Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Clearly, her words finally started to sink in as he quickly dropped to his knees and began to beg.
“Beth, please, don’t do this. I see the error of my ways, please, please.”
“Stop. There is no way I am helping you out of this. That man, the one you want to kill…” She stopped and pressed her lips together, trying to gain her composure. “I love him.” She finally said the words out loud. “I love him and I’m going to have his baby, and you and I are done. He’s done more for me in the short time I’ve known him than you have ever done.”
Ben begged as she turned her back on him, and as she stepped out of the room, he soon turned to cursing her out. She slammed the door closed.
Rome was already there, and flicking the lock into place.
She moved away from the door as it was kicked. Ben was losing his temper and through the walls, she heard him cursing her out. Calling her a whore, a waste of space, and throwing as many insults as he could muster. Beth ignored every one of them. She turned to Rome, who cupped her cheek.
“You do what you have to do, and I don’t care what happens.” She put her hands on his chest, and slowly ran them up to circle his neck. “I don’t choose him. I choose you.”
****
Rome couldn’t keep him alive, and he refused to be the man that killed her brother, so he simply let Ben go. The man had made a lot of enemies, not just with the Bratva, but with the mafia, several MCs, and a few pimps.
After twenty-four hours of letting him go, Ben’s body was discovered outside a brothel. He’d not told Beth what had happened, nor did he plan to, unless she asked him.
As for Beth, she had seemed a little withdrawn since her encounter with her brother. They went through the motions of the day, but since her pregnancy, she tired quite quickly. She was also dealing with morning sickness. His staff knew exactly what to do and there was always dry toast waiting for her.
Rome arrived home on the third week after, and found Beth snuggled up on the sofa. The end credits were rolling on some kind of romance movie, and for several minutes he just stood, looking over her.
She wore a pair of jeans, and one of his favorite shirts. Her body was changing, and she was determined to get every bit of use out of the clothing while she could. Even though he had told her on many occasions not to worry about the cost of anything, she still did. He knew she hated not working or helping to contribute, but the truth was, he wanted to take care of her. That was all he wanted to do.
Reaching out, he pushed some hair off her face, and she gave a little moan, then opened her eyes. At first, she didn’t react, but then she suddenly smiled.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.”
“You’re home.” She gave a little stretch followed by a yawn.
“And I got you these.”
He held out the dozen red roses he’d picked up for her. He’d been driving past a florist shop, when they caught his attention. The moment he saw them, he immediately thought of Beth, and wanted to get them for her.
“For me?” she asked, taking them from him and smiling. “They’re beautiful.”
“They remind me of you.”
“How?” she asked.
“Simple, they’re beautiful, showstopping, and they made me get out of the car to buy them.”
Beth burst out laughing. “You bought me.”
“I’m not doing this right.”
“I think you’re doing great, actually. You’ve called me beautiful and showstopping, and you even hinted that you would stop your car just to get out and talk to me. To me, that is incredible. I kind of like that.”
He smiled. “I don’t know what it is you do, but you’ve got me hooked, Beth.”
She reached out and put a hand on his cheek. “I don’t do anything, Rome. I’m just me.”
He took her hand and kissed her inner wrist. “It’s more than that, and you know it.” He kissed her again, and knew he could keep kissing and never stop.
“I love you,” Beth said.
This made him stop and look at her.
She gave a nervous giggle. “Yeah, I promised myself I wouldn’t say anything. This is already crazy enough. I don’t know what to say or do half the time, but I know I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’m not just saying this about the baby. I love you, Rome.”
“Beth?”
“And you don’t have to say anything back. I’m not telling you this so you’ll say it. I get that you don’t love me, and I did start out originally as being just a bit of fun.”