Series: The Rossi Crime Family Series by J.L. Beck
Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 56905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“Since you’re here, I was going to tell you something,” Sophie tells Luke. The twinkle in her eyes telling me it’s something good. “Ivan and Violet have been talking about moving to North Woods because Violet wants to be closer to her sister. So, we are thinking about doing the same.”
“You’re moving back home?” Luke asks, and I hate that he calls that town his home. I don’t want to go back there, and I definitely don’t want to stay. All that place is, is a reminder of all the wrong in my life.
“I think so. Roman is thinking about opening a gym there, and even though he won't admit it, he would miss Ivan too much.” Roman shakes his head but his grin gives him away. “Also, I could be closer to you and Elyse. That is if you are planning to stay in North Woods for good this time?”
“We are,” Luke answers without hesitation, and I have the overwhelming urge to punch him in his handsome face.
“Doesn’t look like Grace is too happy about that,” Roman says, chuckling.
“She’ll come around,” Luke says with nothing but confidence.
“We’ll see about that,” I mutter under my breath, wondering how I’m going to get out of this.
12
Luke
We spend the next two days in the hotel. Anything I say turns into an argument, and everything I do turns into her fighting me on it. I'm ready to take her across my knee, and the only thing keeping me from doing so is knowing that she is not feeling well. So, when she tells me she doesn’t need any more pain meds because she is done with her period, I grin internally, knowing that the next time she lashes out at me, I will retaliate in the best way possible.
Grace is curled up on the sofa watching some rom-com, trying her best to ignore me, when I decide to make a move. “Since you’re feeling better, how about we go out for dinner tonight? I know some great restaurants in this area,” I offer.
“Do you know those restaurants because of your job or because you took other women there?” she sasses without looking away from the TV. I know she is trying to hide it, but I can tell that she is hurt that I slept with other women while we were apart. I don’t blame her; I would have killed any guy who touched her. Literally.
“I did not take any women to any restaurants, and I didn’t go on dates. I had some random one-night stands, that’s all.”
Her gaze cuts from the tv to me, and when I see the hurt in her eyes, I know she's about to say something that's going to piss me off. “Why don’t you go and have one of those random hookups now and leave me the hell alone?”
“You don't mean that,” I grit out, walking over to her.
“I do.” She looks like a feral kitten that needs some taming, and as the organ in my jeans grows increasingly hard, I know I'll have no choice but to show her she doesn't mean it.
“Fine then, I’ll do that,” I tell her, trying to keep a straight face. Of course, I would never do such a thing, but it’s nice to prove to her this way that she cares. “If you don’t care, there is no reason in me staying here.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, her head snaps up.
“You wouldn't.” Her gaze narrows.
“I would. You clearly want me to, so I'll be back in a few hours, I guess.”
I can see the resolve in her features melting. Anger mixed with jealousy, turns into sadness, and I almost cave and tell her I’m not serious, but I know this is the push she needs to admit her feelings. So instead of giving in, I turn around and start walking toward the door. I hope like hell she gets up and follows me, otherwise, I don't know what I'll do.
“Don’t you dare leave.” If her voice wasn’t so fucking heartbreaking, I would smirk.
“Why not,” I ask, looking back at her over my shoulder.
“You know why.”
“Oh, I know, but I want you to say it out loud. I want you to admit it to yourself, to both of us.” When she doesn’t say anything, I shake my head slightly and start walking away from her again. That must do it because the next instant I feel my heart soaring out of my chest at her words.
“I love you, okay?” She yells after me, and my feet stop moving. “I love you, and I don’t want you to be with anyone else.”
I spin around and cross the distance between us in a second. Taking the seat next to hers. “And why was it that hard to admit? Why can’t you just accept it? We’re meant to be together, Grace. It's always been you for me and yet you fight me on everything.”