Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“For fun?”
“To protect those I love. To ensure their safety. To keep my businesses free from them.”
She was quiet, then shrugged. “Morally gray, then. But it doesn’t make you evil. You do what you have to in order to survive. In my mind, you are still a good man.”
“Would you think that if you knew I was actively pursuing your sister to eliminate her?”
She stood. “I ceased having a sister a long time ago. I only realized it a few weeks ago. The sister I hoped to have never existed.”
And with those words, she walked away.
The night before our wedding, I lay in the large bed of my suite, wondering why I had given in to Nonna. She had arrived early that day and, among all her other decrees, announced that Effie would be staying with her tonight.
“It is tradition,” she insisted.
“Nothing about this wedding is traditional,” I replied dryly.
“I am aware, but it is how it should be.”
And three hours ago, she had taken Effie with her, closing the door between the two rooms. I had no desire for a bachelor party or any of the other silly traditions some couples liked. There was no rehearsal dinner, no practice ceremony. We had dinner in the restaurant as a family, and I worked afterward, making sure all was well with the hotel and casino. Then I came upstairs and had a drink, trying not to sulk about the fact that Effie would be down the hall and not beside me later. Why it bothered me so much, I had no idea, so I pretended all was fine and sent her away with a smile and a kiss on the cheek under Nonna’s watchful eye. I ignored the teasing from Luca and Aldo until I kicked them out and headed to the gym, before returning to the suite and showering.
Except, I couldn’t sleep. Without Effie beside me, I found it impossible to relax. I knew she was only a short distance away. There were men outside in the hall, and she was perfectly safe.
But I wasn’t beside her.
I tossed and turned and eventually gave up, swinging my legs over the mattress and running my hand through my hair in agitation. With a low growl, I stood and headed through the closet and into Nonna’s suite. Effie was on the bed in the guest room, curled up with a book, not asleep either. She looked up at me, shaking her head. I strode forward, scooping her into my arms and turning, carrying her back to my suite.
“What are you doing?” she whispered. “Nonna says you can’t see me after midnight until the ceremony.”
“It’s eleven fifty-five,” I replied. “I’ll shut my eyes for the rest of the night. But this is utter nonsense. You’re sleeping with me.”
I deposited her on the bed, sliding in beside her and pulling her back to my chest. My entire body relaxed at her closeness. “This is where you belong.”
“Nonna won’t be happy.”
I pressed a kiss to her neck. “I’ll have you back early. She won’t even know.”
She snuggled back with a happy sigh. “I prefer it here too.”
“Good. This is where you’ll be the rest of your life. Now go to sleep.”
“Good night, Roman.”
“Good night, Little Tiger.”
I carefully slipped a sleeping Effie onto the bed in the guest room in Nonna’s suite. The one Nonna thought Effie had been using until I informed her otherwise.
I stood beside the bed, gazing down at the woman I would marry later that day. With her dark hair spread around her and her hand tucked under her chin, she looked lovely. Still innocent. Even though she was no longer a virgin, she would remain that way. It was part of who she was. Sweet and kind. Loving. Despite everything her sister had done to her during her life, the loss of her mother, the struggles she’d gone through with her business and relying only on herself, she remained so.
I should feel guilty bringing her into my world. Chaining her to me because of my own desires. I could send her to live elsewhere, free from worry. A new name, a new place, no connection to me. But the thought of doing so did something to me, and I couldn’t. Somehow I needed her in my life. I needed that sweetness. Her affection. I craved her body as much as I craved her smile.
So I was keeping her.
I placed a small box on the pillow beside her and bent, pressing a kiss to her forehead. I left the room, pulling the door shut behind me. I stopped when I saw Nonna sitting on the sofa, staring at me knowingly. A pot of coffee was in front of her. She always made her own, disliking room service even though she was treated like royalty here. I sat across from her, knowing better than to try to avoid the conversation we were about to have. She handed me a coffee, and I took it, taking a sip of the dark French press.