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)
Ignoring his question, I ask, “Was last night a one-night stand?”
“Huh?” he grunts in my ear. “Since when are you interested in my sex life?”
“I’m not,” I snap. “Just answer the fucking question.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
Fuck.
“You’re dating?” I ask.
“Yeah. I found myself a little dancer. We’re going on our first date tomorrow.”
I let out a sigh. “Are you serious about the woman?”
“As serious as a heart attack. By the way, she lives in Brownsville. If you plan on attacking, give me a heads up so I can get her out of there.”
Christ, what the fuck do I do with Gabriella.
“Why all the questions?” Dario asks, his tone growing suspicious.
“No reason,” I mutter. “Just keeping an eye on you.” I’m about to hang up, then add, “Get yourself some guards. You’re way too careless.”
“Aww ... I knew you ca–”
Before he can finish the sentence, I end the call and shove the device back into my pocket.
I hear movement behind me, and a moment later, Carlo comes to stand next to me.
With his gaze resting on the view of the lake, he asks, “You okay?”
I let out a heavy breath. “Yes.”
“Your mother?”
“She’s fine.”
He nods, then turns his head to look at me. “What are you going to do with Gabriella?”
Fuck knows.
“I wanted to arrange a marriage between her and Dario.”
“Wanted?” he asks. “You changed your mind?”
“Dario’s dating some woman. It sounds serious.”
“So what are you going to do?”
I feel eyes on me, and glancing over my shoulder, I see Gabriella standing near the doorway with a worried expression on her face.
Cautiously, she steps closer. “I’d like to hear the answer to that question.” Her tongue darts out to wet her lips. “Seeing as it concerns me.”
I turn to face her, and when my eyes lock with hers, Carlo says, “That’s my cue to go.” He takes the stairs down to the lawn and walks toward a group of guards.
Gabriella steps out onto the veranda and wraps her arms around herself.
When she tries to rub some warmth into her bare arms, I mutter, “Go inside where it’s warm.”
She lowers her arms and fist her hands at her sides. Her features tighten, and she lifts an eyebrow at me.
“What do you plan to do with me?” she demands.
I take a few steps closer, forcing her to tilt her head back so she can keep eye contact with me.
My tone is low when I answer, “At the rate you’re testing me, I might just decide to kill you instead of sending you back to Sicily.”
Panic flares in her eyes. “To my parents?”
She’s not worried about me killing her.
Gabriella moves closer to me, and for the first time since I laid eyes on her, she gives me a pleading look.
“Don’t send me back to my parents.” It’s not a question but a demand. “I have money. I can get a place of my own. I’ll disappear.”
Someone like her could never disappear. She’ll always stand out.
“You want me to let you go,” I murmur.
Her head bobs up and down, and I see a flicker of hope in her light brown eyes.
“You’re a mafia princess,” I remind her.
Her brows furrow, her expression something between sad and angry.
“I’m so tired of everyone treating me like a pawn in whatever game they're playing.” The sadness fades until she looks like a powerful queen. “I’m not a possession.”
Needing to test her strength, I close the short distance between us until our bodies almost touch.
“I own everything in this city.” Leaning down, my eyes burn into hers. “Including you, principessa.”
Gabriella doesn’t back down. Instead, she surprises the fuck out of me when she presses her body to mine, rage tightening her features.
Her tone is just as low as mine when she doubles down and says, “I am not a possession.”
No, she’s not.
Instead of losing my temper, the corner of my mouth lifts, and my smile stuns Gabriella.
“You’re quite the little spitfire,” I murmur.
A frown forms on her forehead, and she looks at me with confusion. “You’re not upset?”
I shake my head as her fresh scent drifts around me. I feel the slight tremble in her body, and before I can stop myself, I lift my hand to her neck.
My thumb brushes over the fading bruises.
I hate that I left marks on her skin and hope they’ll be gone by tomorrow.
My eyes flick to hers, and I watch as her pupils dilate.
Letting go of the rigid control I always have, I allow myself to feel.
My heartbeat quickens slightly, and a need to touch more than just her neck pours into my veins.
Tension builds between us, and with every passing second, the trembling in her body grows.
Maybe this woman is strong enough to survive being by my side.
As soon as the thought pops into my mind, I let go of her and step backward.
“Go inside, Gabriella. I’m done with this conversation.”