Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
There was silence across the line when she finished explaining all that had happened since she last talked to her dad. She did leave out the important detail of sleeping with Diego on his office desk. He really didn’t need to know that.
“I’m going to want to meet this guy,” he said.
“Dad, it’s fine. Please, don’t do the whole scary dad routine. I like this guy.”
“And if he likes you, he’ll deal with me.”
“I don’t even know how serious this is. Could you at least give me a little time to figure out everything else?” she asked.
There was a short pause across the line before he agreed.
At least she had time to work out what it was they were doing with each other.
Chapter Five
A few days later, holding a bundle of roses, Diego made his way to Belle’s apartment. His father had turned up at his apartment, demanding his presence at a business meeting. It was all the capos from different cities, and the head of the cartel. They wanted to start a new business venture, one that could help both of them with their drug trade. The cartel leader needed unlimited access through major cities, and well, he also needed the trade of guns.
The Boss had a week to think about it, and tomorrow night they would make their first deal with the cartel.
They had a mutual enemy in the Russians, and as they were now moving in on their turf, trying to sell them out of drugs, it was time to act quickly. With their connections to the cartel, it made them stronger, and in doing that, it made the Russians weaker. But this was only one part of his problem.
The other was Angelo.
He wanted the capo role, which meant he wanted Diego out. The only way to take a capo out was by death or proving they were working against The Boss. Seeing as Diego was neither working against The Boss, nor on his deathbed, Angelo was trying to find a way to take him out. Hiring a contract killer would be the easiest option, but it would easily be traced back to Angelo.
Diego also didn’t know if Angelo had reached out to any of his men, and who he’d turned against him with the promise of more money and power, the two commodities that seemed to test a man’s loyalty.
He was pissed, exceedingly pissed.
Not to mention he had to also keep his association with Belle a secret. No one could know.
Then, of course, he had to also keep up appearances with Charlotte Durante, his fiancée.
It helped that Charlotte didn’t seem interested in him either. Time was ticking for him to marry her, but he couldn’t find any enthusiasm to claim her since meeting Belle. The only woman who was on his mind, who he wanted, was on the other side of the door.
Knocking on the door, he waited.
The roses were to make him feel better. She deserved so much more than roses. He was a fucking pig.
Belle deserved someone she could love and trust. Not him.
She had no idea he was getting married, or that he was the mafia. She thought he owned a club and was a simple man.
There was nothing simple about his life.
His life was fucking dangerous.
“Who is it?” Belle asked.
He’d already talked to Richard. It seemed the guy with the agenda was the only man he could trust to put a guy to keep her safe. If Angelo ever found out about her, he’d kill her. He couldn’t have that.
She didn’t fit into his world, but he was determined to make it work.
“It’s me, baby, open up.”
He heard the lock click open, and she was at the door, a huge smile on her face. She reached out, touching his chest, and then flung herself into his arms, holding him tightly.
“I missed you.”
This was not the welcome he hoped to receive. He’d left her, and she should be pissed at him.
She doesn’t know the truth.
“Come on. I missed you. I just ordered pizza. It should be here any minute.” She pulled him into her apartment, and he followed her, closing the door and flicking the lock into place. Her safety meant a great deal to him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve missed you.”
He watched her put her headphones away. She listened to a lot of audio books. She walked back toward him, and he noticed her counting, her lips moving just slightly.
She pushed him down on the sofa, and suddenly, she straddled him. It wasn’t very smooth as she kneed him in the thigh, but he put her right and ran his hands up her thighs, moving around to her ass.
“Now this is a welcome I didn’t expect.”
She cupped the back of his head and took his lips in a hard kiss. “I missed you.”