Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Close?”
“In love. Like the last few weeks we’ve been together.”
“Don’t they know I’ve been hurt? Injured?”
“No, they have been able to keep it under wraps,” Roman said. “No one knows.” It was a miracle they’d been able to keep it quiet for this long.
Locking Alex away had helped though. The men who had been placed at the hospital were the most trusted. They were known for getting the job done without saying a fucking word.
“Isn’t that dangerous?” Alex asked.
“They’re hoping to either draw out a suspect or rule out everyone associated with the Greco family.”
“That does make sense. So I’m bait.”
“No, we’re bait. I’ll be by your side the whole time.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“The only problem,” Roman said.
“What?”
“The in-love part. Liam and my dad said that it has to be real. It has to be … authentic.”
“Roman, I don’t think I need to tell you that it’s going to be impossible to do that. You don’t believe in love and we’re not an in-love couple.”
“Which is why I figured we’ve got two weeks to at least act it. We can’t be indifferent to each other. We act like a normal couple, and to help, Marlo, Cash, and Antonio have agreed to help us. We will be training with them.”
“Training? Are you kidding me? Training to be … in love. Don’t you think that sounds crazy?”
“The main training will start when the kids are in bed. We’ll be using the basement to practice.”
“That’s just great. Using the basement where it’s the main port of horror in all scary movies.”
“Which you don’t watch to help your dad?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood.
She chuckled. “Yeah, he doesn’t like me watching them, so I don’t.”
“And not because you’re afraid.”
“No, I’m not afraid. Don’t you think this is a bit ridiculous?”
“It sounds it, but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, even if it means undergoing training from three men.”
Alex held a finger up. “Wait, how can they be our teachers in this? Are they in love? Have they ever been in love?”
“They’re the closest ones that have been. I don’t trust anyone else, Alex. They’re the only ones who can help us.”
“Then I fear we are doomed.”
He agreed.
The plan was to try to help his cause in making Alex fall in love with him. The guys knew they had to keep them close, force them to look at each other, and there were going to be a lot of parts Roman didn’t know, but the guys promised him that they’d help him.
With how important it was for Alex to fall in love with him, he’d put an end to his plan for his friends to try to get her into bed. He didn’t like how it made him feel anymore. The thought of any of them touching Alex, kissing her, stroking her body, feeling how curvy and perfect she was, it filled him with rage. He just couldn’t handle anyone else touching her or wanting her.
She was his.
The kids began to make their return, and Alex stood to make room for them back at the table. She rounded the table and stood behind his.
The only sounds to be heard were the licks and the hums of approval. Who knew that an ice cream cone could silence children?
It was nice. Sweet music to his ears. The only time the kids were this silent was in the middle of the night.
He often found himself lying awake, trying to hear a sound of anyone threatening his woman. The moment they found the person responsible, Roman was going to deal with him. Liam was under the impression that he was going to get the chance to deal with him, but not on his watch.
This man had fucked with the wrong woman.
“What are you guys drawing now?” Alex asked. She placed her hand on his shoulder and leaned over.
He didn’t want her to move away. The simplest touch felt like so much more. What was happening to him? Why did he care so much about Alex?
He had hated her for the longest time. No, not hate, just not liked.
Damn it, she was messing with his head, and he needed to get his shit back into the game.
“Doggies!” Stuart said.
Alex sighed. “I wish we could get a dog for you guys, but I’ve been told time and time again, the answer is no.”
Roman filed that piece of information for later. The kids started to draw a dog, and Alex attempted to step away, but he captured her wrist and pressed a kiss to her inner wrist. He didn’t want her to leave.
What was wrong with him?
He wasn’t dependent on a woman. He never felt this way, but when it came to Alex, she was fucking with his head.
****
The basement wasn’t so bad.
Several years ago, Liam had donated the money to get it decorated and to turn it into a hangout room for the kids. Just another room for them to enjoy.