Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
She hadn’t verbally thanked me, but after my workout this morning, I walked into the Jack-and-Jill bathroom and found a “thank you” scribbled on the fogged-up mirror. The note made me think about her naked and wet in the hot shower and that visualization made me so hard that I couldn’t go back to my workout. I was actually starting to think Rocco was right about this being a terrible idea. I wasn’t sure what was making me crazier, the fact that I wanted her as much as I did and knew I shouldn’t or that he was right about something. My phone buzzed on my lap, and I looked down to see a text from him.
Rocco: how’s the stalking going?
Me: I’m not stalking
Rocco: you aren’t sitting outside watching her without her knowledge?
I felt my brows furrow. Was that the definition of a stalker?
Me: mind your business
Rocco: k I’ll leave you alone while you stalk your brother’s girlfriend
I scowled at my phone and tossed it beside me in the seat.
“Ready to go, boss?”
I met Nico’s gaze in the rearview. I’d been his boss for a little over eight months now. That was how long it had been since the five of us created the new Famiglia. The only Famiglia, as far as we were concerned. It still felt weird when Nico called me “boss,” though. He wasn’t much older than me, but still. Even though I’d started as a soldier, I’d risen up the chain quickly because of who my father was. I also had Lorenzo’s backing, which held a lot of weight because of who he was and who his father was. There were men who’d been around longer than I’d been alive and would remain in the same position forever, while guys like us rose quickly in rank. That was maybe one of the only good things about being a De Luca, a Marchetti, a Russo, and a Costello.
“Boss?” Nico repeated.
“Not yet.” I tore my gaze from his and glanced back at Rosie, noticing that three guys had joined them now. I shifted in the seat, sitting up straighter.
Nico said nothing and went back to the book he was reading on his Kindle app. Two seconds ago, I’d been tired and yawning, but suddenly I felt wide awake. I watched one of the guys clink his glass against Rosie. She was smiling at him, and I decided I didn’t like it. Who the fuck were these idiots? The guy next to Yari was holding her hand as he apparently read her lifelines. I rolled my eyes at the lame pick-up attempt, but then one of the guys next to Rosie decided to do the same to her. I stiffened. What was it about this woman that made me forget all reason? She seemed to have my heart in a chokehold. I’d never been an asshole as a kid, but to her, I was the worst. I’d never cared to make anyone jealous, but when I knew she’d be around, I made sure to have the hottest girl in the school on my arm. Well, second hottest. None of them ever compared to Rosie. Rocco used to think I was crazy, even back then, for feeling this way, but I couldn’t help it.
A rush of anger spread through me as I watched the guy keep her hand in his. He was saying something to her, probably commenting on how soft her skin was or some shit. My fists clenched on my lap. Fuck. I already knew I was going to get out of the car and fuck this up. I also knew no amount of deep breaths or counting would help stop me from leaving this car and going over there. I thought about my brother and how I was going to have to explain that I fucked his girlfriend, because I would. I’d made up my mind about that right then and there as I watched another man flirting with her. Gabe shouldn’t have left her in my care if he wanted another chance with her. What was he thinking?
I thought about his voice message again and all the things she’d said. I thought about the way her brows pinched every time I mentioned her boyfriend or my brother being her boyfriend, and made up my mind about them not being together. She had something going on with Anthony and my brother obviously knew about it. How could he be okay with that? I wasn’t even okay with it. I breathed a little more. I’d almost calmed down when the guy, who I decided would not be keeping his fucking hands or face after tonight, leaned in and smelled her hair. Her hair which smelled of the shampoo that I’d bought her. The fact that I was thinking about the six-dollar bottle of shampoo confirmed that I was spiraling, but it was what it was. I opened the door.