Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
“That’s not smart,” I tell her. Her other hand comes across my face, sending my head back.
“That wasn’t either, Mrs. Moreno,” Vivian hisses.
“So you do know my name.”
“Yes, but you don’t know mine, and you’ve just earned your own toe tag,” Vivian says.
“Let me guess—you’re not a friend, but a Conti whore.”
“They call me Viper.”
“Well, if you try anything, I’ll end this little waste of life right here.”
“You got me there. Let’s do what she says, Pattycake.”
“You’re in charge,” I tell her. There’s not an ounce of fear in Vivian’s face, so I relax.
We step outside, and I spot Morozov across the street in between two buildings. He gives me the slightest nod. I return it and say to my mother, “You know, I promised you that wedding present.”
“But…” The bullet pierces her chest, and she hits the ground. We take cover just in case her guards decide to let loose, but one car speeds off, drawing attention to itself. We walk away from the scene, and the cops are called. Strangely, the shot came from the direction of the speeding car.
Morozov walks in the opposite direction and enters a building, and suddenly a black SUV pulls up to the curb. “Get in,” Matteo growls. Vivian hops in the passenger seat. My husband jumps out and drags me into the back seat, and we slowly drive away.
“We didn’t get to shop,” Vivian complains.
“Later, after I tan your ass,” Matteo growls.
“You,” Gio growls, his mouth crashing down on mine. “Don’t fucking scare me like that again.”
Matteo’s phone rings in the van’s dash. “Thanks for that one, Morozov.”
We can all hear the call. “It was a wedding present, as promised. I’m back to Russia. Take care.” The call ends.
“He must have heard me in the kitchen when she attacked me.” They all stare at me, waiting for me to answer. “When she threw me against the counter, she threatened me and I said that if I had to marry him, I’d ask him for a wedding present and that would be to kill her. She backed off in fear. Right after that, he came into my bedroom and offered to help me get away. At the time, I thought he was another one of my father’s new guards.”
“How many new guards did your father have?”
“Only ten, but then again, some of them could have been Sergei’s men. I wasn’t sure. He spoke to a few of them on our way out, saying he was taking me to the church to go over the wedding plans and they believed him, so they must have been new or really scared of him. I was just happy to leave.”
“Why did you go to the building?”
“My godfather works in the building and I was hoping he’d help, but he was meeting with that detective who stopped us.”
“Godfather? Who?”
“Antonio Juarez. He works in the building for an accounting firm.”
“Son of a bitch. I bet that dirty bastard Shamus was playing both sides this whole time.” They show me a picture of Shamus, and I recognize him.
“I know him. He’s been to our family parties over the years.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ve served him drinks and…”
“What, Cupcake?” Gio has a tight hold on my hip.
“He took an eager interest in my figure.”
“Has he ever touched you, Cupcake?” he asks, brushing his lips against my throat.
“He’s taken the accidental passing graze a little too often.”
“If he’s still kicking, he’s mine,” Gio warns them. I try not to squirm in my seat, but my pussy is throbbing. Vivian looks right at me and smirks.
“So jealous, bro.”
“Damn right. No one touches my wife but me.” His fingers run down my arm as he speaks. “Anyone else I need to end?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Let’s go home, Matteo. I’m tired.”
“What about the scene? Aren’t the cops going to know we fled?”
“Trust me when I say that everything will be fine.”
For the first time since we’ve been married, we don’t go to the mansion. Instead, he takes me to the Barone home, which is a different mansion on the same large plot of land. It’s just gorgeous. “This is my room here. When I’m not here, I have a condo in the city. At my age, I haven’t bought my own home yet.”
“Your age? It’s funny. I don’t actually know that.”
“I’m twenty-two.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes, we’re all pretty young around here. Matteo’s only twenty-three.”
“Wow, I can’t believe it.”
“That’s why our parents are still heavily involved in the day-to-day. He had only been in charge for a very short time before all hell broke loose.”
“I like this.”
“This?”
“The two of us, just talking, no fucking or fighting.”
“Good, because I don’t need the latter, and although I love being inside you, it’s not the only reason I want you, Patricia.”
“I prefer when you call me Cupcake.”
“My delicious Cupcake,” he growls, pressing his lips to mine. It’s chaste, soft, and as he moves to back away, I pull him back for another one. “Oh, no.” He pulls away, holding my hands at my wrists with just one of his and wagging his finger at me. “Behave. You’re sore, and you just said you were happy just talking.”