Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Thanks, Savio,” I said honestly.
“I don’t have time to keep chatting with you. I need to satisfy my wife.” He hung up and I shook my head with a smile.
I found Dinara tinkering with her car for the race tomorrow. She raised her eyebrows. “You look thrilled.”
“I talked to my family. They want you to join us for Christmas.”
“You sound relieved, so you weren’t sure they would.”
I wrapped an arm around her waist. “Savio and Gemma were a bit of an unknown, but they want to meet you.”
“To see if I’m a threat?”
I grinned. “Everyone’s curious about you. And I think you’ll like Gemma. She’s into cage fighting.”
Dinara frowned. “I’m not into fighting.”
“But you are into racing, which is also a male-dominated activity.”
Dinara rolled her eyes. “I don’t need a dick to kick ass on the racetrack.”
“Oh I know,” I said. “So will you celebrate Christmas with me and my family?”
Dinara gave a resolute nod but I could tell she was nervous.
“I survived your father and you’ll survive my family, don’t worry.”
“That’s a consolation.”
I’d never celebrated Christmas in December. Not that I was a big fan of the holiday in general. I’d always only celebrated it for my Dad and later for my half-brothers.
Adamo had told me so much about his family that I felt as if I already knew them. I wondered how much they knew about me. I wasn’t someone who got nervous easily or who was anxious before meeting new people. I was definitely more of an extrovert even if I didn’t have any trouble being alone either. I knew not everyone liked me, and I could live with it, so I wasn’t worried about becoming Miss Popular. I was however nervous because this wasn’t just a random meeting. This held meaning. It constituted that my relationship with Adamo was serious for both of us. So far we never really put a name to it. We lived it. But this was a new step in our relationship.
When we pulled up in the driveway of the magnificent white mansion, my palms actually became sweaty. This was important for Adamo, and in turn, it was for me.
“Nervous?” Adamo asked with a smirk after we got out of the car. He grabbed the huge bag with presents from the trunk before he stepped up to my side.
I rolled my eyes but gladly accepted his outstretched hand as moral support. “Do I have reason to be? Everyone’s okay with me being here?”
Adamo gave me a look that made it clear he thought I was being cute. I nudged my elbow into his side. “Do you think there’ll ever be a chance for me to meet your father for a relaxed family meeting? Maybe celebrate your orthodox Christmas together?”
That Dad hadn’t killed Adamo when he’d shown up on our doorstep had been a miracle. He was very protective of Galina and his sons, so I doubted he’d allow Adamo to be in their presence any time soon. Maybe Remo didn’t consider me a risk to his family, but Adamo was a Camorrista, a Falcone, and for my father to not regard him as a threat would take a long time, if it ever happened at all.
“Let’s take this one step at a time, okay? He didn’t kill you last time. That’s a good start but we shouldn’t overstrain our luck too much. Let’s give him time to get used to the idea of you being a constant presence in my life. Right now, he probably still hopes our relationship fails.”
Adamo stopped in his tracks, eyebrows cocked and the same smirk on his face. “And? Would you bet on us?”
“We aren’t a safe bet,” I said with a wicked smile. “But who wants safe when they can have what we have.” I grabbed his collar and pulled him against me for a kiss. Adamo wrapped his arms around me.
Loud kissing noises disrupted the moment. Adamo and I pulled apart. Adamo groaned and narrowed his eyes at a trio of boys who lingered in the open doorway, watching us. The tallest boy with black hair stormed toward us and gave Adamo a grin before he faced me with a cautious glint in his eyes. “Who are you?” he asked—no, demanded.
Adamo nudged him forward. “That’s none of your business, Nevio. And you better watch your mouth or you’ll be in trouble.”
Nevio pressed his lips together but didn’t look guilty at all as he slanted me another look. The boy was maybe eight years old but definitely had the sass and confidence of a grown-up. Despite his rudeness, I liked the kid. If I ever had kids, I’d prefer them to have their own head and not let adults or anyone else trample all over them.
I raised my eyebrows at the kid. The two other boys showed more restraint but obviously distrusted my presence as well. They didn’t resemble Nevio. I assumed they were Nino’s kids.