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)
“Go home,” she ordered us bluntly. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my granddaughter, especially since I’ll have the help of the private duty nurse and aide you’ve hired for her.”
I stifled a giggle because it was a little over the top considering she hadn’t even been left alone for a second by Nic or me yet.
“I’m fine right where I am, Mamma,” Nic argued.
“No, you’re not,” she snapped, her gaze sweeping across the both of us. “And neither is Anna.”
Oooh, she was playing dirty now, bringing me into this. Nic’s head jerked my way, his eyes scanning my face for any sign his mom was correct.
“Look how tired the poor girl is,” she continued. “She hasn’t gotten a good night’s rest since we got here.”
I shook my head in denial, but she just carried on.
“Or a real shower.”
I barely resisted the urge to sniff myself to see if I stank.
“Or decent food.”
And that was the straw which broke the proverbial camel’s back. Nic had me bundled up and out the door while Sophia slept peacefully with Allegra in a chair at her side. When he had me settled in the back seat of the car and slid in next to me, it dawned on me—this was the first time we’d been alone since Sophia had woken up with a bloody nose and distracted us from the argument we’d been having. It was difficult to reconcile the Nic I knew with the one he seemed to show everyone else. I was falling in love with my Nic, but I wasn’t so sure about the other one.
Chapter Twelve
NIC
Gianna was sitting stiffly beside me in the car, which wasn’t acceptable to me. I needed her comfort as much as I needed to keep her from running away from me. I slid an arm around her waist and hauled her up next to me. Her spine stayed ramrod straight for about thirty seconds before she gave in and melted into my side.
I sighed and snuggled her in a little tighter. The feel of her body against mine was soothing some of my fear for my little girl. She was slowly improving, but I couldn’t help the terror at the idea of losing either of my girls.
The car pulled up to the house and parked, then the driver exited the vehicle and opened the door for us to get out. I released Gianna only to allow her to climb out. As I followed, I noticed the driver’s eyes were lingering on her ass, and I gave him a black look. Grabbing her hand, I brought her in close and tucked her into my side. He had the good sense to look apologetic and a little frightened, so I decided to fire him, rather than kill him.
The cleaning service was in the house when we arrived, and I dismissed them. It didn’t matter if they were finished or not. I needed to be alone with Gianna to assess where her head was after everything she’d learned.
“Are you hungry?” I wanted to take care of her before we delved into the serious discussion ahead of us. She shook her head as she hung up her light jacket in the coat closet.
“You need to eat, mia dolce. Let me feed you,” I said coaxingly, putting my hand at the small of her back and trying to lead her to the kitchen.
She shook her head again and stepped away, making me frown intensely. She barely noticed, when my look would have put the fear of God into anyone else but my mother.
“I will. But right now, I need a hot shower and some clean clothes,” she said with a yawn as she started for the stairs. I put a hand on the back of her neck to halt her progress and moved in close, so I could rest my lips on her forehead. “All right, mia dolce,” I murmured, my lips brushing her skin with each word, “I have to make a call, but I’ll be up soon.”
Letting her go, I watched the swing of her curvaceous hips and sexy ass as she ascended the stairs. When she was out of sight, I remembered my purpose in staying downstairs. I swiftly walked to my office and sat behind my desk. I dialed my friend Brecken, a former military man turned security specialist. I had to recant my statement about who fears me. Brecken was one of the only other people who didn’t fall in line with my demands. He was more likely to tell me to go fuck myself and do whatever he wanted.
“Hey, it’s Nic,” I greeted.
“Nic? Damn, I haven’t heard from you since that thing, with the guy, in the place.”
It was a private joke between us, and I chuckled. The sound felt somewhat foreign, but it spread a little light in my current darkness.