Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
It's strange to see Crue doing something so… human.
“Wine?” his mother offers.
I throw my hand up so quickly it draws everyone’s attention as a nauseous swirl begins in my stomach. “I’ll skip the wine, thank you.”
Crue chuckles as he takes the wine from his mother and pours himself a glass instead. “Rya here had a little too much over the weekend.”
“An Italian woman who doesn’t drink wine is—”
“Mom.” Dominic flattens her with a stare.
She perks right back up with a smile. “So, Rya, do you plan to move back home soon?”
Oh boy, are we in for a cracker of a night. I start to eat my food and cover my mouth at his mother’s question before I answer while tension ripples through the room, “No,” I state, making it abundantly clear.
Her gaze cuts straight to Crue, and I feel the judgment there.
“How is work?” Angel asks me, trying to change the subject. “I see you won the Torrisi case. That’s huge!”
“Do you plan to have kids one day?” Crue’s mother interrupts with another question.
“Mother,” Crue scolds.
“No,” I answer, then take another defiant bite.
“You can’t marry her,” his mother announces.
This time, heat boils my blood. “I am not marrying him.”
“Good.” She nods her head.
“Rya,” Crue says.
I put my fork down. “I have to use the restroom. Angel, could you show me where it is?”
I already know where the bathroom is, but she excuses herself anyway.
“Of course.” She gets up, holding her belly as she does. We walk from the kitchen, and I hear them arguing in Italian. I know every word. I speak it fluently.
“Get me out of here,” I beg, gripping her arm.
“I know she comes off gruff, but I promise she is a good woman. She’s just emotional because she’s getting her first grandbaby, and there’s a lot of pressure on Crue right now from the families in Italy. Don’t worry about what she has to say.”
“I’m not. It’s why I want to leave. It was just supposed to be sex,” I tell her.
“And you’re certain he knows that?” she asks, walking toward the elevator. She punches in a code, and the doors open.
“I have made it abundantly clear,” I snap at her. When I see her wide eyes, I’m quick to apologize. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay. I’ll give you a five-minute head start. But his phone will alert him the moment the elevator has been used. I’ll try to buy you more time.”
This time I give her an appreciative hug.
Because, fuck me, I fell for it again.
This back and forth between me and Crue.
This constant dance.
And I yet again find myself on the run.
CHAPTER 52
Crue
My phone beeps as Angel shuffles back into the room. She walks over and touches my shoulder. “The baby is kicking. Here, feel it.” She reaches for my hand and places it on her belly. I sit there awkwardly and wait. “Oh, she must have stopped.” She giggles before she returns to her seat and says, “Rya won’t be long.” And when she says it, her face reddens.
My phone beeps again, and this time when I check it, I see it’s a notification from my elevator. I look up to see Angel nervously stuffing her face with food. And that’s when I see Rya on my screen—she exits the elevator and walks to a waiting cab outside.
“Angel?”
“What? She’s my friend.”
“What happened?” my mother asks.
“You scared off my future wife, that’s what,” I growl at her.
“She won’t marry you, that one. She wants the American dream of riches and work. She doesn’t want what you want.”
“You will accept her, Mother, or I’ll cut you off as well.” I push up from the chair and stride to the elevator, Dominic quickly following.
“Maybe this isn’t so smart. She hasn’t warmed up to the idea, and time is ticking.”
“I don’t want to marry anyone else but her,” I tell him.
“I get it, I do. But—”
“There’s no but, Dominic. If I can’t have her, I will not marry at all!”
Dominic seems surprised by my outburst, and my mother blatantly interjects. “You will not cut down tradition all because of some little wannabe American.”
“Watch the way you speak about her. You’ll be taking orders from her soon enough.”
My mother scoffs and crosses her arms. That younger spitfire version of herself always comes to the forefront. “That woman wants no part of our family name.”
“Crue.” It almost sounds as if Dominic is pleading, drawing my attention away from our mother. “Your decision affects us all.”
My gaze narrows on him. “Do you think I don’t know that? How much have I done for you all?”
My mother flinches at my tone.
Angel stays back, her hand on her stomach as she leans against the wall for support.
They might not realize the lengths I have gone to for them, but I will not let anyone dictate what it is I do, especially considering they’ve never been disappointed in the riches and lifestyle my contribution has provided.