Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
“But you’ll do.”
“Sorry, your great handsomeness, but there wasn’t any makeup in the bags.”
He slides his arm around my waist and drags me to him, tipping my chin up with his strong hand, fingers caressing my skin. “You look beautiful, even if you hate me. It’s your outfit.”
“What’s wrong with it? It’s fashionable.”
“You’re showing too much of what’s mine.”
“Showing too much?” He presses his hand to my bare stomach. I zipper the hoodie.
“Better?”
“Much.”
We walk downstairs together, and Vivian’s waiting with a grin spreading on her face. “Oh my goodness. I love that look on you. I had no idea you’d match that together. Wow, sexy as hell, and your long curly hair up in a ponytail only adds to the hotness. I’m surprised he let you walk out of the bedroom.”
“Vivian,” Gio snarls.
“Viper, be nice to your brother.”
“I am. Now, come along. I’m still hungry, and we need to eat.” She flips off her brother and takes me by the arm, looping her arm around mine and walking me into the kitchen.
“So, are we going to talk about the miserable look on both your faces?”
“No.”
“Come on. It couldn’t have been that bad, could it? Never mind—I don’t want to know. He’s my brother.” She sticks her hand down her throat, pretending to gag. I chuckle and shake my head.
“It’s complicated.”
“You know what we already spoke about.”
“Yes, I do, but it’s different, and trust me when I say don’t make this something more than it is. Gio and I aren’t meant to be. Perhaps one day he’ll see that, and I’ll be able to leave.”
I stand up to walk out because I’m truly not hungry. When I turn to leave, I slam right into my husband’s chest. I swallow hard because the cold look in his eyes couldn’t be clearer. Not only did he hear me, but he also knows I’m right.
“I thought I told you to eat.”
“I’m sure I said I wasn’t hungry.”
“Vivian, will you excuse us?”
“Sure, but don’t be fucking on my counter. That’s for Matteo and me.”
“Eww.” He shrugs away the disgust of picturing his sister while she laughs. For a brief minute, I can forget my pain and see the sweet familial bond. She leaves the room and that safety barrier is gone.
When his eyes return to me, the harshness is back. “Wife, get something through that pretty head of yours.”
I look into his terrifyingly handsome eyes and forget myself. “What? A bullet?”
He grasps my chin, rage boiling with every word that falls from his mouth. “Don’t ever speak like that. I understand that you hate me when I’m not making you come, but I won’t let you out of this marriage no matter what bullshit you try.”
“Not even after you get your revenge on my father?” I asked, ripping my gaze away from his before he breaks me.
“Look at me, Patricia.”
“Why?”
“Damn it, you try my patience and I’m about to fuck you right on this counter.”
“What about what Vivian said?”
“I don’t give a fuck what my sister said. I’ll teach her to give you clothes like that. She’s asking for me to kill someone.”
“Why do you care?”
“You’re my wife. Do you think I want men staring at you? Wanting to fuck you? If another man put his hands on you, I’d chop them off.”
“That’s gross.”
“It’s nothing compared to what I’ll do if someone touches what’s mine.”
“You don’t like anyone playing with your toys.”
“You’re mine, Patricia. My wife, my bride, one day the mother of my children. Disrespect to you is disrespect to me.”
“Pride cometh before the fall, Mr. Barone.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“I’m nothing but a tool in your war and a prized possession. You used me to get at my father and you can’t have anyone make you look bad, so that’s the only reason I’m not to be disrespected, but you don’t like or respect me. So take your pride and shove it up your ass. I want nothing to do with you. Leave me alone. You should have just let me walk away the first time. Now, I’ll do whatever I have to do to get away from you. I won’t be the fuck toy or baby factory for another heartless mobster. I had that option and ran for a reason.”
I storm from the room and rush up to the bedroom, locking the door and heading into the bathroom. I dig out the phone and power it on, hoping that I have time to myself to use it. When I don’t hear Gio’s footsteps, I use it. My first call is to the chef. It goes to voicemail, so I leave a brief message but then he calls back.
“Patty, dear,” he whispers. “Is this really you?”
“Si, Manuel.”
“Oh, como estas, muñeca?”
“I’m fine, but I need to get out of here.”
“So it’s not true about the marriage?”