane mutters.
“Well, yeah. This is crazy.”
“Victorio cares about you, Angel. Everyone knows it. We’ve known it for a long time. He’s not going to leave you unprotected—especially while he’s in another country.”
“I don’t think I’m equipped enough to deal with this tonight,” I tell him truthfully. My head is all over the place and I can’t tell if I’m happy, scared, or pissed off. I think I’m a mixture of all three.
“What do you want to do?”
“Do you want to risk Victor’s wrath and take me out for a burger?”
“I’m not scared of him, but you look too pretty for a burger. How about a streak?”
“I’m more of a pasta kind of girl,” I murmur.
“That’s okay, Casino Steakhouse has the best choice of steak and pastas around.”
“Now you’re speaking my language,” I respond. Somehow, I find a way to smile. I really do need to get out. I need a break.
“Then let’s do this,” he says, holding his arm out to me. I wrap mine around it and let him lead me out to the black SUV that is in my driveway. I know I need to call Caleb, but I really just don’t want to deal with anything right now.
Maybe later I will get somewhere, but for right now, I just want to enjoy a night out. I’ll worry about Victor and everything else when he gets home. Maybe I can find a way to disappear off the face of the Earth in the next two days.
A girl can hope.
victorio
. . .
“I need to go home for a couple of days. I can come back. I just need some personal time to straighten out a few issues,” I explain to Antonio.
I’m video chatting him and Melina. If I had known that Angelina was going to pull her shit, I would have flown back with him yesterday. He couldn’t make himself stay away from his woman any longer. Some of the men accused him of being pussy whipped and he just laughed like he didn’t have a care in the world. The change Melina has made in him is really remarkable. Then again, if I had been able to claim Angelina completely when I first wanted to, I’d have no problem being pussy whipped by her. Hell, I am already if the truth was known. I don’t even care, either. I just want her.