Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
I need to see Michael. I don’t believe I should just call. Calling leaves room for complications and misunderstandings.
This is hard enough for me. I can learn to become a black belt fighter by watching videos. I’ve become a weapons specialist in the same manner. My tablet has always been my friend.
It has brought the world to me. If I want to know something I spend hours diving into knowledge, separating myths from facts. Once the information begins to play in my mind like a symphony, I find that I’m satisfied and have the knowledge I desire for that subject.
It is how I learn. However, emotions and relationships can’t be taught through my tablet. Trust me, I’ve tried. I haven’t found an answer to what I’m doing wrong with Michael.
“I’m sorry,” Adriano says as he reaches to cover my hand to keep me from popping the band.
“It’s okay. I am under a lot of stress. I might be overreacting.”
“You are not. I have overstepped.”
“I don’t speak of Michael to anyone. It is hard to explain how I feel about him, about what I know he has sacrificed for me.
“He doesn’t neglect me out of cruelty. Other things keep us apart. I want … I …” I shake my head as I have trouble finding the right words.
I’m so frustrated. I hate it when I can’t draw my words together. It’s like the words are right there, but I can’t express them the way I want.
“You don’t have to explain it to me.”
“But I want to.”
“It’s okay, Sim. I can see you are overwhelmed. Take the rest of the ride to gather your thoughts for him. That’s who matters.”
“You matter too. You have become my friend. I couldn’t have done this or my business without you.”
He reaches to pat my knee. “You saved my life. I will always be here for you.”
“Thank you, Adriano.”
***
We pull up to the gate of the property and Adriano pulls to a stop. I am startled when he throws the car into park and jumps out. One of the guards at the gate looks just like him.
Adriano and the man tug each other into a tight embrace and begin to speak in rapid Italian.
“I have come with Symphony. She’s here to see the boss,” Adriano says in Italian.
The man knits his brow. “Why would you bring her here? This is not good. Michael will be furious.”
“He did not bring me here. I came on my own and he followed. Let us in. Michael can chastise me himself,” I reply in Italian as well.
“This is my brother Salvatore Cattaneo. He means no disrespect,” Adriano says with a smile as he pats his brother’s chest.
“Hurry, take her to the house before someone sees her here,” Salvatore says with concern in his eyes. “Benito, I’m going to ride to the house with them. Will you be fine here?”
“Gino is on his way. Go on, I’ll be fine.”
Adriano and Salvatore jump back into the vehicle, and we pull through the gate. Salvatore talks with his heavy accent as we head to the house. I watch out the window, remembering the first time I came here.
As we get closer to the house, my heart begins to pound. I don’t know what greeting awaits me. Adriano could be right. This could be a very bad idea.
I hold my breath as we park, and I step out of the vehicle. I move to the front door as I used to do every day after school. Pushing through the front door, I inhale deeply.
It’s like I’m welcomed home by the familiar scents of simmering sauce, fresh flowers, and the manly colognes of Michael and Nico. As if summoned by my thoughts, Nico comes up the hall with an apple in his hand as he takes a bite out of it. He pulls the apple from his mouth as he knits his brows.
“Bella, you are a sight for sore eyes. Come give me a hug,” he croons in Italian.
I rush forward into his arms. He gives me a tight squeeze. I squeeze him tighter, not realizing how much I’ve missed him too.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“I could ask you the same thing. Why aren’t you with the team?”
He gives me a blinding, mischievous smile. I drop my gaze away and dart my eyes around. Nico and his cheeky behavior will always exasperate me.
I don’t take offense. I get that it’s brotherly love. Nico would never do anything to harm me.
“I’ve missed you. Now that there’s a possibility Uri will be in the States more, I have signed a new contract to play for an American team. I had planned to drop in on you at the end of this week, but here you are,” he says with a teasing grin.
“Uri is moving to America?” I gasp.