Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 84756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Dio.
My fear multiplies by the second as I realize I’ll be at the mercy of the Capo dei Capi of the Cosa Nostra. I’m leaving my life in Sicily behind to start a new one in New York. Everything will be foreign and dangerous.
The bathroom door slams open, and when Mother sees I’m busy packing, she comes to help.
When I walk into my bedroom it looks like a tornado swept through it, the drawers and closets standing open.
The guard that’s been at Mr. Falco’s side since they arrived holds a bag open and orders, “Throw your toiletries in here.”
I do as I’m told.
“Is there anything we missed that you’d like to bring?”
I quickly check all the drawers, the closet, and the bathroom, shocked at how quickly my life’s been packed up.
When I shake my head Mother holds out a black pouch to me. “This contains your personal documents. Don’t lose it.”
“I’ll take it,” the guard says, swiping the pouch from Mother’s hand.
When she grabs hold of my wrist again, the guard says, “Miss di Bella will come with me.”
Holy shit. In a matter of minutes my family no longer have any authority over me.
I pull free from my mother’s hold, and not even sparing her a glance, I follow the guard out of the bedroom where I’ve spent most of my time.
Crap, this is really happening.
My dire circumstances really start to sink in as I take the staircase down to the foyer and walk with the guard toward the front door.
“Let us know when you land in New York,” Mother calls out.
I’m too worried about my own survival to pay her any attention.
As I step out of the house, it’s to see Santo and my father standing near an SUV with blacked-out windows.
Father hurries closer to me. “Find out what he wants with you and let me know,” he orders.
The guard takes hold of my arm, his touch not biting like I’m used to, then my eyes widen as he pushes Father out of my way.
The guard opens the back door to the SUV and nods toward the backseat for me to climb inside.
“Mr. Falco,” Father says, hoping to get the Capo dei Capi’s attention as I slide into the backseat. “Why are you taking Gabriella?”
Damiano is busy typing something on his phone and doesn’t even bother acknowledging my father’s question.
The guard shuts the door, and I can only suck in desperate breaths when I find myself alone with Damiano.
Luckily, his attention remains on the device in his hands.
I dare to slowly turn my head to glance at the imposing man beside me. The expensive fabric of his pants clings to his muscled thighs, and for a moment, I notice the way-too-big bulge behind his zipper before I quickly turn my head away.
Caro Dio.
I suck in another desperate breath as my eyes land on my family.
I don’t feel any heartache when the guard climbs behind the steering wheel and starts the engine. When the SUV begins to move, my eyes dart over the house.
I haven’t known any love and never felt safe between those walls.
My eyes lower to my hands, and seeing the red marks on my arms and around my wrist, I brush my fingers lightly over them.
What will become of me?
Chapter 3
Damiano
Halfway to the airfield where the private jet is waiting, I tuck my phone back into my pocket.
Stefano’s pissed off that I didn’t give my blessing and instead took the woman he wanted to marry, but he’ll just have to get over it.
The di Bella household is a fucking mess, and I refused to stay there a second longer. I’m used to violence. It’s second nature to me, but having to see Gabriella degraded and mistreated tested my patience. If I’d stayed for dinner, instead of leaving, there would’ve been a blood bath.
I glance at Gabriella and notice she’s changed her outfit. She looks glamorous in the pink suit, and even though I have zero interest in her, I notice her cleavage that’s on full display.
She might be on the shorter side, but she has curves in all the right places. She’s beautiful, but that’s not why she’s sitting beside me.
When she held eye contact with me, I was actually a little stunned. It showed she has more guts than most of the men in our world.
No matter how she was yanked, shoved, and hit, she kept lifting her chin and straightening her spine.
I think she’s fucking strong and would be a perfect match for Dario, one of the other heads of the Cosa Nostra.
Dario’s like a little brother to me. Annoying as fuck, but still, I love him and want the best for him. He needs a strong wife who will take care of him.
Even though I don’t give a shit about the woman beside me, I’m sure she’ll appreciate being married to a man who won’t mistreat her.