Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
When I hang up the phone, I turn my attention to Sasha. “You look amazing.”
“As do you,” she praises. “Are you ready for the best birthday party we’ve ever been to?”
“Birthday party?”
“That’s the theme for the night,” she adds. “And this Wonderland is going to be extra extra spicy. I hear that orgies are going to happen. Rooms with sex acts. Everyone watching everyone else. It’s going to be a kinky paradise.” She gives a devilish grin. “Maybe you can have some pre-wedding fun. Get your dirty on before you wife up.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “I think I’ll stick to dancing.”
“Even if Nick is in one of the sex rooms waiting?” she taunts.
I haven’t told my cousin about our night together in this room, and I don’t plan to. It was one night. Just one night.
One night only.
“We have to go to Central Park and look for golden mushrooms to get the address to the party,” Sasha says. “So we better get going. I don’t know how long this will take.” She looks over her shoulder at the door. “Does Bryant know you’re leaving? Did you tell him where you’re going?”
I shake my head. “I haven’t seen him for days. I don’t think he gives a fuck where I go or when. So no worries there.”
“Maybe you should leave a note. Say you’re staying at my place,” she offers.
“I’m not a teenager sneaking out of the house,” I say, even though a part of me feels that way.
“I’m just thinking that if any other Morellis are at Wonderland, and it gets back to Bryant—”
“I told you he won’t care,” I interrupt. “I’m not the precious daughter that he’s trying to protect. I truly believe he won’t care if I walk out that door and never return, aside from the fact that he needs to make good on his business deal with the Sidorovs. But what I do from now until the day I say ‘I do’ is none of his concern.”
“I’m sorry,” she says softly. “I know you hoped for more. I know there has to be a part of you that thought you’d have an insta-family.” She shakes her head. “That’s just not how this family is. I often wish it was too. I’ve been part of this tree all my life and even I feel like the redheaded stepchild sometimes. I don’t ever truly feel like I belong.”
“That’s just Bryant’s family.”
Sasha snorts. “My dad is actually worse than Bryant. It’s just that he lost power when he lost control of Morelli Holdings. So no one cares as much what he does.”
Everyone knew about the power struggle that had almost fractured the company. I speak cautiously, not wanting to bring up bad memories. “I know you never felt comfortable at home.”
“Listen. Whatever Uncle Bryant has going on? That’s nothing compared to the secrets at Vincent Morelli’s household. There’s a reason Elliott left when he was sixteen. And why Selene moved to Paris when she turned eighteen. It’s not a good place.”
My heart wrenches. “Why don’t you leave?”
Her gaze flits away. “It’s complicated.”
“I’m sorry, Sasha.”
“All I’m saying is, I know you wanted a family. And you deserve one.”
Her words make me feel a little better. The past week I’ve gone from sadness to anger and then back to sadness. Part of me wants to cry and wallow in my disappointment, and another part of me wants to storm into Bryant’s office and demand answers. Demand respect. Demand the father-daughter relationship I’ve always craved.
“I’m beginning to accept my situation. As hard as it is, I’m lowering my standards on what I need from being a Morelli.”
“That’s sad.”
“No, it’s the truth.” I give a smile and slip on my heels. “But let’s not allow this to put a damper on the mood for tonight. We have a birthday party to attend.”
Sasha pauses, bites her lip, but then announces, “Then let’s go. Time to find Wonderland.”
Chapter Ten
Nick
As she enters through the black velvet curtains entering Wonderland—my Wonderland, I hate that I have to share. I’ve never been good at sharing anything in my life. I want us back in Italy. Just us, under the Tuscan sun, never to be apart. No eyes on her. Not a single soul deciding if they have a chance getting in her panties. No one looking at her but me. Me.
Selfish?
No.
Possessive?
Yes.
If I’d have my way, I’d keep Lyriope locked in a cage with the only key belonging to me. She is the pure definition of perfection, and for some unknown reason, I was the lucky bastard who got the privilege of calling her mine. Even if temporarily. Even if she was mine in a fucked-up way. Even if I had to take it. And yes, I most certainly took it.
I had purposely kept an open invite to every single Morelli to Wonderland. No hard feelings… at least on the surface. Come and play with me in Wonderland, motherfuckers. Come play. It’s my way of keeping my enemies close at all times, and it’s in my domain. Had I expected any to attend so closely to the Italy incident? No. So, to see her unexpected visit with Sasha doesn’t exactly have me surprised, just amused that this girl does exactly what she wants and how she wants to do it. Her balls are bigger than any thug at this party. I’m sure Sasha being the devil on her shoulder didn’t hurt in having her return to Wonderland. I’m not sure if I should thank Sasha or—