Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“Zio Gino!” I exclaimed his name, delighted to see him. I hadn’t seen him in a couple of weeks.
“Sienna, sei bellissima. Il matrimonio è d'accordo con te,” he greeted, “Sienna, you look gorgeous. Marriage agrees with you.”
Flinging my arms around his neck, I hugged him tight. “I’m so happy to see you. Where have you been? You haven’t visited me since I went shopping.”
The only time I was permitted to leave the house was with my uncle by my side. He was still Papá’s right-hand man, but Cruz didn’t trust any of the guards like he did him. My father had no problem whatsoever, he felt the exact same way. There was always an arsenal of guards around us, though Uncle Gino led the pack. The men listened to his every command.
Grabbing his arm, we started walking toward the door. “Where are we going?”
“If I tell you, your husband will kill me.”
“He would do no such thing.”
He laughed, guiding my steps to the golf cart parked on the travertine pavers of the roundabout at our estate.
“Are we going in this?”
“Yes.”
I glanced up at him, confused on where we were going. By the expression on his face, I knew there was no hope in getting details on this surprise. Sitting next to him while he drove, I anxiously waited. This was the first time I was taking a tour around our property. I knew we had an obscene amount of land with security filled to the brim, nevertheless, it was a shock to see how much land we really did own and how many guards protected our grounds.
Uncle Gino turned on the radio, and we listened to soft instrumental as we made our way through the vast ranch. It felt like every few feet there was an armed guard holding an assault rifle, standing at attention, protecting us with his life if needed. No questions asked, they were paid to die on command. Their faces blended together, and I made a mental note to ask Cruz what their names were. Most of the men who secured my father’s estate I’d known since I was a little girl.
Some of the guards I recognized, others I didn’t. Papá must have made several of his guards come protect our home. For a minute, it made me nervous he hired on new security for his place. With that insecurity, arose the reality that he was in this world all his life, he’d be careful of who he trusted.
Especially, with his life.
The grounds were immaculate, the landscaping surreal. An endless amount of greenery that was every bit of perfection. The trees, bushes, grass, were the brightest green I’d ever seen. There was a mixture of all kinds of flowers that lined in between. Once we reached the end of the acreage, further back of the estate, my eyes widened.
“No…he didn’t,” I rasped, caught off guard for what felt like the hundredth time in the last twenty-four hours.
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Your husband finished this for you last week. He wanted to have it done by your wedding, but it took the contractors longer to get the imported marble and columns to be delivered.”
“Oh my God.”
Uncle Gino parked the gulf cart in front of the massive wooden doors. I stepped onto a stoned path under the cathedral archway. The comforting smell of sweaty leather, hay, fresh pine shavings, tack, and liniment. Without waiting another second, I opened the custom-made stable doors, revealing the highest vaulted ceiling with intricate woodwork in the arches and down the walls.
My feet moved to the wide foyer with black concrete floors. My jaw dropped as I turned in a full circle, taking in my surroundings.
The colors.
The decorations.
The spacious home away from home feel.
He captured everything I could have wanted without ever asking me.
I walked into the most elegant main sitting area. The sun was shining through every window in the wide-open space, illuminating the huge horse stables, where right before my eyes was…
Massimo.
My Black Stallion.
“Uncle Gino! He didn’t! Massimo!” I hollered, dashing toward him.
He noticed me immediately and made a huge fuss. His nostrils flared, his tail flagged, neighing over and over again until I was standing by his side.
“My baby! My boy! How are you?” I rubbed my cheek on his soft fur, petting along his face. “I missed you so much. You have no idea how much I missed you.”
He nipped, putting his lips while his head bobbed up and down. Showing me his affection.
“I love you, Massimo. I swear I’ve wanted to see you so many times. Please forgive me. I thought about you every day.”
He neighed as if he understood what I was saying, he did. We had that connection.
“How long has he been here?” I asked Uncle Gino who was standing outside of the stall, content that I was so happy.