Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 82(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 82(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
“Come with me.” He holds out his hand to her, and I step between them.
“Oh, hell no.” His eyebrows shoot up at the tone of my voice. “Hunter is having dinner with me.”
“And you are?” He glares at me.
“Brendan Russo.” I hold out my hand, trying to play nice. In Atlanta, the Russo Family is well known, but I’m an unknown in Las Vegas. It doesn’t matter. No one is going to come between me and my girl. If I have to kiss her uncle’s ass to make it happen, so be it.
“Marco Dean.” The asshole smirks and squeezes the fuck out of my hand. “Hunter’s uncle and guardian.” And the one motherfucker you don’t want to piss off goes unsaid.
“Well, Mr. Dean.” My sense of self-preservation kicks in when I realize I’m antagonizing one of the biggest mob bosses in the area. “I promise to have Hunter home at a reasonable hour,” I assure him. “After we finish our date,” I add. He might be a scary motherfucker, but I won’t let him keep me from my little love.
Sweat breaks out on my back as he stares at me for several moments. My mind whirls while I try to figure out how I’m going to keep my girl and stay alive if her uncle decides he doesn’t like the idea. One thing I know for sure is that giving up Hunter isn’t an option. “Russo?” His eyes narrow. “Are you related to Hudson Russo?”
“He’s my brother.” My older, former US Senator brother.
Marco Dean stares into my eyes, rubbing his bottom lip, and I fight not to squirm under his gaze. He finally glances around me and speaks to Hunter. “Be home by midnight and don’t give Jason the slip again.” Who the fuck is Jason? Then the mob boss turns back to me. “My niece is in the habit of losing her bodyguard.” My fists unclench as relief hits me right between the eyes. “And of taking public transportation even though I’ve told her over and over again how dangerous that can be.”
“I’ll make sure she doesn’t ditch him anymore.” The thought of my girl without protection isn’t acceptable.
“Come by the house this weekend so we can get to know each other.” He isn’t asking. “Hunter will let you know when to come.”
I let out the breath I’d been holding. That could’ve gone worse. I’m still alive and have all my limbs.
Once the group of men walks away, I turn to my girl. “I should spank your ass for neglecting to tell me you’re Marco Dean’s niece.”
Hunter swallows as her mouth opens and closes silently. “Uh, well…”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the dark-haired man sitting at the next table watching us intently. “Is that your bodyguard?” I signal over in his direction.
“Yes.” Hunter sighs. “That’s Jason Agosti,” she confirms, and I allow myself to relax somewhat. I won’t be completely happy until I make Hunter mine forever and every asshole in the world knows she belongs to me.
I keep my promise to Marco Dean. After our meal, I drive Hunter to her uncle’s secluded mansion. “You can park in front of the garage.” She points to a large, two-story garage on the side of the massive modern home. “I have the apartment upstairs.”
I walk to her side of the car, and several lights along the side of the house come on. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I feel eyes following me. “Thank you.” Hunter smiles when I help her from the low-slung sports car.
“Lead the way.” I lean down and kiss her soft cheek. I follow her to the back of the garage where there’s a circular staircase that leads to the second floor. More lights click on as we pass by.
“Sorry.” Hunter smiles over her shoulder. “My uncle takes security seriously.” That’s an understatement. I’m not sure the fucking White House has this much protection.
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.” I follow her into the large apartment. “Except neglecting to tell me who your uncle is.”
“Have a seat.” She points at the gray leather sofa. “I’ll tell you everything.”
After sitting on the sofa, I glance out the large window on the side of it and see the bodyguard standing next to my car, staring up at the window. “Is Jason Agosti more to you than just a bodyguard?” I don’t like the way the asshole watches my girl.
“Oh my God. No.” Hunter shakes her head furiously. “He can’t stand me.” I seriously doubt that. “I’m just a big inconvenience to him.”
I’m not convinced that the bodyguard doesn’t have designs on my girl, but I’ll save that issue for later.
Hunter sits next to me, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “Now, tell me how you came to live with your uncle.”