Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 84756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
My arms fall to my sides, and I stare at nothing as one memory after the other plays out in my mind.
By the time my bedroom door slams open, my breaths are rushing over my lips, and my body’s a trembling mess.
What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.
I expect Damiano to pull out his gun and shoot me, but instead, he stalks toward me.
Even though I’m scared shitless, I don’t move a muscle.
When his fingers, once again, wrap around my throat, and he shoves me back until I’m pressed up against a wall, a squeak escapes me. I grab hold of his wrist with my left hand while my right slams against his way too solid chest.
For an unnerving moment, Damiano’s eyes burn into mine.
Somehow, I manage to notice that his grip on my throat isn’t biting like before.
Anger pours from him in crushing waves, and I swallow hard when it becomes near impossible to hold his gaze.
His voice is a low rumble of thunder when he growls, “Don’t ever say anything like that in my mother’s presence again.”
Once more, I’m too brave for my own good, as I say, “I won’t lie for anyone, including you.”
His jaw clenches so hard that a muscle jumps near his temple, and I expect to hear his teeth grind against each other.
He hasn’t killed you yet. Don’t push him.
For years, I’ve had to fight for myself, and it takes one hell of a swing at my pride when I whisper, “I regret upsetting your mother.”
His grip loosens around my throat, and I’m surprised when his eyes lower to the bruises he left on me.
I feel his thumb brush over my skin, and it makes a surprised gasp escape my lips.
No man has touched me in a gentle way before.
My stomach starts to spin with nerves, not from fear but with a strange sense of anticipation. The scent of his cologne and manliness fills the air I breathe.
I remember how lovingly Damiano spoke to his mother, and he treats her like she’s precious to him.
What would it be like to have the protection of such a powerful man?
No one would be able to hurt me.
His eyes flick to where I’m still holding his wrist, and I quickly let go. My arms fall to my sides, and glad for the wall behind me, I lean my weight against it.
Dio, the romance books and Bridgerton are getting to me. Damiano Falco is not a man you fantasize about.
He takes a step away from me, and I can’t stop my gaze from sweeping over his muscled body.
When I read a steamy scene from one of the books, I felt a tightening sensation in my abdomen, and as I look at Damiano, the same sensation is back. Only, it’s a hell of a lot stronger.
He tilts his head slightly, his eyes narrowing on me.
Crap.
For a moment, I lower my head, and banishing the attraction I’m feeling, I suck in a fortifying breath. When I’m sure my face is expressionless, I lift my head and lock eyes with him again.
With his gaze still narrowed on me, he demands, “Tell me what you were thinking about before you lowered your head.”
He didn’t see it written all over my face?
When I don’t answer fast enough, his expression starts to darken.
Unable to lie, my cheeks go up in flames as I admit, “I just noticed how attractive you are.”
Surprise flickers over his face, but it’s gone as quickly as it came.
Turning away from me, he glances around the room. His gaze stops on my dressing table, the surface covered with my makeup products.
Not saying anything, he starts to walk to the door, but then my phone vibrates and lights up with notifications from my social media accounts.
He pauses, and my heart jumps to my throat when he picks up the device where it’s lying at the foot of my bed.
He unlocks the screen, then mutters, “No password?”
“No.”
I gather my courage and step closer so I can see what he’s doing with my phone.
Damiano checks my contact list and call history before entering my TikTok account.
I’m too anxious to get upset that he’s invading my privacy.
As my latest video plays on the screen, he says, “You haven’t called your family.”
“No.”
He looks at the video for a few seconds before handing the device to me.
When I take it from him, I clutch it to my chest.
He seems to hesitate, and when I give him a questioning look, he stalks away from me. The door shuts softly behind him, and I slump down on the edge of my bed.
With my lips parted, I stare at the closed door, wondering what just happened.
Damiano is known for showing no mercy. The horror stories I’ve heard braced me for death, but he didn’t even hurt me.
I let out a breath of relief, then the past ten minutes replays in my mind.