Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
There’s a car in the driveway that I don’t recognize.
Fear lances into me. It’s probably paranoid since Gian and I haven’t exactly been in the center of the war, but I can’t help myself. Another thing my father drilled into my skull: our lives are dangerous, and I have to be careful at all times. But as I get closer, I realize there’s a note left under the windshield wiper written on simple white paper.
It’s Gian’s handwriting. Allegra. I hope you like your new car. The keys are on the front right tire. And I hope this will keep you from knocking down walls. The house can only handle so many amateur home improvement projects. “Asshole,” I mutter, smiling to myself. Come meet me at The Suburban in Center City tonight at six for drinks. In the meantime, update your resume. Love, Gian.
I run my fingers down the hood, smiling to myself. It’s a black BMW, top of the line for this model. I sit behind the wheel, running my fingers up and down the steering wheel. It smells brand new. Where the hell did he get this thing on such short notice? But that’s the power of money. Wave it around and someone will take it eventually.
Gian’s not the person I expected. I kept imagining a self-centered asshole, a massive dick of epic proportions, and not in a good way. Instead, he’s shockingly attuned to my needs.
This is one of the nicest gifts I’ve ever been given.
Because, in a lot of ways, it’s freedom.
Parking in Center City at freaking rush hour is an absolute nightmare. “Fucking asshole,” I grumble to myself as I circle the block for the thousandth time. “Never should’ve given me this car.” Right now, in the middle of my rage, this BMW is a curse.
Eventually, I give in and find a spot in a paid parking garage a couple blocks from the bar. I find Gian already sitting on a stool with a whiskey in front of him and a gin and tonic waiting for me. I slip into the spot on his right and he leans over to kiss my cheek. “What do you think?” he asks.
“It’s a decent spot,” I say, looking around. The Suburban has the feel of an old-school diner with modern touches. There’s lots of gleaming chrome, plenty of seating, and the bar area’s framed with fake wood. Young professional fresh out of work linger in the booths.
“No, I mean the car.”
“That old thing?” I give him a sly smile as he glares. “I love it. Seriously, thank you.”
He manages to smile in return as I touch his arm and let my fingers linger. Even now, after we’ve been sharing a bed for over a week, after having the steamiest and most satisfying sex of my entire life, I still feel this spark, an excited simmer deep down in my guts. It’s this man’s pull. It’s the rope he’s got wrapped around my heart.
“You’ll need it when you start your commute.”
“Why do you keep talking about me going to work?”
“Because that’s what you want even if you’re feeling a little lost right now.”
I open my mouth to tell him I’m not lost and he can go screw himself—but he’s right. I do feel lost, especially without my family. I slump a little and sip my drink, but I’m not in the mood for alcohol. Honestly, I haven’t been for a few nights now.
“I know you’re right, but finding the motivation hasn’t been easy, you know what I mean?”
“You’re dealing with something hard. I get it.”
“Do you?”
“When I first moved to Vegas, I was the same. Couldn’t motivate. Couldn’t make myself get out of bed half the time.”
My eyebrows raise. “Were you depressed?”
“Probably,” he grunts. “Everyone gets that way sometimes.”
“Wow. I’m honestly amazed. A big, strong mafia man admitting he has feelings?”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“I won’t.” I lean over and kiss his cheek. He holds me against him for a moment and kisses my lips.
“You need to get back into the world,” he says once I pull away. “Going back to work will help. And if you honestly don’t want to work, you don’t have to. We’ve got more money than we’ll ever spend in a lifetime.”
“You keep buying me expensive cars whenever I get upset and I bet we can blow through your savings.”
“Doubtful.”
“I’ve been thinking about it all day. I mean, even sitting in here, it’s hard to ignore all the youthful employees.”
“Ah, yes, the young workforce. Don’t they just looked drained and exhausted?”
I nudge him with my elbow. “They look happy and tired from a long day of doing what they love.”
“You really have been out of work for too long.”
“Says the guy that’s never had an actual job in his entire life. I liked what I did.”