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)
With fourteen guards to protect us, the convoy of SUVs drives toward the gates. When they open, we head down the narrow road that’s lined with trees.
“Where are we?” Gabriella asks.
“Shelter Island. We have to take a ferry to get to Long Island.”
She lets out a burst of laughter. “Still don’t know where I am.”
I pull out my phone and bring up a map of the area to show her. “We’re here.”
“It looks far from Manhattan,” she mentions.
“That’s why I take the helicopter.”
Relaxing into my side, she glances out the window. “It’s quiet out here.”
“That’s the plan,” I mutter.
She glances up at me. “Do you ever host parties at the mansion?”
“The other four heads of the Cosa Nostra come over for a poker game occasionally. Mostly, we meet in Manhattan. I have another house and a penthouse there.”
“Is that where you stay when you’re not with us?” she asks.
I nod, my eyes searching through the trees as we drive toward the ferry.
“Only a few people know where the mansion is situated,” I mention.
“Who?”
“The other heads. The guards. My aunt on my father’s side and Stefano.”
A frown forms on her forehead. “Will Stefano be at the wedding?”
I shake my head. “No. The last thing I want is family visiting when I marry you.”
“Me too,” she agrees.
“After the wedding, I want all the guests gone as soon as possible,” I mutter.
So I can be alone with my wife.
My wife.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her tightly to my side.
“We’re getting married before Christmas,” I announce.
“That’s less than two weeks,” she gasps.
“Two weeks too fucking long,” I mutter.
I’ll have to invite the other heads over to introduce them to Gabriella.
So much for resting.
“What the hell was I thinking,” I growl to Carlo.
“You tell me,” he mutters before letting out a sigh. “You’re the one who decided to bring them shopping.”
We’re following the women like two lost fucking puppies as they move from one store to the next. The guards keep taking turns carrying the parcels to the SUVs, and I start to worry there won’t be enough space.
“Dio!” I hear Gabriella gasp, and my eyes flick to the outfit she’s staring at.
I walk closer, taking in the sheer body suit the mannequin is wearing. There are meager strips of fabric covering the breasts and pelvic area.
It’s fucking sexy.
My eyes flick back to Gabriella’s face, and I start to shake my head. “Over my dead body.”
She takes my hand and gives me a pleading look. “I’ll pair it with a jacket. All the important parts will be covered.”
Christ.
Letting out a sigh, I give in and nod.
“Thank you!” She wraps her hand around the back of my neck, and standing on her toes, she pulls me down so she can kiss me before rushing into the store.
Carlo lets out a chuckle, and when I shoot him a glare, he stops and pretends to search the area for any threats.
By the time we leave the mall, I’m fucking tired and it’s already dark.
But my women are happy.
When I’m back in the SUV with Gabriella beside me, I ask, “Did you enjoy the trip?”
“So much!” She rubs her hand up and down my thigh, and I revel in how good it feels. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, my little spitfire,” I murmur before I relax against the seat and close my eyes.
Gabriella links our hands together and wraps her other arm around my waist as she leans into my side.
She doesn’t try to make conversation as we drive home but just holds me, and like the night before, I find a sense of peace having her next to me.
Somehow, she has the power to help me recharge after an exhausting day.
Chapter 30
Gabriella
With the wedding date scheduled for next Saturday, we’ve been super busy.
Mrs. Accardi’s been an enormous help. Honestly, she’s done most of the work.
I got to spend some time with Damiano, but tonight, the other heads of the Cosa Nostra and their partners are coming over, and I’m nervous as hell.
I’ve just put on the sheer body suit and high heels when Damiano comes into my walk-in closet. His eyes land on me, and he stops dead in his tracks.
“No,” he growls as he slowly starts to shake his head, his expression darkening by the second. “There is no fucking way you’re wearing that in front of the other men.”
“Hold on before you burst a vein,” I mutter.
I grab the cream jacket out of my closet and put it on. When I fasten the belt, and the fabric spreads out like a short skirt, I say, “See. Everything’s covered.”
He stares at me for a while before he says, “Fine. But the fucking jacket stays on at all times.”
I walk closer to him, and wrapping my fingers behind his neck, I pull him a little down. Against his lips, I whisper, “It will only come off when you take it off.”