Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
The ring is from Hart Diamonds, the trendiest store on Fifth Avenue. The four-carat diamond has a pure color and a flawless cut. It’s a token of my wealth and my power, of my ability to care for her and to protect her. It was the biggest and most expensive diamond ring of all the stores in the whole of New York City. I checked to be sure. I even contacted the jewelry chain head office in South Africa to see if they could source a bigger diamond, but the sales manager assured me the quality and size of the stone I bought were extremely rare.
It sparkles on her finger where she sits next to me in the back of the car on our way home from the party, providing me with no small measure of satisfaction that I could give her a worthy ring. Rachele got engaged to me with her mother’s ring. It’s one that will stay in the family, one she’ll pass on to her daughter, should she have one. But this ring has never belonged to anyone. It’s nobody’s but Anya’s. It hasn’t been spoiled with another woman’s love, tears, or heartache, and I much prefer it like this.
My treasure leans her head against the backrest and closes her eyes. It’s been a long and stressful evening. I take her hand, frowning at how cold it feels, and cover it with mine to warm her skin.
When we arrive home, I lift her into my arms and carry her upstairs. In our bedroom, I help her to undress. She pulls on a pair of fluffy pajamas and crawls into bed without washing off her make-up or brushing her teeth. I fed her enough canapés and finger food at the club, so I pull the duvet up to her chin and leave her to sleep.
I change quickly, pulling on a tracksuit and a hoodie, and get my gun from the safe. When I walk from the dressing room, she’s breathing evenly.
I go over and stop at the side of the bed. Staring down at the gorgeous woman sleeping between my sheets, I brush a fiery red curl from her cheek. “Sleep well, tesoro.”
I make sure the alarm is set when I leave and tell the men to be extra vigilant while I’m gone. Then I take the nondescript car with the fake license plate that one of my men parked in the street and drive to Giorgio’s place.
He waits on the steps in front of his house, smoking a cigarette. He changed into a pair of dark jeans and a leather jacket that he wears over a sweater. He flicks the cigarette into the rose bush when I pull up and jogs down the stairs. A whiff of brandy reaches me when he shifts into the passenger seat. Not even the smell of the smoke that clings to his clothes is enough to mask the alcohol.
Fuck.
I steer the car into the road. “You’ve been drinking.”
He watches me, grinning as he bounces his leg. “We were at your party, remember?”
“I told you to stay the fuck sober.”
He grins wider and raises his hands. “I am sober.”
Fucking idiot.
“I thought you’d be banging Anya’s brains out tonight.”
“Keep your filthy mouth off her. Talk about her in such a disrespectful manner again, and I’ll cut out your tongue.”
He whistles. “Someone is edgy. Are you sure you’re not taking this whole wedding thing too seriously?”
“Weddings are serious.”
“To love and to hold in sickness and in health until death do you part and all that shit?”
“Exactly.”
“So she loves you now.”
I grit my teeth. “Madly.”
He only continues to look at me with that ugly grin on his face.
“What’s your problem?” I snap.
“You’ve always been like a brother to me.”
I take the interstate east, crossing over to Queens. “What is this? Some kind of nostalgic memory-lane bullshit?”
That grin never leaves his lips. I swear I’m going to slap it off his face.
“Just saying, bro.” He laughs and looks through his window. “Since Anya came into your life, we never hang out.”
“I have responsibilities.”
“Such as being a father.”
“Yeah,” I bite out, shooting him a look, but he misses the warning because he’s still staring at the view over the bay.
“Okay,” he says with a smirk I can fucking hear in his voice before bouncing his leg again.
“When are you getting married? You could’ve had the pick of the crop by now.”
“Thanks to you, I’m meeting a cousin on my mother’s side next month.” He faces me. “You know, the one you refused? At least I have eight more years of freedom while she grows into a woman.” He chuckles. “I guess it’ll be fun breaking her in.”
I want to reach across, open his door, and kick him out of the car. Then reverse over him.
He leans forward and checks the side mirror. “Is the car on our tail one of ours?”