Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Yeah? I bet that cuts both ways.” I crack it open.
He grins at me. “I liked you better when I didn’t know about you.”
“Liar. I bring levity and joy to this family.”
He grunts and leans against the counter. “Seriously, Molly, talk sense to him. The man can’t keep leading raids. He’s my fucking underboss.”
That gets my attention. “He’s doing what?”
Renzo grimaces. “You didn’t know.”
“No, I didn’t know.”
“Fuck.” He rubs his face. “Well, now you do. Saul and Carlo have been leading raids against the Russians together. I want them to leave that shit to the soldiers. Talk sense into your man.”
“Don’t worry,” I say, already turning toward the stairs. “I will.”
“And don’t kill him, please,” Renzo calls after me.
But unfortunately, Saul is already dead.
I find my deceased husband in his office looking out the window. He starts when I step into the room. For a corpse, he looks amazing, and I’m always struck by how much I still want him.
Except he’s dead, and I don’t bang zombies.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks, eyebrows raised.
“Saul Rossi, you’ve been lying to me.”
He leans back and crosses his arms. “I have?”
“Renzo just told me. The gig is fucking up, douchebag.” I slam the door behind me. “You’ve been leading raids.”
He sighs and looks at the ceiling. “It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not fucking fine. First of all, you’re the underboss and you’re too important to run around the city shooting people yourself. You plan the fight, you don’t actually pull the trigger. And second, I will bring you back to life and strangle you myself if you get yourself killed and leave our damn son an orphan. You hear me?”
He slowly stands up and takes a step toward me. “What did you just say?”
“Oh, don’t get all macho mafia guy on me right now. I’m not intimidated by you.”
“No, not that. You said our son.”
“Uh—” I say because that just slipped out. “I meant just, you know, that was just a gender.”
“You were saying they before.”
“Right, well, I’m mad and not thinking.”
“Molly. What do you know?”
I throw my hands up. “Are we really doing this right now?”
“Woman—”
“Don’t you do that,” I say, pointing at him. “You’re just going to piss me off.”
He comes closer, his expression softening. “Molly, please. Just tell me what you know.”
“Fine.” I rub my face with both hands. “I asked the nurse.”
“And?”
“And it’s a boy.”
“Are you sure?” He advances on me like a predator. “Don’t fuck with me right now, baby.”
“You’re the one in trouble,” I mumble, cheeks pink. “But I’m sure.”
He wraps me in a tight hug, lifting me off my feet. I yelp as he kisses me then seems to remember that I’m pretty pregnant and puts me back down.
“I’m happy,” he says practically glowing with pride.
“No kidding. I can tell.” His joy is infectious. “I thought you didn’t want to know the sex?”
“Now I do. I would’ve reacted like this to a girl.”
“I know.”
He kisses me and I kiss him back. But when we pull apart, I remember why I’m here. “No more fighting.”
“Molly—”
“I’m serious, Saul. Even Renzo agrees. You can’t keep fighting, not anymore. You’re too important and we’ve had too many losses already.”
“If I’m going to ask men to fight and die for me, I have to be willing to do it myself.”
“You already proved that you are. Please, we’re having a little boy. Stop fighting.”
He lets a frustrated growl out, but nods. “Only because you’re asking.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” The rest of my tension bleeds away. “You really will do anything for me, huh?”
“I’m a pathetic sucker. I’m aware.”
“I think you’re one of the best men I’ve ever met.”
“Okay, I like your version better.”
I laugh as he kisses me again, and even though I know we’re going to have some fight about him taking needless risks in the future, at least right now we can be happy.
Chapter 38
Molly
Eight Months Later
Nana puts out her cigarette and gets to her feet. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Nana neglect to finish a smoke and it genuinely blows my mind.
“Give him here,” she says, reaching out for the baby.
“Just be careful, okay?” I hand him over, swaddled in blankets and happy from a recent feeding. My boobs are aching and my nipples are chafed, but at least breastfeeding is going pretty well. Lucky me.
“Girl, I raised you, your brother, your mother, and your damn uncle. I can handle a baby. Isn’t that right, little one? Isn’t that right?” Nana retreats back to her seat, rocking the baby in her arms, and I stand there for a second letting myself enjoy it.
“How’s it going in here?” Saul appears at my elbow. I lean back into him and my smile gets bigger. He lurks, his hands on my hips, and I can tell he’s resisting the urge to go over and grab his child out of Nana’s hands. But he’d never actually do it—he’d just obsess about it like a big, scary, overprotective papa bear.