Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“Of course. Ladies, gentlemen, I owe my beautiful bride a dance tonight. It was good to talk to you again. We’ll speak soon.” He gestures to DeLuca, the man next to him, then stands and helps me out of my chair.
He moves us to the dance floor where the lovely band plays a melody that is slow and sensual. We get into position, and he takes the lead. He slowly moves me across the floor, and it's effortless. He's in control tonight; there’s not an ounce of weariness in his body.
I lean into that and let myself believe this is going to be okay. It has to. It just has to. We dance for two songs, until Giulio interrupts us. He whispers in Nico’s ear, and Nico doesn’t move his gaze from me, like he’s purposefully trying not to let his eyes wander. He pulls me in and dips down to my ear.
“I need to brief our men. Giulio said your family is leaving soon. Head to the bathroom. I will text you when we’re ready, then meet me at the entrance, and we will make our departure.”
I nod, and with that, I leave him and go in search of the bathroom. Finding it instantly, I step inside, and that’s when the anxiety really hits me. My stomach is churning. My mind is racing, and I’m starting to sweat. I have my hands braced on either side of the sink, and I drop my head between my shoulders, trying to compose myself and not succumb to vomiting.
“You okay?” a voice asks from the stalls behind me.
Peering up, I see a beautiful brunette. She has straight hair that slightly curls in at the ends, and she wears an emerald-green dress that compliments her eyes. Her body is sculpted like a model’s. I envy her beauty for a moment, but the anxiety overrides that brief lapse.
“Yes, I just had too much to drink tonight.” I fake a small laugh, and she laughs too, stepping up to the mirror next to me.
“Same here, and all the men have been ruthless tonight. Old pigs don’t know how to back off.” She pulls out some lipstick and starts to reapply the stunning red that enhances her plump lips.
“Sorry to hear that. Are you not here with anyone?” I ask, hoping this small talk will distract me enough until my phone signals that Nico is ready.
“Nope, I come to these things hoping I will find someone, but not one man out there is even remotely attractive.” She smacks her lips, then puts her lipstick back in her purse and continues to rummage through the small clutch for something else.“Well, there is one. One I’ve been with and had my eyes on for a while.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, except there’s some bitch in the way.” Her voice is hostile, and suddenly I realize she’s talking at me and not to me. I turn to look at her, and she gives me a malicious, mocking smile.“Hello, Emelia. I’m Natalia. Nico’s ex. And you’re in my way of getting back what I want.”
I go to open my mouth to tell her to leave or I will call Nico in, but she rips her hand from her clutch, and I feel a sharp stab in my neck. The room becomes fuzzy, and my eyes grow heavy until there is nothing. Nothing but blackness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
NICO
“You will make sure to take her to a new hotel. Do not go back to the other one until I give the all-clear. Your only job is to keep my wife safe,” I tell Giulio and Phillip, her newest guard.
“Yes, sir.”
“You three, with me. In and out. You get the car, and you two hold them hostage in the back. Take them to the warehouse, and I will be waiting.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.” Taking out my phone, I text Emelia that we’re ready. I head to the entrance with my men and wait for her. I can see her father and brothers coming, and I curse, knowing we have mere seconds to make this work.
Fuck.
I call Emelia, and it goes to voicemail. I look back again and notice that Mrs. Notelli isn’t to be seen, and my stomach drops.
“Giulio! Watch them. If they leave before we do, follow them. Get to the car now. Keep me posted.”
“Yes, sir.” He hurries out before the Notellis see him, but I pass them on the way to the restroom, that feeling in my stomach growing worse.
“Looks like we both lost our brides tonight,” Giuseppe says with malice, but I ignore him.
I keep my cool, because if he knows we’re going to follow him, it will be the end of this plan. I pray Emelia’s merely knocked out and can be taken to the hospital or that her mother has her locked in there until her father can get away. He probably thinks I will have my men distracted finding Emelia. Wrong. The only one who will find her is me. I will not let them outsmart me.