Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Both Riley and I jump when the door to the bedroom flies open. One man comes rolling in, and Matteo has another by the hair of his head. I recognize one of them right away. He is normally the man at the front door.
They both look like they’ve been in a fight. “Stay down or it will be worse,” Matteo tells the man sprawled out on the floor. His tone is so cold and deadly it sends a chill through me. He drags the other one toward me, pushing him to his knees.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me,” the man sputters out without having to be told. “It was inappropriate. I beg for your forgiveness.”
“Do you accept his apology, little rabbit?” Matteo’s whole demeanor and tone changes when he speaks to me. I nod my head. I’m not naïve to violence; I know what happens. I’ve seen more than a few fights, but this feels different. I feel in control. Maybe a little powerful for once.
Matteo yanks him up by his hair, shoving him toward Sergio, who takes hold of him. He goes over and grabs the other guy off the floor, the one I recognize. Matteo does the same to him, bringing him to kneel before me.
“I’m sorry.” I think he’s shaking in fear. “It would be an honor if you married Matteo Cattaneo. I will serve you and your family.”
“And this one, amore mio?" he asks, calling me that name again. Luca has said it a few times now. I don’t know what it means. “Shall you take mercy or vengeance?”
Riley stands beside me with her hand over her mouth, shocked. “I’ll let you decide.”
“So be it.” He drags him over, pushing him toward one of his men. “Now, I’d like to be alone with Mona.”
“Yeah, I’ll go back to, like, that room you set up for me,” Riley says. Matteo nods in agreement.
“I’ll come see you,” I tell her when she hugs me before leaving. Matteo closes the door behind her, the lock clicking loudly.
“None of my men should ever talk about you in a disrespectful way.” That can’t work. He has to see that. Does he not notice the way his men are with me?
“That’s the thing. They don’t respect me.”
“In that, I will take some fault.” Matteo comes to stand in front of me. “They don’t talk to you because they’re scared.” He brings his hand to my face, his finger gently stroking my jaw. It’s so soft compared to the man who was dragging men around like ragdolls a second ago. It makes emotions bubble up inside of me. This ray of hope is peeking through.
“Scared? Of me?”
“They should be. If I’m honest, you scare the hell out of me too.” He shakes his head as if confused. That statement applies to both of us. How could I, Mona O'Haire, ever scare Matteo Cattaneo? Matteo Cattaneo is a man whose mere name inspires fear. “You have no idea what you’ve done to me. Neither do they. But they know I’m protective and possessive of you. They fear my wrath.”
“Oh.” Whoa, I don’t know what to do with that.
“Oh.” He smirks.
“I’m not your mistress?” I ask. Now that Matteo is opening up a bit, I want to clarify some things.
“I’ve never had a mistress in my life, Mona.” He scoops me up into his arms, carrying me over to the bed.
“Then, what did you have?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” How could that be? I mean, he’s so damn handsome and powerful.
“Nothing,” he repeats. "My entire life, I have maintained a singular focus. To take over the Cattaneo empire. To accomplish that, I couldn't become like my father. I had to keep my finger on the pulse of everything going on around me.”
“Tell me.” I want so badly for him to open up to me. To show me that side of him that peeks out every now and then when it’s only him and me. A side, I want all to myself. I’m greedy for it.
And I won't stop until I have it.
13
MATTEO
“You want to know all my secrets, little rabbit?”
“Yes.” I can’t deny her. I've passed all that. I don’t even care anymore if her brother sent her to destroy me. So be it. They could try, but in the end, Mona is still going to be mine. She’s been in my bed, my home, for weeks. Now she has my child inside of her.
“Then, you’ll have to be my wife.” Her tongue comes out, wetting her bottom lip. “Say what you want, Mona.” I can tell when she is trying to hold back. “You don’t have to ever hold your tongue here.” Not that she often does, but I need her words.
“Is this because of the baby?”
“No,” I say without hesitation. I shift, taking her with me, so that she’s straddling me in bed. “I even told that doctor you were going to be my wife, so to treat you accordingly, before I knew about the baby.” A smile tugs at her lips.