Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
I knew my emotions would boil over and I didn’t want that at all. So, instead of doing want I really craved to do, I had to leave and clear my head. I know it hurt my woman and I hated it. I just didn’t have a choice right then. At least, it didn’t feel like it. I wanted to yell at Antonio that I needed a fucking break. I hadn’t taken one—not in all my years with the DeLuca clan. Why take a vacation when I have no family? Still, I was acutely aware that I had just told him I wanted a couple weeks before taking a new position—a position that anyone in the family would kill for. Calling him and telling him I needed him to find a replacement for Greece would put him in a hard position and may make him rethink making me his Capo.
When he offered me the job, I didn’t much want it. My life was good. Then, I began to think about the roles I played for the family. I enjoyed being Emilia’s bodyguard because I didn’t have anyone at home waiting for me. I rarely got time off and when I did, it was to sleep at Maxwell’s house. There was a chance I’d be assigned like that again. That couldn’t happen with Angelina as my wife. I needed my nights free.
I push my thoughts away and concentrate on my future. I’ll make it up to my girl. I’ll get control of my emotions. Of course, that would be easier to do if she was actually in the bed with me. I frown. I get out of bed, rubbing my face and shoving my hair out of the way. It’s getting too long. I need to get it cut. It can wait until I get back from Greece, though. I walk down the hall and stop when I get to the kitchen and living room area. My Gia is sitting on the couch, her favorite, worn black and white checked throw wrapped around her. She seems to be wearing the shirt I had on last night. Something about seeing her in my clothes feels damn good. I give her a smile. “You’re up early, Kitten.”
Something passes on her face that I don’t recognize. It is an emotion of some sort, maybe hurt. Before I can question her about it. She smiles and stands up, the throw still wrapped around her.
“I have a lot I need to get done today. You have breakfast in the oven. I made that sausage and bacon casserole that you like. While you eat breakfast, I’m going to go take a shower.”
The entire time she’s talking, she doesn’t look me in the eye. If anything, she does her best not to look at me at all. It’s clear that she’s upset with me. I knew she would be, but I was hoping I was wrong. I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck as I study her. She starts to walk past me and I reach out and grab her arm. “Gia, wait.”
She does, but I don’t miss the way her body stiffens when I touch her. Fuck. I made a bigger mistake last night than I realized.
“Was there something you need?” she asks.
I resist the urge to growl. I’ve messed up enough. I don’t need to frighten her. “Where’s my good morning kiss, Kitten? I missed you.”
“I have morning breath,” she says, pulling on her arm, silently urging me to let her go. I don’t take the hint.
“So do I. I don’t care.”
“Well, I do,” she insists, again jerking on her damn arm.
I pick her up and start carrying her back to the bedroom. “You’re mad,” I mutter, more to myself than to her.
“What are you doing? Put me down!” she squeals, but I ignore her and walk back to bed I sit down, but I do it with her in my lap and my arms holding her close, refusing to let her get away.
“I’m not mad. I just need a shower and you need to get ready to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you mad at me. I know I was an asshole last night, Gia.”
“Not at all. You’re allowed to go out drinking. You don’t know me any explanations.”
“I didn’t go out drinking,” I mutter.
“Please stop playing me for the fool. I smelled the alcohol on you and the smoke is all over your shirt. I might be naïve, but I am not stupid.”
“Okay, I did go out drinking, but it wasn’t planned. I was upset after our argument so I went to a bar and ordered a few drinks while I tried to sort through the fact that I could have killed you and you just let me.”
She blinks, shock spreading on her face. “Say what?”