Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
I should be livid. I had been livid when I’d waltzed into my brother's office that day. Somehow, in a weird way, Gilly snapping back at me had not only cooled my anger, but now it has me all over the place inside. The tables have turned now, and I’m the one avoiding Gilly.
“Maybe I should try something else.” Because they aren’t wrong. As I stare at myself in the mirror, that is not a girl staring back at me. I’m a woman in every sense of the word.
One that has offered herself up on a silver platter to suitors. The problem is, even if I really did want to do this, I would never know if the man I picked actually gave a shit about me or merely wanted part of my last name and the connections it would bring.
“We don’t have time, and that one is perfect!” Angelica protests as a knock sounds at the door.
It swings open a moment later to reveal Butcher. His eyes go straight for Bianca. There has always been a darkness that surrounds Butcher, but when he sees Bianca, I get a glimpse of Fernando. The man behind the Butcher. The one few know. I think Bianca is the only one that truly knows him in every way.
“You have guests.” Butcher steps forward into the room, revealing three women behind him.
“Come in, ladies.” Bianca grabs a hold of Butcher, trying to show that he’s not as scary as he appears. They all give him wary glances. My first thought is that she’s lucky most people are scared of her man. Keeps everyone at arm's length. When women see Gilly, they swoon, and I want to vomit. “Who put you on door duty?” She laughs, pulling him back out of the room. The door falls closed behind them. I think Butcher just stole her. She’ll be back at some point.
“Come. You can set up here,” Angelica tells them before she makes introductions. “Do you mind if I go first? I want to make sure everything is going as it should.”
“Nope.” I drop into one of the chairs and watch both girls descend on Angelica–doing her hair, nails, and makeup.
She’s all worked up because this is the first event she’s really hosted as my brother's wife. She’s good for him. Angelica can be equal parts sweet and fuck around and find out. Especially when it comes to someone she loves.
Do I lack sweetness? I thought I might, but Gilly somehow knew I was a virgin. How? He knows I’ve been sneaking out. I’ve always been a bit rebellious, but I wanted what my parents had. Our father might not have been the best at leading our family, but he loved Mom. There was no one he was more loyal to than her. My brother is the same. I want that. As rebellious as I am, I still hold on to a few old school values, I think. My virginity is for the man who will love and adore me forever. The one who will pick me over all others.
Is that really so much to ask? Gilly would never pick me over my brother. I need to come to terms with that. Maybe tonight isn’t as bad an idea as I thought.
The girls work their magic on me and then Bianca when she finally returns. During that time, I decide that tonight I’m going to be open to possibilities. I’m not sure I want to be the head of a family, but I do know I am a part of this world, and I’m not going anywhere.
9
GILLY
This is insane.
I stare at myself in the mirror, taking a long, hard look. Even so, I still haven’t come to grips with what I did to Carina in the pantry a few days ago. And I really can’t come to terms with what’s going to happen tonight.
The staring contest has to end. If it doesn’t, I’m going to smash the shit out of my mirror and lose my goddamn mind.
I turn and take a deep breath. It should calm me. It doesn’t. I haven’t been calm from the moment Carina’s smart mouth reached my ears. She’s all I can think, all I can see. My temper is shorter than it’s ever been, and my ire is on a hair trigger.
Antonio and Butcher have noticed, too. They haven’t said anything to me, but I see their shared looks.
Fuck! I’m going off the rails. When I close my eyes, all I can see is Carina at my feet, her mouth wrapped around my cock as I thrust–No! I grit my teeth. If I think about that, I won’t be able to string a sentence together. I need my wits about me tonight.
Tonight. I take another deep breath. The house is prepped and ready to be filled with suitors, mafia men who want to make a play for a Palermo bride. It makes me sick. It’s taken every shred of control I have not to tell Antonio to call it off, to stop this fucking foolishness, to put an end to Carina’s gambit.