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)
“What in the hell did I ever do to deserve you?” I cried.
“You survived so I could find you.”
I knew he meant more than just surviving the last month or so while I was on the run and he searched for me, but my childhood was a place I never wanted to visit again. “It’s a damn shame the men underneath me won’t trust you.”
“No other man will ever be underneath you,” he growled.
“You know what I meant,” I huffed.
“It’s only fair they don’t trust me because I don’t trust them, especially not when it comes to your safety. There’s only one man I trust with you, and that’s me. So the decision’s a simple one. I need you safe, and you need to lead the O’Reillys. The only way we’ll accomplish both is as a team, with me by your side.”
When he put it that way, it was impossible to argue, even if this decision might get us both killed.
He lifted the ring from the box, and the diamonds lining the band glinted in the light. “I’ve never seen a Claddagh that was quite so fancy before.”
“You know us Italian mafia types. We like our flashy things,” he joked as he slid the ring onto my finger. “Plus, I want you to have the absolute best of everything.”
“I already have the best,” I whispered, leaning down to rest my lips against his. “I have you.”
“Then you’ll marry me this week?”
It was crazy, but I wanted be his wife. To live out my years by his side, raising a family together, even if we were stuck doing it in a world I’d desperately wanted to escape for so long. And I didn’t want to wait. Didn’t want to waste a single minute of the time we had together. “I don’t know, maybe you should try convincing me again,” I teased, pulling on his tie so he tumbled onto the couch with me, where he proved to be thoroughly persuasive. Twice.
Chapter Thirteen
BRANDON
“Relax, kitten,” I soothed as I put my hand on the back of her neck and gently kissed her temple. “They’re going to love you.”
I steered Carly towards the door of an apartment building in the heart of Little Italy. She walked stiffly beside me, her body strung tighter than a drum.
“This is crazy, Bran. I shot you, how can you think they’ll love me?”
I stopped when I reached the door and faced her, placing both hands on her neck and using my thumbs to lift her head so our eyes met. “First of all, my mother doesn’t know and it’s probably best if we keep it that way until she’s had a chance to get to know my gorgeous fiancée.” She looked skeptical, but I pushed on. “Second, my brothers will probably hand you a gun and ask if they can watch this time,” I finished dryly.
Carly giggled and the sound filled me with contentment. I loved the sound of her joy. Her face took on a thoughtful expression, “Bran, how come your name isn’t Italian?”
I laughed and grinned. “Actually, it is. My mother is half English and wanted to name us more traditional names”—I winked at her—“Like you, she can be very persuasive. In the end, they compromised. My father chose Italian names, but they are all spelled the English way.”
She giggled again and I couldn’t help pulling her in close. I kissed her deeply, hoping to melt away some of her nervousness. When I pulled back, she looked dazed and I grinned.
Her hand came up to touch her lips and as her eyes cleared of passion, she began to frown. “Brandon!” she hissed. “I can’t meet your mother looking like I’ve just had my tongue in her son’s mouth!”
I laughed and winked as I slung my arm around her shoulders. “She had six boys, kitten. She knows how babies are made.”
Carly’s jaw dropped and she sputtered, “We weren’t—she wouldn’t think we just—” I kissed her again, effectively shutting her up and led her into my mother’s home.
“Ma!” I called out as we walked into the first apartment door on the right. All five of my brothers were lounging in the front room, watching a Sunday football game. Every head turned in our direction and a wicked gleam slowly entered all of their eyes. If it were anyone but Carly under my arm, I might not have allowed my brothers to meet my woman all at once. They could be overwhelming and they were always a group of annoying bastards, but I knew she was strong enough to handle them.
“Fratelli,” I said in a low voice, my eyes narrowed in a warning for them to behave. “This is my fiancée, Carly. Try not to be your normal jackass selves and scare her off.”
Five rascally grins were their response and I groaned inside, knowing the stupidity they were capable of. Carly smiled and waved, chuckling at their terrible attempts to appear innocent.