Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 21649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
“Fucking hell.” I rub the back of my neck as I pull out my cellphone to make sure I set the alarm on my house before I left Michela sleeping soundly in my bed.
“Where is my sister?” Of course, he’d ask that.
“At my house.” A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders now that our relationship is out in the open, but I still don’t want to rock the boat and give Lorenzo a reason to off me.
“I’m taking her back to New York so I can protect her.” Oh, fuck no, he isn’t.
“The fuck you are.”
“You can’t keep her safe from these people, and her safety comes above everything else. If you want to pursue this relationship once the smoke has settled, we’ll sit down and have another talk. But right now, I need to make sure my sister is safe.”
My fists clench at my sides as I growl through clenched teeth, “I will keep her safe.” Lorenzo’s eyes narrow to slits. “No matter what it takes.”
“These motherfuckers don’t play around. Your house security system isn’t going to deter the Grimaldi goons.” Lorenzo stares me down, waiting for me to back down, but he’ll be waiting a long fucking time.
“No one is taking Michela from me. That’s not negotiable.” I stare into his eyes. "I love her, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
For a moment, the room is silent, the tension palpable. Lorenzo exchanges a look with Dante, who nods subtly before mumbling under his breath, “Motherfucking hell.”
“I’m not going to say I told you so.” Dante smirks. “But I told you so.” Lorenzo glances over at the other mafia boss, and I can see some silent message passing back and forth between them. Hopefully, they aren’t planning where to hide my goddamn body.
After what seems like a lifetime, Lorenzo leans back, his posture relaxing ever so slightly. “Dante has a compound on the edge of town with several guest cottages. He’s agreed to let you and Michela stay there until the threat is over. I’m leaving a team of my guys here to be a protection detail for her since I know my stubborn, pain-in-the-ass sister won’t agree to stay hidden. I’m giving you this chance to prove that you can be trusted with my sister. But know this: one misstep, one moment where you fail to protect her, and there will be consequences for you. Permanent motherfucking consequences.”
I glare at my asshole former best friend. “And you suddenly planned all this with one look?”
Lorenzo smirks and shakes his head. “Naw, I had all this planned out before I even called you. At first, I planned to murder your ass, but Dante convinced me to give you a chance to prove yourself. I was testing you to see if you would be staying at Dante’s with my sister or if you’d be in a shallow grave, never to be seen again. Lucky for you, you passed my test.”
I have no idea why a mafia boss I’ve never met before went to bat for me, but I’m grateful since I’m still breathing. “Fucking hell,” I mutter, glad things went my way.
Chapter 10
Michela
The early morning sunlight filters through the blinds, casting a warm glow on the room. I blink a few times as my eyes adjust and roll over to find the bed beside me is empty and cold. I'm in Ryan's bed, alone. I sit up, the crispness of the morning air causing me to shiver slightly as I slide out of bed.
After my feet touch the cool wooden floor, I glance around, looking for my overnight bag. His room is neat, a stark contrast to my own chaotic space back home, so I easily find it sitting next to the closet door.
I grab a t-shirt and a pair of shorts from my bag and pull them on. My nose perks up as the faint scent of coffee wafts through the air, guiding me toward the door.
As I walk down the stairs, I hear the clinking of dishes and the hum of a soft tune. The familiarity of the scene brings a small smile to my face. I turn the corner and there he is, standing at the stove, his back to me. Ryan’s wearing gray sweatpants and a navy-blue t-shirt, his dark hair slightly tousled.
"Good morning," I say, my voice still laden with sleep.
He turns, a smile spreading across his face as he sees me. "Morning, kitten. Breakfast is almost ready."
I walk over and wrap my arms around him from behind. “I missed you when I woke up.”
“I’ll make it up to you.” He glances over his shoulder at me and winks. “On my knees.”
My heart rate accelerates, and I barely resist the urge to fan myself. “I’m going to hold you to that. Can I help you?”