Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36109 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“I don’t know,” Vivienne muttered, her eyes narrowing. “I’ve only known him for a few months, but Domenico doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who avoids someone just for the heck of it. He’s too disciplined for that so there has to be a reason.”
I rolled my eyes with a snort. “Yeah, it’s because he feels the chemistry between us too but refuses to act on it. I’m sure there’s some macho crap in his head about not wanting to betray my brother, but I think Rafa would come around to the idea of us. Not that I’ve ever been able to talk to Domenico about any of this when he’s too busy pushing me away on the rare times he isn’t avoiding me.”
My heart ached as I remembered how hurt I’d been when he told me that he hadn’t even noticed that I was at a family dinner a few days ago.
“I don’t know, Gabbi.” Vivienne tilted her head to the side and pursed her lips. “You’ve lived in this life longer than me, but even I get how taboo it is for an underboss’s bodyguard to date his sister. Rafa sees Domenico's darker parts, just like Domenico sees his. I understand why Rafa would struggle to let someone draw you deeper into this world. And as much as I know he tries, I can imagine how hard it is for Rafa to see you as a grown woman rather than his baby sister, who he feels he needs to protect from the harsher realities of being a DeLuca. And that’s all without adding in the extra complication of Rafa and Domenico being best friends.”
My shoulders slumped. “I understand that in my head, but my heart stubbornly refuses to listen to reason. I’ve tried for years to get over Domenico, but I just haven’t been able to let go of my dream of building a family with him someday.”
She rested her hand over her belly again, her eyes turning thoughtful. “If you can picture the children you’d have with Domenico, then you have to at least try to find out if he feels the same way. If it turns out that he really loves you how you deserve and would do anything to protect you, I think you’re right about Rafa coming around. Eventually. With lots of help from me.”
I reached out and squeezed her other hand. “You’re the best, but I’ve been trying ever since I got back home to get Domenico to acknowledge the chemistry between us. He hasn’t given me a single opening.”
Vivienne rubbed her palms together. “We just need to figure out a way to get him alone, away from Rafa’s watchful eye. That’s the only way he’ll ever open up to you, without my darling, overprotective husband around to remind him of what’s at stake. Then you can finally test the waters with Domenico and see if he feels the same way about you.”
“Sounds like a great plan to me, but I just can’t picture any situation where that would happen.” I let out a deep sigh. “Not when Domenico is in charge of Rafa’s safety and avoiding me like the plague.”
“Don’t give up hope yet. The universe put Rafa in my path right when I needed him. Maybe the perfect opportunity will drop in your lap, too.”
3
DOMENICO
“Domenico.”
I paused in giving orders to one of my guards and turned my head toward the open door to Rafa’s office. “Che?”
His brow furrowed as he read something on his cell phone, then looked up. “When you’re finished, come in and shut the door.”
I nodded and turned back to Aldo. “I want Tynzlee sent to the ranch in North Carolina tomorrow.”
Aldo snorted. “Foisting her off on Giovanni? You better sleep with a knife under your pillow, amico.”
He wasn’t completely wrong. Giovanni Dominici was Rafa’s Capo di Provincia of the North Carolina branch. Only the De Angelises had been part of The Family longer than the Dominicis. They’d joined forces when Lorenzo DeLuca had married Camilla Dominici, after his first wife died. They’d been old money, owning an extremely profitable shipping business. It was a family mystery as to whether they married for love or the merging of their empires.
Like Lorenzo, Giovanni was known for being a fucking tyrant. He was extremely logical and had no patience for dreamers or people who played games. He was going to be pissed at me for sending him a problem child. Hopefully, his anger would burn out before he showed up on my doorstep with a roll of duct tape and a body bag.
Giovanni had been born and raised on a horse ranch, and they were his first love. He bred and trained horses as one of The Family’s “legitimate” businesses. “He’ll get over it. She’s one of the best exercise riders we’ve hired. Her talents are wasted on the horses here.”