Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Letting out a growl, he hugs me so tight it hurts.
“Christ, I’m so fucking sorry I left you with them. I’m here. You’re safe. I’ve got you, baby.”
Still feeling scared, his words start getting through to me, and I begin to cry uncontrollably.
My body slumps in his hold as a sliver of relief drains all my strength from me. “An-ge-lo,” I sob, my shoulders shuddering from the terrible weight I had to carry. “I-I’m s-sorry.”
“Jesus Christ,” he groans as if he’s in physical pain. I’m pulled onto his lap, and he peppers my face with kisses. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. I know you didn’t kill my uncle, and you ran because you were scared. It’s okay. I’m not angry.”
Angelo keeps pressing kisses everywhere, his arms steel bands of safety around me. The trauma from the past couple of days has me sobbing against his chest.
“Boss?” I hear Big Ricky’s voice.
“Get sugar water!” Angelo snaps.
Time warps around me as the traumatic events keep rattling through my mind.
Suddenly, a glass is pushed against my lips. “Drink, baby.”
I manage to take a few sips before a sob shudders through me. I’m forced to drink more of the sweet water, then the glass disappears, and Angelo rocks me in a comforting way.
“I’m here, mia piccola cerviatta. You’re safe.”
Lost sobs quiver over my lips, and my fear and panic ease enough for me to think clearly.
It’s only then I realize I’m in our bedroom and I’m wearing one of Angelo’s shirts.
He takes hold of my jaw and nudges my head back so he can see my face. When our eyes lock, my mouth begins to tremble.
“Better?” he asks softly. There’s so much worry on his face it can easily be mistaken for rage.
“I’m s-sorry,” I whimper.
He shakes his head. “It’s okay, baby.”
His palm brushes over my cheek in such a loving way tears spiral from my eyes again.
Lowering his head, he presses a tender kiss to my trembling lips.
His gaze locks with mine again before he says, “I was so fucking worried about you. How do you feel?”
How do I feel?
Shook to my core, I feel stuck in a pit of despair.
I feel a little lost.
Lifting my arm, I grab hold of his shoulder. I pull myself up, and when I bury my face against his neck, I cling to him with all my strength.
His hand brushes up and down my back, as he just holds me for a while.
“Christ, baby, you’re breaking my heart,” he groans as his arms tighten around me. “Please talk to me.”
Gone is the man who orders me to use my words.
Gone is the ruthless man who terrifies the living crap out of me.
Wrapped up in my husband's strong arms, a sense of safety settles over me.
“I thought I lost you,” I whimper, my voice hoarse and as vulnerable as I feel. “I thought you were going to kill me.”
“Never,” he growls. “Never, mia piccola cerviatta. Mia raggio di sole.”
Hearing him call me his little dear and ray of sunshine helps ease more tension from my body.
He pulls back so he can see my face, and with his fingers wrapping around the side of my neck, he looks at me with so much tenderness it makes me feel super emotional.
His voice is gentle as he says, “I’ll never harm a hair on your body. You’re my everything.”
I grip hold of his wrist as my face crumbles again. My breaths quiver over my lips. “It all happened so fast. I didn’t know what to do.”
“If anything ever happens again, the first thing you do is call me, Vittoria. Never run from me.”
“I panicked,” I say, my voice filled with tears.
“I know, baby.” He lowers his head and kisses me again. “I should’ve left Big Ricky with you. You’ll never be alone again. One of us will always watch over you.”
I nod frantically because I’ll never trust anyone again. With Angelo, Tiny, or Big Ricky, I’ll be safe. They’ll keep people away from me.
My face crumbles again as I cry, “I w-was s-so s-scared.”
“Oh, baby,” Angelo groans, his arms tightening around me again. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
Crying in the safety of Angelo’s strong arms, exhaustion floods my body, and no amount of resistance keeps me from falling asleep.
Angelo
The past two days have easily been the longest of my life.
I’m on fucking edge, and every time Vittoria makes a sound and moves, I hold her tighter.
At first, I was struggling to process the deaths of my uncle and aunt, but now I wish they were alive so I could fucking kill them.
Uncontrollable rage keeps flooding my chest, and knowing I can’t get revenge for what they did to my wife is eating away at me.
I haven’t slept since the night before we left for Sicily, and until I’m sure Vittoria is okay, I won’t be able to shut an eye.