Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“And where is he?” I ask and pretend to glance around the room. I already know her father isn’t here yet. He’s late, as usual. Eduardo huffs and backs away. “Why don’t we all take a seat?” I suggest to the room, and the tension seems to ease.
Everyone moves to the long table that’s been set for this evening. There are about thirty seats, and I tell the waiter to put two place settings at the head. I want Pru directly next to me so we are side by side.
Once we take a seat, I stand and raise my glass. “Thank you all for being here tonight. I appreciate everyone putting aside differences and—”
I’m cut off when Renzo Benecci bursts through the doors with a young woman on his arm. She’s probably Pru’s age. He doesn’t apologize for the interruption but takes a seat on the opposite end of the table, leaving his girl to find one farther away. He doesn’t seem bothered that she’s not sitting near him or that he’s interrupted me.
“As I was saying,” I continue. “Tonight is about more than our annual meeting. It’s about doing what’s right.” Renzo glares at me while the other bosses look intrigued. “I understand better than most what it means to protect the people we love. As you all know, my parents and my uncle were murdered by a young boss trying to make a name for himself. When I was old enough, I took my vengeance, and then I took his place.” Most of the bosses nod in agreement because the retaliation was sanctioned by them. “After that, I raised my cousin Gianna and made sure she never had to suffer the same fate.” I hold my glass out to her, and she gives me a soft smile.
I take a deep breath and then look down to where Pru is sitting beside me. She’s watching me with wide eyes, but when I reach out to her, she doesn’t hesitate to take my hand.
“Tonight I’m going to protect one of our own.” I turn to face the table. Renzo must not have recognized Pru until now, and when he sees me holding her hand, he stands up from his chair. “She’s the daughter of Renzo Benecci, but she came to me looking for protection. I’d like to offer her not only that but my last name as well.” I raise my glass once again before I lock eyes with Renzo. Then I keep my eyes on him while I speak in Italian. “I’d like you to welcome my fiancée, Prudence Viana Benecci, to our family.”
Everyone around the table stands, and I squeeze Pru’s hand to do the same. She stays close to my side as we all take a drink of the wine, and then I pull out the ring box I had in my pocket.
The bosses cheer as I place it on her finger and then cup her face. “Are you serious right now?” she whispers so only I can hear.
“Isn’t this what you wanted?” I say against her lips before I place a soft kiss on them. “I told you to be careful what you asked for.”
I keep my eyes on hers, and I don’t miss the way she blushes and bites her bottom lip shyly.
“Enough!” I hear shouted from the other end of the table, and to my surprise, it’s not Eduardo. Instead, the protest is from Renzo, Pru’s father. His face is bright red with anger as he slams his fist on the table. “This is an insult!”
I can feel Luca move behind me as some of the other guards circle the table waiting to see what I’m going to do. “Gianna,” I say to my cousin. “Will you take Pru and the other wives into the salon, please?”
“Of course,” Gianna says brightly as she grabs her glass of wine. “Follow me, ladies. I believe the desserts have been left unattended in the salon, and there’s no rule saying we can’t eat that first.”
“Vitaly,” Pru says as the women begin to file out.
I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss the diamond I just placed on it. “Do what I say, little one. I don’t want you here when I cut out his tongue.” After I release her, I nod to the bosses around the table and remove my jacket. “Who has a knife?”
“I do,” someone says as the men on either side of Renzo grab him.
“Wait, wait, wait,” he begins to plead.
But it’s already too late.
Chapter Eleven
PRU
The ring is heavy on my finger, and I’m still in shock that Vitaly announced to everyone that we are getting married. Everything happened so fast.
“Come on, let’s go,” Gianna says and ushers me out of the room.
I glance over my shoulder, catching one last glimpse at Vitaly. His eyes are on me while someone hands him a knife. Is he really going to cut out my father’s tongue?