Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 93425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
And when I was lonely or struggling, he was the man pining after me.
I didn’t dare imagine he had gotten more attractive. He has lost the last of his boyish features and grown into more of a man. His already impressive muscles have gotten more defined, and he has let his hair grow out slightly into a style that better fits the shape of his face. Those kinds of fantasies never occurred to me because I thought it impossible for the man to become better looking. I’d sooner bet the Great Wall of China would fall.
“Parents don’t need to be married for their child. You want to be a part of Matteo’s life. We can co-parent without being married,” I tell him.
Lies. Pretty, pretty lies that might help to buy me time.
When I escape, I’m going to have to hide. Change my name, never surface again.
“Most parents, yes, but not us. Every moment you spend away from me, you and Matteo are in danger. I have enemies, people who will take you and torture the both of you in order to get to me. I am not letting my son and his mother out into the world to be sitting ducks,” he growls at me. “You talk a lot about keeping Matteo safe. The best thing for him, the best thing for both of you, is for you to be here. For you to be my wife.”
Careful there. It sounds like you might actually care about me.
I snort at the thought.
“How would a marriage between us work?” I ask him. The image in my head isn’t a pretty one. I have no grand illusion he will settle for me. He’s proposing a marriage to keep Matteo safe. To protect his heir. My father has told me about his reputation. He made it clear he would only settle down when his father forced him to. And even then, my studies into the mafia tell me it isn’t unusual for the members of organized crime syndicates to keep around women for entertainment. Mistresses and prostitutes. Marriage isn’t the end of the player’s lifestyle. He has money and power, he can sleep with anyone he wants.
“How does any marriage work? Dates, communication, rough fucking,” Enzo lists off the requirements. My eyes snap to him when he makes the comment about sex, my mouth agape. He has an expectant smile on his lips, predicting my reaction. It annoys me. There is no reason this man who I have only spent a couple of hours with over five years should be able to read me so well.
There’s a reason he’s so dangerous. I may have called Enzo a brute, but he’s much more than that. If the snake in the Garden of Eden was half as charming as him, then Eve hadn’t stood a chance. He doesn’t need to use force to get what he wants. He’d be just as effective in the boardroom as he is in the mafia.
“If I agree to this, there would be no sex. This will be for Matteo, to keep him safe.”
Enzo’s laugh is dark. “This won’t be a marriage in name only, it will be legitimate in every way. But don’t worry, I’m not in the habit of forcing women. When we fuck, you’ll be begging me for it.”
Chapter Seventeen- Enzo
The last place I want to be is Oleg Petrov’s office.
Emma is settling into her new home. She isn’t comfortable yet, but she’s starting to relax. Meeting my mom went a long way to helping her adjust to her new circumstances. I had been worried about how strongly my mom would come on. She’s excited about getting a grandson. She’s also excited about getting a daughter-in-law. Her genuine warmth and love had taken Emma off-guard, rattled her enough my mom could worm her way under her guard. I should have known better than to doubt her. Out of everyone in my family, she is the only one who can relate to what Emma is going through. The only one who isn’t mafia by blood.
I’ve been spending more time with Matteo. We haven’t told him I’m his father, but I think he might know. We haven’t danced around mentioning it, and he’s too observant to not have noticed. He’s grown more comfortable with me. Introductions to the rest of the family are coming along slowly. He has met Andy, my mother, and my sisters, but we haven’t introduced him to most of the extended family.
He visits with Eric every day, playing cards or watching TV. Eric hasn't tried anything yet, but we keep him under close supervision. We closely monitored his time with Matteo. If he so much as whispers to the kid, we pull Matteo out of the room. It isn’t a mistake he’s made twice.
This afternoon, Emma is making cookies with Matteo and my mom. That’s where I want to be. Not stuck in an office with no goddamn windows.