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)
I don’t think we can until we really talk about it.
And… how and when will I tell him about my father and what he originally wanted me to do? Everything in me knows I should, but I can’t. What if it ruins what we’re attempting to build here?
There is more to Nico than a tough exterior. I see it in small glimpses of his gentle touch, his profound love making, the way he has shown possession, and his very unconventional and mostly annoying way of wanting to keep me safe. In no way do I think this is okay or the right way to express things, but I have to remember the world we’re surrounded by. Gentleness and words of affirmation are not the norm.
Why hasn’t my father called? I wonder for the millionth time since that last dreadful yet liberating night, when I told my father to leave, the gun to his head, as I reclaimed power. All while I shuddered in fear deep, deep inside, because I knew he would want to retaliate. His silence isn’t a sign of my victory. No, it’s a warning. He’s waiting, planning, and plotting, and I have no idea when my life will be cut short.
I guess this is why I want to make each moment left of my life count. Because my father will come to claim his revenge on me. Until then, I might as well absorb what’s left.
There is fear in me, but there is also contentment. I knew what he would do to me one day. Knowing my father would ultimately be the reason I died, I’ve grown accustomed to that idea. I’ve prepared myself for it. Death doesn’t scare me anymore. So I choose here and now, and that is with Nico.
I look up at Nico, and I realize he’s on the phone. My thoughts took me so deep I blacked out on reality.
“Yes, I will be back to work in a week. I will check emails periodically, but I’m leaving you and Giulio in charge. Good work, Randeno.” He ends the call.
“Who is Randeno?” I ask.
“He’s one of my most loyal men. He was the youngest in my father’s army, and now he’s the oldest in mine.” He smiles.
That smile, it's sparse. A sight you want to capture, because you never know when you’ll see it again. Not his smirk. Not his cunning and mocking grin. But his real smile.
“That’s sweet. What did he do?”
Nico reaches over, places his free hand on the thickest part of my yoga-pant-covered thigh, and kneads at it. I love when he touches the parts of me others ridiculed.
“I told you, he’s in my army.”
I shake my head.“No, I mean you told him ‘good work.’ What did he do?”
He shakes his head, “Tsk, tsk. No, principessa. You don’t get involved with the business.”
I nod.“Hmm, I just show up to all your events and support you and seem as though I’m your partner.”
“You are my partner. You are my queen. You make this a kingdom. You don’t need to be involved with the dangers of my business.”
I look out the window. His words aren’t harsh, and they do make some sense.
I sigh. “I guess you're right. I'll just keep thinking it's all sunshine and rainbows and charity work that you do,” I tease, and he smiles again, this time with a little laugh.
“I do some charity. You will be doing more soon too.”
I look back at him.“Do you do charity for a sense of redemption?”
He peers at me briefly before adjusting his shoulders as well as his hand on the wheel.“No. I do it because I can. I don’t need redemption, Emelia.”
“You don’t ever feel like this life is killing you from the inside out?” I cautiously ask the question, adding my physical touch. I place my hand on his on my thigh, and I trace the rough skin over thick veins.
He shakes his head.“It’s all I know. That’s all I'll ever know. Besides, redemption came already.”
My brows lift, and I'm curious as to what he means by that. “When?”
“We’re here,” he cuts me off, and I know that was deliberate. Nico shares only what he is ready to share. And that redemption isn’t something I’m going to be afforded the luxury of knowing.
Time. Slow, painful, annoying time. That’s what we will have to give one another.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
NICO
Randeno and Giulio found some more of my shipments, and luckily most of it was there. It was docked along the Oregon coast in the middle of the night. I’m sending some of my men out to investigate further, but this reeks of the Notellis.
Maybe that’s who was backing Lavetti. Giuseppe wants revenge, and he’s knocking at the wrong door. Emelia is now on my side. She isn’t a treaty anymore, or a physical object of alliance; she is now a part of my reign.