Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 21649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
“I’m better now that you’re here.” I smile up at him as my brother looks on.
Ryan gives me another kiss on my forehead before turning to Lorenzo. “Let’s talk in the hallway.”
“No.” I’m not about to let these two step outside and plan my life without my input. “You two can discuss it here in front of me.”
Lorenzo crosses his arms over his chest and waits. Ryan smirks down at me. “Okay, kitten.” He glances over at my brother. “I’ve made some arrangements while they were running all the tests on Michela. Once the doctor releases her, I’m taking her to St. Bella, the private island a friend of mine owns in the Caribbean.”
“You just decided this without discussing it with me?” my incensed brother roars. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
Ryan doesn’t flinch. Instead, he steps closer, positioning himself between Lorenzo and the bed. “I’m her goddamn man, and I’m going to take care of her.”
I’m not going to lie; my girly bits tingle at the sight of Ryan standing up to my powerful brother.
Their standoff hangs thick in the air, a clash of wills that seems momentarily unbreakable. But then Lorenzo blinks first, his shoulders dropping slightly. He nods and blows out his breath. “I’m the head of this family. I understand that you and Michela are a couple, but you’ll have to work with me. I need you to keep me in the loop.” Wow. I can’t believe he’s willing to negotiate.
“I can live with that.” Ryan glances down at me and smiles. “I love you, kitten.”
“I love you, too.” I smile back as my brother groans quietly.
“I have to get out of here before this lovey-dovey shit becomes contagious. The last thing I need right now is more goddamn complications.”
One of my brother’s men knocks on the door, interrupting us. “I need to speak with you, please,” he tells Lorenzo with a look I can’t quite decipher.
“I’ll be right back,” my brother calls before following the other man out the door.
The door opens and my brother steps back in. “I need details about the island so we can check it out and make sure it’s secure.”
Ryan remains calm, his voice steady and reassuring. “It’s very secure. Private security oversees the island, and it’s accessible only by boat or seaplane. We’ll have everything we need to make sure she’s safe and comfortable.”
Lorenzo isn’t ready to cave. “I need to see that for myself. Have you already forgotten your promise to keep me in the loop?”
Ryan stares at him silently for a few moments, and I’m worried the frail truce between them is about to shatter. “Okay. I’ll email you all the details.”
Lorenzo nods. “Once we make sure the island is safe enough, I’ll arrange a private plane for you and Michela.”
“Thank you.” Ryan sits on the bed next to me and takes my hand in his while my brother sits in the hard plastic hospital chair next to the door.
I breathe a sigh of relief. Rome wasn’t built in one day, and the new dynamic between Ryan and Lorenzo will take time to cement.
With Ryan by my side, I know I’ll get through this. The prospect of sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and spending time alone with Ryan sounds like heaven. Whatever comes next, I’m ready to face it, one step at a time.
Chapter 14
Michela
The sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue across the private beach. I watch the gentle waves kiss the shore, the sound soothing, a stark contrast to the life we left behind. My hand rests on the steel railing of our beach house porch, and for the first time in weeks, I allow myself to truly relax. The ocean's rhythm is lulling, and I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp, salty air.
Ryan steps out, holding two glasses of wine. His presence behind me is both comforting and a reminder of the safety we've found here. “Michela,” he says softly, handing me a glass. “It’s a beautiful evening.”
I nod, giving a small smile as he sits on one of the loungers and pulls me onto his lap. “It is. Almost feels like a different world, doesn't it?” I set my glass on the table without taking a sip. I’m pretty freaking sure I’m pregnant, but there’s no way to verify it since I can’t exactly run to a drug store on the private island and get a test.
"It does," he says, nuzzling the back of my neck. Desire for him flows through me as we sit here, watching the last slivers of sunlight disappear.
It’s hard to believe that a month has passed since we arrived here. In some ways, it feels like yesterday, but in others, it feels like a lifetime ago. I’m dying to get back to civilization so I can verify I’m pregnant and start my life with Ryan.