Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I let out a chuckle because no one needs to tell Tyrone to guard me. He’s been doing it all my life.
Dario comes to kiss me goodbye, and as he leaves the apartment, I switch on the TV and pick a comedy to watch.
Chapter 32
Dario
“Dario,” Eden gasps, looking shocked out of her mind. “You call this meeting me in the middle?”
I point at the phone and laptop. “You need those. Your phone is from the Middle Ages.”
Tyrone lets out a chuckle, which earns him a scowl from Eden, then she gestures at the earrings and necklace set that I couldn’t resist getting for her.
“I suppose you’re going to tell me I need those too?” she asks.
I figured she'd be okay with them as long as she didn’t know they cost thirty-eight thousand dollars.
“No, I got them because they’ll look beautiful on you,” I explain.
“They sure are sparkly,” Tyrone adds his two cents. “Must’ve cost quite a bit.”
“You’re not helping,” I mutter at him.
“Hey, I’m on her side.” He points at Eden, who shakes her head while she waves a hand at the Louis Vuitton handbag.
I shrug. “It’s just a handbag.”
She waves her arm wildly over the Dolce & Gabanna wallet, the Cartier watch, and Dior perfume.
“I could’ve redone your entire wardrobe,” I say in my defense.
“Jesus, you just love digging at that grave she’s going to bury you in,” Tyrone chuckles, getting way too much pleasure out of the shit I find myself in.
Esmerelda comes closer and looks at everything I bought. “It’s not that much. I’m actually surprised there aren’t car keys.”
I wrap my arm around my housekeeper. “They’re putting a bulletproof coating on the car.”
“The what?” Eden gasps.
Letting go of Esmerelda, I walk closer to my woman and wrap my arms around her.
Locking eyes with her, I say, “It’s just a few gifts, Tesoro. It would make me incredibly happy if you accepted them.”
She lets out a sigh, and luckily for me, her features start relaxing as she whispers, “It’s a lot.”
I press a kiss to her left cheek. “No, it’s not.” I kiss her right cheek. “You deserve the world, and I want to give it to you.”
“I’m going to my apartment,” Esmerelda says. “Tyrone, care to join me for a cup of coffee?”
“We just had coffee,” he replies.
“Come with me so they can have some privacy,” she snaps at him, which has him shooting up from the couch.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Eden and I watch as they leave the penthouse, then I turn my attention back to my woman.
“Please accept the gifts.”
She glances at everything on the coffee table, then says, “Okay, but you don’t have to buy me stuff.”
“I do. It makes me feel good knowing I’m taking care of you. Let me spoil my girlfriend when and however I want.”
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she finally relents. “Okay.”
Excited, I let go of her and pick up the phone. “Want me to set it up for you?”
Eden lets out a chuckle as she sits down on the couch. “Please.”
I switch the device on, and it takes a few minutes for me to sign Eden into all her apps. When I’m done, I hand it to her.
“Thank you,” she whispers as she looks at the device in her hand before glancing at the other gifts.
When she’s quiet for too long, I ask, “Are you okay?”
She nods, and gently brushing her fingers over the screen of her phone, she admits, “I’ve never had nice things like this before.” She glances around the penthouse before looking at me. “It feels like I’ve been thrown into some kind of alternate universe. It’s like a fairy tale, and I’m scared if I get used to it, it will be taken away from me.”
“Never, Tesoro,” I assure her. “This is your life now, and nothing can take it away from you, because I’ll kill whoever dares to try.”
The corner of her mouth lifts. “I keep forgetting you’re in the mafia.”
Leaning forward, she picks up the earrings. “They look so expensive. I’m scared to wear them.”
“Put them on for me,” I murmur.
Her smile grows as she slips them into the tiny holes in her earlobes, then she lets me help her with the necklace.
Getting up, she walks to the restroom, and not wanting to miss her reaction, I follow her.
When she stops in front of the mirror, she sucks in a deep breath as she stares at her reflection. “Jesus, the black eye looks even worse today.”
“The bruises will heal.” I stand behind her and place my hands on her hips. “The diamonds look perfect on you.”
“Yesterday I thought it was game over for me, and today I’m wearing…” her voice cracks, and spinning around, she buries her face against my chest.
I hold my woman tightly as the trauma of her captivity hits, knowing this won’t be the last time she breaks down.