Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Then why haven’t you killed all of us over it?” I yell, spinning toward Mikhail with tears rolling down my cheeks.
“Because, little wife, your pet monster has protected you all along.”
“Right,” I murmur, unbelieving. “He dragged me to a fucking maze and drugged me! Don’t tell me that’s protecting!”
Mik’s brows raise. “And then let you go.” He lifts his shoulders in a shrug. “Well, I can’t answer for the way he went about it, but I can tell you why we didn’t just kill you all instead, and that’s simply because Wicked?” the corners of his mouth curve up in a dark grin. “Gave a better ultimatum. I take La Rosa and Antonio, you go back to being the baddest mafia bitch everyone loves with a forever alliance to us with no war, and Wicked—” His eyes flash up to him before moving over his shoulder. “Will give my brother back unharmed.”
“Brother?” I follow his eyes. Val sidesteps out, flashing me a smile. “No.”
Val’s arms wrap around my body, pulling me in tight. He kisses my head. “I’m sorry, baby girl.”
“No, you’re not,” I grumble into his chest.
He chuckles. “No, I’m not. You were entirely too much fun.”
“Can I keep you?”
He leans down until his lips are at my ear. “You’ll always have me.”
It makes sense now, why Wicked hated Val so much. Slowly, I turn back to Papa, tears long since dried. “You know I’ve felt pain, Papa. I’ve been shot, hurt”—I cast a side glance at Wicked—“and manipulated most of my life. But you? You were my constant. You were my first love and my heart.”
Papa—Victor says nothing. His mouth slams closed and his fists clench on either side of his thighs.
“I don’t understand why I didn’t know any of this or pick it up.”
Wicked moves closer to me, kneeling down when I drop onto a chair near Tony’s body. “You couldn’t.” Wicked stands again, turning to face Papa. “Of course we all found out who my parents were, and Victor had to change course when he found out I was Sicilian Cosa Nostra blood. He had to change course.”
Papa sneers, spitting on the ground. “Your father was weak.”
“I don’t give a fuck.” Wicked grins. “I didn’t know him to care.”
“He wasn’t—” Mikhail steps on top of Tony’s chest, coming closer. “For one, he never shat on his family.”
I reach for Mik’s arm. “I get that you want your revenge, but I need to ask for one thing.”
Mikhail’s face scrunches up, as though he doesn’t want to give me what I want. He spews off in Russian beneath his breath before waving his hand for me to continue.
“I want Skully. It’s only fair he’s mine and Wicked’s…”
Mik’s eyes flick between the both of us. In the height of things, I don’t think I’m asking too fucking much, considering the shit I’ve had to go through. “If I do that, you owe me, little wife.”
A dark chuckle crawls its way down my spine. “Call her that again and you’ll be eating through a straw. Mafia bosses aren’t that scary when they’ve got no tongue.” Wicked’s words are calm, but the smirk on his mouth is playful.
Mik winks at him, nodding his head. “Fine. But you owe me.”
“If it’s any consolation, I loved your mother.” Victor takes out a cigar from inside his jacket. “Unfortunately, that never spread to you. You were a reminder of her betrayal. Every time I look at you, principessa, I have to force myself to not kill you myself. That your fate would be much worse.”
His words bounce off the barrier I’ve thrown up over my emotions. “Get him out of here.”
I close my eyes as Mikhail’s soldiers scuffle with grabbing him. I wait until silence surrounds us before opening my eyes, Wicked’s fingers grazing my chin. “I’m sorry, baby.”
Shaking my head, I inhale through the pain of my heart breaking in my chest. “It’s fine. Now we need to find this psychopath and put it all to bed.” Wicked takes my hand and pulls me to where Royce, Jade, Poppy, Khaos, and a couple of their other brothers from the MC are.
Jade hooks her arm in mine, resting her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. Let’s take you home.”
I move fluidly, almost as though I don’t know how to walk again. They put me into the back seat of my car and drive us out to the clubhouse. The blood stains on my wedding dress are a constant reminder of everything that has happened. Will be a constant reminder of everything.
I turn to face Wicked. “That’s why he faked his death? Because of Mik?”
Wicked’s eyes soften around the sides. “Yeah, babe. He knew it was about to break out about me being here and him helping. I had to get to Mikhail before he found out. That month we were gone, I managed to make contact with Mikhail and hashed it all out.”