Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“But—”
“You will bring nothing from America. You will start over in Italy and be an excellent Italian wife. I was told that your mother’s culture is much like ours. It’s the only reason I settled for a. . .you.” He waved a hand in the air as he spoke. “I was told you would be a young, subservient wife and that’s what I expect.”
I opened my mouth and shut it a few times. What could I even say to that? I couldn’t yell at him. I couldn’t tell him I was none of the above. I couldn’t know that being raised in the States shaped me to be my own woman. If I said any of those things, my father would be furious. I felt sick.
“What else do you need to speak to me about?” He glanced at his watch, exasperated with me.
“Nothing,” I said brokenly. If he noticed, he didn’t care.
“Good.” He turned and walked away.
I observed him walking away, his hands swaying back and forth as he confidently strutted in his high-end attire. He smiled and laughed with a group of men he had reached, but it was all a front. He was cruel and controlling and wouldn’t let me take Aanya with me. My mouth began to quiver as I stood there, so I quickly faced the wall and wiped the tears away. After taking deep breaths to help me calm down, I turned around to meet my mother’s eyes. I could feel her compassion even from the other side of the room. I could feel her arms wrap around me and comfort me with just one look. I bit my lip to keep it from wobbling. She gave me an imperceptible nod, telling me she’d be there when I needed her. She took her eyes off me and looked at my father with a smile as he spoke. I stood there a second longer until he put his arm around her and brought her to his side. She’d said their marriage was based on mutual respect and love. From this angle, I could believe it. Still, I wanted a union with spark.
10
LENORA
I was in my brother and Rosie's kitchen, holding a glass of wine for Rosie's birthday party. They'd rented a house nearby for the event since Dom and Loren had made it very clear that they didn't want strangers in their homes. When I asked Gabe who these unknown guests were, he finally looked up from his phone, his mouth twitching. We shared an amused look. They only hung out with each other. Maybe Rosie's dance friends were strangers.
“Let’s say one of the guys brings a woman they’re dating around,” Gabe explained. “She’d be considered a stranger.”
“Who would be a stranger?” Rocco asked.
My pulse raced as I heard his voice, and my stomach filled with butterflies when I glanced over and our eyes locked. He put two cases of beer on the counter, then came over to greet us — a side hug for my brother and a kiss on the cheek for me. As he backed away, I noticed his tiny smile just before he grabbed things from the bags in his hands — a bottle of whiskey, a carton of orange juice, Sprite, and Little Debbie Zebra Cakes. It was such a strange addition to the rest that I had to laugh.
“Is there a children’s party going on?” I asked.
Rocco raised an eyebrow. “You don’t like Zebra Cakes?”
“I’ve never had one.”
His mouth dropped. He looked at Gabe. “You’re a terrible brother.”
“I don’t eat them either.” Gabe laughed. “Roc, maybe you can answer this question for us. Nora wants to know why you guys throw parties in other people’s houses if all you do is invite the same people you’ve been hanging out with your entire lives.”
“We don’t like strangers in our house,” he said, still putting away the things he brought. He knew every cabinet by heart, which showed how much he visited.
“Did you invite any strange women?”
Rocco looked up from his task. “No, but Nico and Matti might have.”
“So you’re afraid a woman will stake out the house and rob it later?” I asked, brows pulling.
“You don’t think women are capable of thieving?” Rocco raised an eyebrow. “That’s very sexist of you, Lenora.”
My face heated. “That’s not what I meant. I just don’t know any women like that.”
“Of course, you don’t, Principessa.” Rocco cocked his head, giving me a lopsided smile that made my world tilt with it. “You hang out with the elite while the rest of us do your dirty work for you.”
“Rocco.” It was a warning from Gabe.
Rocco shot him a look. “It’s not a big secret.”
“I’m not a child, Gabriel.” I looked up at my brother, then at Rocco. “Back to my point, my father would never hire a woman.”