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)
“I suggest you don’t do that too much anymore.”
“Confirmed. Ouch.” She rubbed at her temple.
“Roman killed Phillip. He died at the safe house.”
“He was obsessed with power. With taking his brother’s place,” Alex said.
Thinking about Roman brought tears to her eyes. “I want a divorce, Dad. You’re going to have to figure out some way to … bring peace with Lucas, but I can’t, not anymore. Not after.”
“I know. I have already called my lawyer. I don’t mean to be rude, but you did mention an annulment…”
“Dad, that’s not possible.” She hated saying those words to him.
“Okay.” He sat on the bed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“I am still going to be Mommy to those kids,” Alex said.
“I figured you were going to say that.” Liam sighed. “I have already had the orphanage sign removed and have done the necessary paperwork. That house is now yours, Alex. You can do with it as you please.”
“I can?”
“Yes. I’ve also contacted some contractors. I think it’s time it is made into a house. If anyone can take on fifteen kids, then it’s you,” he said.
“Is that why … you didn’t want me to adopt?” Alex asked.
“I knew who they were, and at the time, tensions were still very much in place. If I allowed you to go through with any adoption, I was worried for your safety, and for the safety of the children.”
“You should have told me.”
“I was doing what your mother wanted.”
“You were?”
“She knew what I was capable of. Knew our lifestyle, and she wanted me to keep it as far away from you as I could. I failed.”
“You did great, Dad.”
“But growing up, you never had a whole lot of friends.”
She shrugged. “Friends can be overrated. I had you and Millie. That was enough.” She rested her head against his shoulder.
The doctor suddenly appeared. “Sir, Lucas and Roman Greco are here.”
Liam tutted and Alex tensed.
Her father had snuck her away while they’d been distracted.
“I will go deal with them,” Liam said.
“Don’t leave.”
“Honey.”
“Can we go?”
The doctor looked at her and then turned to her father. “She needs to be kept awake, and if she does fall asleep, wake her every hour, on the hour, just to be sure.” He winked at her.
“Thank you.”
Liam helped her up. The pain meds the doctor had given her had made her feel a little lightheaded. She held on to her father, knowing he would protect her.
They left the room and headed out into the hallway. The doctor led the way, and then he looked between them all. “I will leave you people alone,” he said.
Alex stared at Roman.
The liar.
“You shouldn’t have taken off,” Lucas said.
“My daughter was injured. I will do anything for her,” Liam said. “And she didn’t need to see another dead body.”
She winced as they all seemed to be shouting.
“I will take care of her,” Roman said. “I’ve gone through this before. Waking her up, making sure there is no permanent damage.”
“I want a divorce,” Alex said. Her words rang out in the hallway.
“Not happening,” Lucas Greco said.
“I suggest you and I talk before you start telling my daughter what is and is not happening,” Liam said.
“I’m not going to stay married to you,” Alex said.
“Alex, come on, you know what is at stake.”
“Yeah, I do, which is why I’ve asked my dad to make arrangements so that this can be amicable. I want nothing to do with you or your family.”
“Does that mean you will not be adopting those kids?” Roman asked.
“You leave them out of this. Those kids are mine. They may have Greco blood running through their veins, but they will never belong to you.”
“They will be soldiers,” Lucas said.
“No, they will not,” Alex said.
She released her father, clenched her hands into fists, and glared at Lucas Greco. She wasn’t afraid of these men.
“You gave up the right to those kids. You can try to take them, but you will be hit with a brick wall. I swear I will make your life and all the lives of your capos fucking hell if you even try to test me.” Alex had no idea what she would do, but with him being a mafia capo and the Boss, there were things she could do. She just had to not have a painful head to think about it. “You shouldn’t have manipulated me,” Alex said, turning to Roman. “I was willing to give us a shot. There didn’t have to be love. There didn’t even have to be any kind of emotion. I was fine just being your wife, and us just surviving. You lied, and you … you were trying to make me cheat on you to what? Prove what? That I wasn’t good enough? Because I’m a Smith and not a Greco?”
“Alex, please.”
“It’s best if we just end things now.” She couldn’t add, before one of us gets hurt. Alex already felt like she was being torn apart.