Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“Do you want clothes for your dog?” the store attendant asks.
“Yes.” I follow her to where there are all kinds of clothes and adorable stuff. “I want pink bows to put in her hair.”
While the attendant grabs a variety of bows, I walk back to the counter and grab one of the new bowls. “Where can I get some water?”
“I’ll fill the bowl,” she says.
While she’s getting the water, I open a box of bone-shaped biscuits and feed one to Bellissima.
I see Renzo double park beside my R8, and when he comes into the store, he actually looks shocked.
“I didn’t think you were serious,” he mutters as he stares at my dog.
The attendant brings the bowl, and I set Bellissima down on the floor so she can drink some water.
Keeping hold of the leash, I pull out my wallet and hand my black credit card to the attendant.
Renzo signals for Vincenzo to come help while Fabrizio remains in the SUV. He never goes anywhere without the two men.
The other four heads of the Cosa Nostra have all said I need to get guards, but I never got around to it.
Honestly, I’m not the biggest threat out of the five of us, and someone has to be fucking stupid to come after me knowing the Cosa Nostra will retaliate.
When the payment goes through, the attendant hands me my card. I crouch to pick up Bellissima and the bowl. Walking out of the store, I empty the remaining water on the sidewalk and head to my car.
“I’m going to charge you a delivery fee,” Renzo calls out as he walks back to the SUV.
“You’re going to charge me for helping bring your goddaughter's stuff to the apartment?”
“Now I’m the godfather of a dog? Did you drink too much today?”
I climb into the R8 and place Bellissima on the passenger seat. Starting the engine, I have to wait for the SUV to move before I can pull away from the curb.
As soon as there’s a gap in traffic, I floor the gas, and the R8 shoots around the SUV, leaving them behind.
Bellissima lets out a bark as she slides across the seat, and I instantly decelerate.
“Sorry, Daddy didn’t mean to make you lose your balance,” I apologize to her.
Fifteen minutes later, I bring the car to a stop in my parking bay, and as I pick up Bellissima and climb out of the vehicle, Renzo’s SUV comes to a standstill next to me.
I give Fabrizio a chin lift and grab the bag with Bellissima’s clothes. The men bring the other bags and dog bed, and we all pile into the elevator.
When we step into my apartment, I say, “Just put everything in the living room.”
I set Bellissima down on a couch and say, “This is your new home.”
Esmerelda, my housekeeper, comes out of the kitchen, and when she sees the dog on the leather couch, a frown forms on her forehead.
“Animals don’t belong on couches,” she complains. “She’ll scratch the leather.”
“Then I’ll buy a new couch.”
I grin at my fur ball, then leaning over her, I pet the living shit out of her. She turns onto her back, and I can see how much she loves belly scratches.
“Bellissima lives here now,” I inform Esmerelda. Rising to my full height, I glance at her. “I got dry food, but I want you to make fresh food for her as well.”
I can see she’s not happy about cooking for a dog, but she won’t dare argue with me on the matter.
Renzo glances from me to Bellissima. “Why did you kidnap the dog?”
“Someone left her tied to a fire hydrant out in the cold.”
“Oh no,” Esmerelda gasps. “People can be so cruel. I’ll make some chicken for her.”
My housekeeper disappears back into the kitchen, and I know it’s only a matter of time before she falls in love with Bellissima.
“So just like that, I have a goddaughter?” he asks.
“Yep.”
“What are you going to name her?”
I know the term of endearment annoys the fuck out of him, so my grin is extra big when I reply, “Bellissima.”
He gives me a disgruntled look. “You like that word way too much.” He steps closer to my dog and rubs behind her left ear. “And it’s a long name for such a small dog. She looks more like a Bella.”
A grin forms on my face as I begin to nod. “I like that. Bella.”
Renzo picks up my dog, and it has me saying, “Don’t even think about it. She’s mine.”
“I’m just holding her,” he mutters. “Damn, if you’re so possessive over a dog you just got, I don’t want to see you when you fall for a woman.”
Chapter 9
Eden
While I’m walking around the diner, refilling coffee wherever I see an empty cup, I keep thinking it’s insane that I agreed to a date with Dario.