Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
My husband stepped in close and attempted to make me feel better by saying, “It’s overrated anyways.”
You know. Of all the time we spent arguing in the beginning, it felt like we’d finally made it over that hill and now, I considered myself extremely lucky to have him. Ettore Scala could be a scary motherfucker, but he was soft for me. My heart claimed him and I was proud to carry his name.
When he crowded me from behind, he put his hands to my hips and squeezed. “Six months ago, this would have made me a creep.” I was about to ask what would have made him a creep when the hard length of him pressed into my ass causing my lips to part. “But now, I’m just being an indulgent husband.”
He was indulgent.
We spent more time in my room than intended and when we slammed backwards into my closed door, I pulled away from his mouth long enough to whisper, “We should stop.” My head tilted to the side, giving him room to place wet kisses along my throat. Tor’s strong hand trailed my spine, lower until he clutched at my ass cheek. My eyes almost rolled into the back of my head when he kneaded it firmly and simply replied, “No.”
So, when we stumbled out of my room sometime later, holding hands. My quiet laughter dissipated when I saw my sister standing there, taking in my flushed cheeks and swollen lips.
Her lip curled, “Did you guys get busy in there? Ugh. Gross. We just had this wing cleaned. If you could keep your hands off each other for five minutes, coffee’s ready.” She began to walk away. “And wash your goddamn hands.”
Tor and I looked at each other a long moment before he chuckled. Mortified, I buried my face into his collar and groaned.
His voice was filled with mirth when he said, “Did she look jealous to you?” I hadn’t really noticed. “Think she’s regretting her decision?”
I pulled back, blinking up at him in confusion. “What decision?”
He shot me a look. “You know.” But I didn’t know. “The big one.” My face must have shown I wasn’t following because his gaze narrowed a little. “Marriage?” His head tilted slightly. “This ringing a bell?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t know?” he uttered disbelievingly.
“Know what?” I laughed out of pure perplexity.
He blinked at me then, and what he said caused a physical reaction. “That my offer of marriage was to Vincenza, not you.”
My heart clenched and my face fell in time. I felt the blood rush out of my face as I took a small step back. “What?”
Ettore watched me step away and frowned. “She declined, obviously. Offered you up in her place.” Oh my God. It felt as though my heart split in two as he muttered an even, “You really didn’t know?”
My eyes began to sting as the lengths of her betrayal sank in. I blinked my tears back. All I could do was shake my head.
He took a single step forward but he seemed to know not to touch me. “Listen. For what it’s worth, I definitely got the better sister.”
Oh God. I know he thought it was a compliment, but, right then, was the wrong thing to say.
“Excuse me.” I turned, starting for the stairs.
I was already half way down when I heard him say, “Vittoria, wait. Baby…”
My heart was thumping in my chest when I stormed into the living area and spotted her sitting poised on the edge of the sofa. “Is it true?”
“Is what true?”
“That you sold me off.”
Ettore walked into the room and Vincenza glanced at him uncaringly. Como watched on from the opposite side of the couch. And, you really had to give Enza credit. She didn’t even deny it. She simply poured the coffee and said, “We would have killed each other.”
I stood there, stunned. She really did it. She sold me off like day-old bread.
My soul splintered. “What did I cost, huh?” She looked at me then, completely unashamed. And then I turned to my husband and asked, “What am I worth?” Nobody answered. My heart raced and I shouted, “What the fuck was I worth?”
Como stood with his hands out. “Vicky, please.”
But Enza finally broke her silence. “A seat at the high table.” She picked up her coffee cup and sipped at it. “You were never meant for this life. You’re too soft.” Too weak, she meant. “And so, I made use of you. My marrying anyone would have been a waste of my life. Papa raised me as a son. I was built to sit on that seat.” She placed her cup down with a gentle clink. “It’s my destiny. It always has been.”
I was right. Everyone had a bargaining chip. And, as it turned out, I was Vincenza’s.