Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
He shakes his head and backs away. “You’re going to regret this. You’ll miss me.”
“I miss you already.”
“Liar.”
When he grabs his luggage and walks to the door, my heart skips, and I hurry after him and wrap my arms around his back. He turns to face me and his eyes are alight with amusement.
“I’m still here; this is your last chance.”
“Valentino,” I groan. “If you ask me again, I’ll say, yes. I swear it.”
He smiles and kisses my forehead. “Then I won’t ask.”
I fall harder in love with him at that moment. “But you need to know that I’m only doing this for you. I do not want to see Matteo; I do not care about him at all.”
“Thank you, Valentino.” I take his hands. “I don’t take this for granted.”
He stares at me for another long moment before nodding. Then he turns away, but not before I catch the ghost of a smile on his face that tells me he secretly admires the sacrifice I am making for Nonna Isadora and Matteo.
I follow him down the stairs, where Vance takes his luggage and walks out. Roberto is also waiting in the living room. He looks happy that Valentino is going to see Matteo.
“Good morning,” he greets. “Good morning, Signora Barone.”
I frown. “Just call me Francesca.”
“Signora Barone sounds better,” Valentino says. “I’ll be outside with you shortly, Roberto.”
“Okay.” Roberto takes the hint and disappears, leaving us alone.
“When will you be back?”
“As soon as I have seen Matteo,” he says.
“Alright. Go well and come back safely to me.” I kiss his lips.
“I’ll see you soon.” He lingers beside me for a few seconds before leaving.
As soon as the door closes, my heart longs for him again. For a short while, I almost run out of the door to glimpse him again, but I don’t want to seem desperate. Instead, I go and sit on the armchair in the living room, contemplating my life, and how I got here. When did I become so dependent on Valentino that the thought of a couple of days away from him is like torture?
The door opens, and my head whips towards it, hoping it’s Valentino, but my happiness deflates when I see Vance. He’s surprised to see me in the living room, which is understandable because whenever Valentino is absent, I’m always upstairs in our bedroom.
“You didn’t go with them?” I ask.
Vance walks slowly to the other end of the room. He always gives me a wide berth. Dutch does, too. It’s like they’re scared of coming too close to me. As if I carry a communicable disease.
“No, La Signora Barone.”
“Why?”
“The Boss wants me to guard the house.”
I laugh. “The house? Or me?”
Vance purses his lips and looks away from me. I know trying to have a conversation with him is hopeless, so I put the TV on and direct my attention to it.
Two hours later, I’m at the dining table having some food, when the doorbell rings. I glance at Vance. He jumps up from his chair by the window and looks at me. “Are you expecting anyone?”
I shake my head.
“It’s Federico,” he says looking at his phone screen.
“I’ll get it,” I say, jumping up and walking towards the door.
“Don’t.” He is scowling blackly.
It stops my tracks. “Are you going to open the door?”
“No.” Vance stares at me with stone-cold eyes.
“What?” I feel quite confused. “That’s Valentino’s cousin.”
“He does not need to be here. The Boss isn’t here, and he knows it.”
“You guys are all crazy,” I mutter before heading towards the door. Vance is suddenly in front of me, blocking my path. It’s the closest he’s ever come to me since I’ve been with Valentino.
“Don’t open the door.” His words are like an order, and instantly, I balk against it. Around us, the doorbell is still ringing nonstop.
“How are you going to stop me?” I ask, before pushing past him.
I know he won’t touch me, and I’m right. When I reach the door, I pull it open, an apologetic smile on my face. From the first moment I met Federico and his brothers at the airport on my first trip to Venice, we hit it off instantly. We’ve not had a moment to connect since then, and now that Valentino is not here to glare at him, maybe we can be friends.
“Hiya.”
“Francesca,” Federico laughs. “How are you?”
“Come on in,” I invite warmly.
Without Valentino around he seems a little more relaxed and I’m happy about it.
“I’m fine. What about you? Everything alright?” he asks, glancing around him.
“I can’t complain.” He walks into the house and seems slightly taken aback to see Vance’s forbidding and clearly disapproving figure, but he nods politely at him. “Vance.”
“Federico.”
“I’m having grilled cheese on toast and tomato soup. Would you like some?” I ask Federico, walking towards the dining table. I hate eating alone and I’d asked Vance earlier, but he courteously but categorically refused.