Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
“Which is barely enough room for your ego.”
He bared his teeth at me.
I sighed. “Did Baba explain to you why I am down here?”
He spoke through clenched teeth, “I did not give her a chance to speak.”
I stepped back. “Did you hurt Baba?”
“Absolutely not. I just stormed through your men and went into the suite to look for you. Baba followed saying words that I did not comprehend. Then, I tore off my shirt—”
“Like a mad man—”
“And searched for you—”
“How did you know I was on this floor?”
“I asked where the boy was moved. You would not be too far from him.”
Smart.
Those big shoulders rose and fell like he was beginning to lose his temper again. “That suite upstairs. . .”
I rolled my eyes.
“That suite is fit for my Cinderella.”
“Perhaps, your Cinderella lost her glass shoe and needs some time to look for it.”
He took his hands out of his pockets. “What?”
“Kaz, I need an evening away from you, space to—”
“Space?”
“Yes. Space to—”
“You will not get it.”
“I will.”
“Trust me, mysh.” He closed the distance between us. There was only an inch of space from his chest and my face. “There will be no space. No evening off. No time apart. No moment to think or understand. There will only be us. Together.”
I looked up at him. “If you don’t get your ass out of here, then—”
“Do it.”
“Do what?”
“Hit me. Kick me. Slap me. Whatever you are mad about, get it out now.” Kaz leaned forward and sneered. “I have not slept. It has been a long day. And I want some pussy!”
I stepped back. “Your sister delivered a shovel because your head is hard. Should I hit you with that?”
“If that will get this moment over.”
I frowned. “Baba’s reading said that Lunita could come back soon, and that the root of the problem was you. And our kids may be involved.”
“Kids?” He twisted his face in confusion. “More than one?”
“Well. . .our baby and Paolo.”
He scowled. “The boy is not our child.”
I walked off.
He called back, “And I don’t care about Baba’s reading. If Lunita wants to appear, then let her come!”
I headed over to the balcony, needing some space. I was close to strangling his big neck. I stepped out there and went to the railing.
The sun glowed on the edge of the horizon, almost disappearing. Darkness rose. A blanket of stars appeared. And then, I spotted a quarter moon suspended within the night sky.
Kaz’s voice sounded behind me. “This is not only about Baba’s reading. You are mad about something. I can feel your anger thickening the air.”
I turned around and faced him.
Kaz stood in the balcony’s doorway. “Talk to me, mysh.”
“You killed my men.”
“I did.”
“When were you going to tell me?”
“When I had enough diamonds to make up for it. I had no time to go to the store—”
“Diamonds can’t replace their lives!” My voice grew weak. I steadied myself. “Why would you kill them?”
“Mysh, you did not fall in love with the milkman.” He stepped onto the balcony. “You fell for the leader of the Brotherhood.”
I pointed at him. “You had no fucking reason to kill them. None!”
“They turned their backs on you—”
“They were afraid of Lunita—”
“And disloyal!”
“But, they—”
“Refused to protect my mouse at all costs and in every situation.” He stomped forward. “I have killed men for less!”
“But you don’t get to kill my men—”
“I did and I will do it again!” He stopped right in front of me. “If they were here right now, I would fill those disloyal heads with bullets.”
I trembled. Pain hit my heart. My eyes watered. My bottom lip quivered. “But. . .they were sons and daughters. They had families that depended on them. They were human beings who had come to Italy with me.”
“And when it was time to truly test their faith, they turned away.”
Tears spilled my eyes.
He tried to wipe one.
I shoved his hand away. “That’s not how I see it.”
“Mysh, it does not matter how you see it. I made the decision and that’s final.”
“Excuse me? Those are my men. I am more than capable of handling them myself.”
“I know you’re capable. I watched you carve four men with a knife, but you weren’t there at the time. Max was there. Maxwell’s heart is bigger than yours. He could not be trusted to make the hard decision.”
“Your head is hard.” I tried to walk around him.
He grabbed my waist and pulled me back, pressing my body against his.
Shivering, I closed my eyes.
He leaned forward and brushed his lips against my ear. His voice went low. “Sometimes I’m going to be a caveman and lock you away, keep you safe, and do things that you may not like, and in those moments, you will deal with it.”
I opened my eyes. “This is not how our relationship will work. We have compromised. We have come to the middle point before. Can we do it now?”