Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18514 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18514 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
“And yet, you’re still marrying here with him as your best man.” His brow arches up just like Gloria and that’s the first similarity I see in them.
“You know about that?”
“Yes, my wife asked because Aria’s Gloria’s bridesmaid.”
“It’s our world politics especially after losing the head of the Family.” He nods, understanding where I’m coming from. “Well he’s been warned that Aria’s a minor, so he’ll keep his hands to himself. If she has a problem with him, let me know and I’ll deal with the fucker. Aria might not be my responsibility, but Gloria’s my heart, so anything that upsets her needs to be dealt with that includes my brother.”
“Good man. Now how about that drink?” We walk over to the liquor cabinet, and he points to the bourbon, so I fill two tumblers with ice and the amber liquid.
“Anyway, enough about him. I wanted to apologize about the way I reacted the other night on the phone. You’re Gloria’s father, so I should have taken the verbal thrashing.”
“Truthfully I respected you more for it. Gloria needs someone who isn’t going to back down when it gets tough.” We shake hands as an understanding.
“I’m just not used to taking shit from anyone but your daughter.”
“She’s already let you have it?” His smug expression would be funny if I didn’t know how close I came to losing Gloria.
“More than once. From the first time I met her, she’s been a sweet yet strong woman who refused to let me run all over her. Although, I’m sure you won’t be pleased by the way we met.”
“Please tell me it wasn’t at a strip club or something like that.”
I need to earn brownie points with him even if it’s going to get me in the doghouse. “No. She was drinking at a pub I own when some asshole tried to steal her wallet and then after we began talking, I learned she walked there from her hotel all alone. I nearly lost my mind. Let’s just say I added my men to her detail.”
“That’s what my men said. I was worried you kidnapped her.”
“I might have considered the idea once or twice, but that’s after she thought I was married.”
“What? So she was under the same assumption.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t something she read. Gloria saw me talking to my sister-in-law in town and Siobhan kissed my cheek goodbye before going shopping.”
“Ah,” he says, taking another drink.
I add, “And she’s pregnant.”
“Oh, so you looked like a fucking pig.” I nod and top off our drinks before we head to the sofas.
I sit down with a sigh. “Exactly. I had to chase her down at the airport, which is what your men saw a part of, and all of this was after my father’s funeral. Let’s just say my mood had been a fucking rollercoaster.”
“I’m truly sorry about your father. It was hard when I lost mine and it’s never easy even when you expect it. So are you planning to keep my daughter here forever?”
“No. No. I promised her that we’d go back and forth.”
“That’s good because Gloria says the food’s shit here.”
I laugh hard as hell. “That’s our Gloria.”
“What about your businesses here?”
“Although I own many, I don’t operate them, so I only have quarterly calls to figure out and strategize when necessary. It’s rare that I have to step in and manage them personally.”
“Good. Gloria deserves attention. With two girls, it’s hard to give them equal amounts of attention.”
“Gloria loves her sister though and can’t wait to introduce Aria to an Irish boy when she reaches the right age.”
“To be frankly honest, I think someone’s already stolen Aria’s young heart.”
My brows shoot up because she’s only fifteen. “And you allow her to date?”
“Hell no. I know how boys are at that age, but it only just happened on the way to the airport. One of the other Families and I stopped and had a brief conversation. Aria happened to see his son who didn’t notice her sitting in the backseat through the tinted windows. Although she saw him and hasn’t stopped mooning about him even though denying it when we ask. On the flight here she said his name in her sleep.”
“Would you approve of it when the time comes?”
“I didn’t have much of a choice here, did I? I’m sure I’ll be a grandfather soon.”
“One can only hope, but she’s still young. They might not see each other again. How old is he?”
“He’s in his twenties and a good man who will be a great force for his family one day, not to mention the bastard is a handsome fucker. It’s no wonder why she’s drooling over the young man.”
“Did Gloria meet him?” I snarl; jealousy floods my mind and I want to kill this son of a bitch.
“Yes, she did, and neither of them showed an interest in each other. Not the slightest bit, so calm down. No need to go to war with someone you don’t even know.”