Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
As if he reads my mind, when he climbs behind the wheel and starts the car, he says, “I want to make you every promise in the world right now.”
I can hardly speak from the rush of emotion that makes my eyes and nose burn.
“I’m sure you’re freaking out. It’s a lot, right?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“I know. Whatever you need from me, I’m going to give it to you. I want you to know that, bella.”
Part of me–a terrible, small, mean part–wants to ask him to leave his family.
But that’s not fair. I need to forget all my bitterness toward La Cosa Nostra. My entire past. All the pain and resentment and anger toward Joey’s family.
I want to believe in the perfect future he’s offering me. The stable, sweet, loving family we’re going to create.
Still, I can’t stop the thoughts in my head from spilling out of my mouth. “Do you like it? Your role in la famiglia?”
Joey’s brows shoot up. His hands tighten on the wheel. He doesn’t answer for a moment, and I have to hold a sense of dread at bay. A fear that we’ll never work this issue out between us. “Honestly? No.” He turns to look at me, and when he does, I see a haunted quality in his eyes. “I hate it.”
My breath catches. Relief pours in. Maybe we’re not so different. “You do?”
He nods. “I didn’t ask to be the crown prince.” His lips twist with distaste. “They sent me to college to be the numbers guy. I don’t want to run the club or be anyone’s boss. I don’t want to be the guy Al sends out to intimidate our competition when they move into our territory.”
I blink back tears for him. “But you have to?” I whisper.
“I don’t know. Do I? This is the question I ask myself. Al has Carlo now, and Carlo’s more suited to this lifestyle.” Joey looks over at me, and I see a flash of uncertainty that makes my chest tighten. “Could I abdicate my throne? Take a step back from the organization?”
Hope sings in my chest. Just the fact that Joey wants to take a step back is enough for me.
It’s something we could build on. Common ground.
Maybe having a baby will help Joey clarify his priorities and make the changes he wants to make for himself, not just for us.
“Maybe everyone would be happy with a new arrangement.”
Joey’s brows go down. “Yeah. Sammy, too. He works under me at the bar, but it’s really his baby. I think he hates that he answers to me and thinks I don’t deserve that power over him.” Joey shakes his head. “I shouldn’t talk business with you. Keep this between us, okay?”
I bob my head, even more warmed. It’s not that I wanted to be included, but I think the layer of secrecy lends to more paranoia on my part. “Of course.”
We’ve been driving for a while, and I realize we’re on the same route Joey drove me the day of my dad’s funeral. I stay quiet but wait to see, and sure enough, he pulls off at the same beach.
I send him a quizzical glance, and he shrugs. “It seemed like the right place to go.” We climb out of the car and take off our shoes when we get to the sand. Joey holds both pairs in one hand and clasps mine with his other.
“This was our beginning. Not romantically, but it was a connection. That was the day you said goodbye to your dad.”
I stop and look out at the water, remembering how I’d needed to go out into it, to wash off my grief. It had been a baptism of sorts.
“Today’s another beginning.” Joey stands behind me and wraps his free arm around me, his hand splaying across my abdomen. He kisses my neck. “We say goodbye to our single, child-free lives. We become a family.”
His murmur in my ear is sweeter that the lull of the ocean waves. Sexier than the hottest scene I could imagine.
I turn and grip his face, pulling his mouth to mine. I kiss him frantically. Madly. Passionately. My tongue tangles with his, my arms loop around his neck.
When we break apart, his smile beams warmer than the sun. “Let’s go find you a ring.”
Joey
I pull up on the top level of the parking garage and turn off the engine. There’s only one other car up here, which is exactly why I selected this location as the meetup.
I grab a fat envelope of cash and get out. The door of the Toyota Camry swings open, and a man in a suit climbs out.
Ned Burton, my FBI contact.
We meet at one of the pillars of the parking structure. I position my back against it, so I’m covered from behind and have a view of the entrance. Ned’s gaze sweeps the place, too.