Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“You want him to be happy though, right?”
“Of course. I’ve even encouraged him to date. To sign up for those dating sites, but he won’t have any of it. Maybe after this, I can convince him that he needs to find someone.”
“I don’t imagine it would be that easy.”
“Why?”
“I know if I lost you, I’d take down every single person who stole you from me until someone finally killed me so I could be with you.”
“Diego?”
“You know, I’m a fucking killer. I’ve taken lives without even blinking. It’s what I’ve been trained to do. It’s what I know, and yet with you, I turn into a fucking pussy. It’s ridiculous. If my men saw me with you, heard me, they’d all laugh at me.”
She laughed, and he glanced over at her. “I love that you’re like this with me. It means a whole lot more to me knowing I’m the only one you want.”
“You are the only one I want.” He gripped her hand as he navigated the traffic. They weren’t too far from the hospital.
His men were following behind him, and he didn’t see any signs of being tailed or impending danger.
Belle stayed silent as he got them to the hospital, parking the car.
He climbed out and paid for parking before coming back to help her out.
“Do you want me to piggyback you?” he asked.
“Dad would be real thrilled with that. I’m happy to just walk.”
He held her hand, locking their fingers together, and walked her across the parking lot. It was still busy even though it was early morning now. He’d take her for breakfast after they saw her father.
The days were blending together during his search for Angelo.
Diego opted for the elevator so she didn’t hurt herself anymore and for speed. His men entered along with them, and he moved her so they had their backs to the wall.
“It’s a little crowded.”
“They’re my men,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about whispering.”
“Oh, hey, guys,” she said.
None of them spoke back. “She’s talking to you.”
“Hello, Belle,” they all said together.
“They’re not used to anyone wanting to talk to them.”
“Did I break some kind of ‘don’t speak’ code?” she asked.
“No, they are more seen and not heard.”
“That sucks. I don’t want them to be around me unless they’re willing to talk. It’s bad enough I can’t see them. The least they can do is say hello.”
Diego looked at his men, and he saw them all smiling. It wasn’t in sarcasm either or mocking her. They liked her, and for him, he was more than happy with that.
She had this way about her that made people like her. Melanie was the one person who didn’t seem to get her charm.
The elevator doors opened up, and his men created a path for them. No one was in James’s room. He opened the door, and Belle stepped in.
“Belle.”
“Dad?”
He helped her go toward the bed, and when she was safe, he let her go, standing back to give them both some space.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too. I was so worried about you. I didn’t want anything to happen to you.” Belle touched his face. “How are you? What has the doctor said? When can you leave?”
“Wait a minute. Let me look at you. You look beautiful, Belle. You’re being treated well.”
“Diego treats me well.”
“That’s good to know. I’d still kick his ass when I get out of this bed.”
Belle sat beside her father, holding his hands.
“You’ll do no such thing. You’re going to have to rest and take care of yourself. I’m not going to let you do anything that could take you from me.”
“One day I will go, Belle.”
“That day is not today. Besides, you want to be around for grandkids one day, right?”
Diego watched her. She was something else entirely. The love he felt for her, he’d never experienced this kind of feeling before in his life. She made him want so many different things.
He hoped she was pregnant and not just for his sake but because he wanted a family with her.
If he fought hard enough, he knew he could make this work with them. He had no intention of being shared though. Durante wanted something from him, as otherwise he wouldn’t have given him the choice between Charlotte and Belle.
There was a way out of the marriage; he just had to find it.
Rather than invade their moment, Diego stepped outside the room, closing the door behind him. He trusted Belle, and now was the time to show her just how much he did.
****
“What was that?” Belle asked.
“Diego has just walked out, closing the door, giving us some privacy.”
“He has?”
“Yes.”
She smiled. “He trusts me.”
“Yes, and now is your chance to leave.”
“To leave?”
“I can be ready to go in a matter of minutes.”
“Dad?”
“We need to get you away from him.”