Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 108926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“Dante,” I growled as a thought suddenly occurred to me. “You’re both so young, why the rush?”
He looked taken aback by my question but answered without hesitation, “Why wait when I know she's all I'm ever going to want?”
I narrowed my eyes, inclined to believe his explanation. But just in case, I decided not to beat around the bush and find out if there was another reason. One that would probably get him shot. “She'd better not be pregnant, kid.”
His eyes widened, and he shook his head frantically. “No! No. She isn't—” he broke off and gulped. “Not that I know of.”
“What the fuck?” I shouted at the top of my lungs as I lunged to my feet and reached for my gun. I pointed it at his head and flicked off the safety. I kept my finger off the trigger, though, because it felt itchy. The only thing holding me back was knowing Reagan would hate me if I killed her boyfriend.
He stood as well but didn't cower away, another point in his favor even if I did just learn that he'd taken advantage of my daughter. “You took her innocence before marriage!” I spat.
Dante swallowed hard again. “I'm not going to lie to you, Uncle Brandon,” he said. “But I promise you that I have always respected Reagan and treated her with the utmost care.”
“If that were true, you wouldn't have convinced my baby girl to—”
“I seduced him, Dad!” Reagan yelled as she burst into the room.
Dante sighed, and I stared at my daughter, dumbfounded.
“He wanted to wait,” she insisted. “It was me who convinced him.”
“Baby, I told you I could handle this,” Dante said gently.
Reagan shook her head adamantly. “I won't let you take the blame for something that was my fault.” She glared at my gun, then up at my face. “So, if you're going to shoot someone over this, shoot me.”
Dante jumped to his feet and moved to stand in front of Regan. If it had been anyone else, I would have been offended that he thought I would shoot my own daughter. But I knew the boy better than that. He was showing me that he would protect her with his life. I lowered my weapon and sighed in defeat. “Okay, baby girl.”
I put my gun down and opened my arms. She walked right into them, and I enveloped her in a giant hug. “You have my blessing.” Her face raised, and she beamed at me.
“Thank you, Daddy. I love you.”
I hugged her close again and rested my cheek on the top of her head. “I love you, too. I want you to be happy.” My eyes drifted to Dante, filled with warning. “And if anyone ever hurt you, family or not, they'd never be seen again because chances are, they'd be at the bottom of the East River with cement shoes and a hole in their head.” Dante nodded in understanding.
Carly walked into the room and over to my side. She beamed up at me, reminding me where Reagan got her radiance and beautiful smile. “Let the kids go celebrate,” she said softly. Since I'd never been able to deny her anything, as long as it didn't involve her safety, I kissed the top of Reagan's head and released her. She scampered over to Dante and slipped under his arm and placed her head on his chest.
My heart squeezed once more as I thought about how she used to cuddle up to me just like that. I had to accept the fact that she would be turning to someone else from now on.
“It was going to be someone,” Carly murmured low enough for my ears only. “Wouldn't you rather it be him?”
I curled my arms around her waist and pulled her into my side. “Doesn't mean I have to like it,” I grunted, earning a snicker and condescending pat on my ass from my wife. Reagan blew me a kiss before she and Dante left, still glued to each other.
“You'd better get used to it, babe. You're going to have to do this two more times. And Tommy doesn’t have anymore sons to make it a little easier on you.”
I lifted her chin with my index finger and glared down at her. “Are you trying to piss me off, kitten?”
“Of course not.” The look in her eyes said otherwise.
“I think you're angling to be punished. It seems to me, you've earned it anyway,”
Carly licked her lips and canted her head to the side. “What could I have possibly done to warrant being punished?” Her green eyes glittered with amusement even as they swirled with dark desire.
I guided her around, so she was standing directly in front of me. Then I gripped a fistful of her shirt and lifted her onto her toes. “You knew, didn't you? About Reagan and Dante.” I didn't have to spell it out; she knew I was talking about them sleeping together.