Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
We’re both leaning over the table, yelling.
My gaze flicks around the room, everyone quickly averting their attention. This fucking woman has made me completely lose my composure.
But then her eyes fall to Honey.
Honey seems to shrink back.
When I reach out to her, she steps out of reach. It’s a surprise that this good girl has a sliver of the backbone of her sister. What is it with these Ricci women? I’ve killed for less than this.
“Honey, let me explain,” Rya begins.
“No. I think that’s enough for one day,” she says, sounding diplomatic, and looks at her father for approval. “I think that’s enough of a show for everyone, isn’t it?” But quietly, she turns to me. “It was never me you wanted, was it?”
Honey looks at me pointedly. And I don’t know what it is that she expects to see. Mercy? Comfort? She will see neither of those traits.
“I am contracted to have a Ricci bride, and I will have one,” is all I say.
“You are such a pig!” A glass of water splashes my face from Rya’s direction. She is all rage now. Even Honey knows better than to get in the middle as she steps back. Rya, however is vicious and hateful. And, fuck, those eyes of hers are shining with rage. I want to grab her and pin her against this table. This woman provokes every need in me, even in a situation like this.
My men step forward, but I raise my hand for them to stay out of it. Could I really reprimand Rya publicly in the same way I would others? If I did, she’d be dead.
“I’m sorry for my daughters,” Mr. Ricci begins. “It’s a very confusing situation.”
“I think it’s time we left,” Honey says, quickly gathering her things.
“Honey, can we talk?” Rya stretches her hand out to her sister.
“No,” Honey says with a tight smile. “Not today.”
Honey’s gaze is firm. A Ricci woman through and through. She’s not the one I want, but she’s the one I will be married to.
I lock gazes with the spitfire across from me. Her caramel hair is coming loose from her bun and she looks like she’s about to combust into flames.
“Maybe I should have aimed higher when I shot you.”
“Maybe you should have just married me instead.”
“Fuck off, Crue!” Rya flips me off and storms out.
Mr. Ricci sits there speechless. His wife blanched pale about two minutes ago.
“My daughter has always been very vocal,” he finally says.
“Doesn’t make for a good wife,” I reprimand.
But my God, the only woman I want to be my wife is the one who lacks all of the qualities I am looking for in a plaint wife.
Rya being here changes nothing.
In two weeks, I will be married.
CHAPTER 62
Rya
I wasn’t meeting anyone.
As quickly as possible, I went to the nearest hotel, jumped into the shower, and crawled into bed naked.
I should have brought my bag, but I hadn’t planned to run away from my family.
I knew I couldn’t sit there a second longer.
I need to sleep.
Maybe tomorrow, I’ll be better prepared to deal with it.
I expected Crue to be marrying someone else, but I didn’t expect it would be my sister.
I try to call her once, but it goes straight to voicemail.
So, out of respect, I will give her a day before I show up at my father’s house.
“So it turned into a screaming match in a local restaurant?” Angel sits breastfeeding Alessia, looking at me dumbfounded. Then her worried gaze moves to Dominic.
“Yeah, basically,” I say, defeated.
She whistles. “You two have absolutely lost your fucking minds.”
“What? I’m not the psycho who came back to put a ring on my sister’s finger and plan on marrying her in two weeks!” I immediately apologize for raising my voice as Alessia stirs.
We sit in Dominic and Angel’s mansion—the couple having settled into family life. Dominic lounges next to Angel, his hand helping to cradle the baby, as if he wants to be a part of everything.
I find it strange to watch them. Angel is married with a kid now. The exact things I have been running away from my entire life. I wonder if my father and mother shared a moment like this. Whether they were the vision of doting parents. Or if my mother was out flaunting her newfound money and lifestyle the week after I was born.
“Yeah, we only received our wedding invitation today,” Angel says as she nudges Dominic to hand it over. He blows out a low, begrudging breath as he holds it to me. And there, in writing, it states the time and date of Miss Honey Ricci being married to Mr. Crue Monti.
“Well, shit! Looks like he’s willing to make a big deal of their wedding, whereas all I got was a forced attempt. We might as well have gone to Vegas and had Elvis marry us,” I say bitterly as I hand the elegant invitation back to Dominic.