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)
I hurry to Mamma’s side and quickly explain, “There are seals bathing in the sun. They’re so fat but cute.”
“They stink,” Damiano mutters under his breath.
A baby seal clambers onto the deck and makes a barking sound as he climbs all over the others to get to his mom.
“Oh, they’re loud,” Mamma mentions. “And Damiano’s right. They smell quite bad.”
I glance at the seals again before pulling Mamma in the direction of the aquarium so we can get out of the sun.
I spend time at every display explaining what the different fish look like before Vito comes to take Mamma from me.
The next room is dark, and there are cylinder tubes with tiny jellyfish moving through the water.
Damiano catches my eye from the other side of the display, and I watch as he slowly walks closer to me, a look of awe on his face.
“What?” I chuckle when he stops to just stare at me.
“Have I told you how fucking breathtakingly beautiful you are?”
“Language,” a mother hisses as she shoots Damiano a glare.
His features quickly settle into a ruthless expression as his dark gaze flicks to her, and she quickly grabs her children's hands and hurries to the next room.
I close the distance to Damiano and shake my head at him. “My scary mafioso.” I give him a serious look. “Are you happy?”
“Of course.” His features soften as he brushes his knuckles over my cheek. “Why do you ask?”
I poke my finger at his chest. “Then smile before they kick us out.”
The corners of his mouth lift as he mutters, “The things I do for you.”
“It’s because you love me,” I chuckle.
I take his hand and weave our fingers together before we continue to walk from one room to the next.
When we leave the aquarium, we head to the market, where we saunter from stall to stall until it’s time for lunch.
Once we’re back at the hotel and seated at a table, I read the menu to Mamma so she can decide what she’d like to eat.
“I’ll have salmon sushi,” Mamma says. “And a glass of white wine.”
I glance over the menu again. “I’ll have the wagyu beef tacos and zucchini tempura.”
“And to drink?” the waiter asks.
“Just a Coke with lemon and ice, please.”
While everyone else places their orders, I glance out the windows at the beautiful view of nature and the waterway around the island where our rooms are.
Damiano takes hold of my hand and sets it down on his thigh while brushing his thumb over my wedding and engagement rings.
When I glance at him, a soft smile curves his lips, and seeing the loving expression on his face, my heart swoons.
He’s trying so hard to be less brutal on our vacation.
I lean closer to him and press a kiss to his mouth. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you, amore mia.”
When I pull back, I stare deep into his dark eyes, thinking how lucky I am to be his wife.
Out of everyone, my god of vengeance chose me.
Tilting his head, he asks, “What are you thinking about?”
“That I’m the luckiest woman alive.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “Not half as lucky as I am.”
I give him a tender kiss, then whisper, “Ti amo, il mio re.”
Epilogue
Damiano
(Twenty-two years later…)
Walking out onto the veranda, I glance at the lake before my eyes drift over my guests.
Everyone’s at the mansion for a cookout to celebrate Mamma’s eightieth birthday.
She didn’t want anything formal, so I only invited the other heads and their families over to spend the day with us.
I head toward where the men are sitting and take a seat.
Dario points to where the kids are standing in groups, and he lets out a chuckle. “Rosie is following Enzo around. He can’t shake her.”
I watch as Dario’s sixteen-year-old daughter sticks to my second-oldest son like glue. When Enzo stops and wraps his arm around her shoulder, the poor girl almost melts into his side.
Fuck.
I better have a talk with Enzo, who’s just turned twenty. I don’t want him getting any ideas until Rosie’s eighteen.
Thankfully, he gives her a brotherly hug before letting go of her.
My gaze follows Enzo as he walks to where his brother, Christiano, is talking to Angelo’s sons.
When my firstborn glances at Sienna, one of Franco’s daughters, I let out a sigh.
“Your son is staring at my daughter,” Franco mutters.
“They’re all fucking staring at each other,” I grumble.
Dario lets out a chuckle. “Love is in the air.”
“The fuck it is,” I grunt before climbing to my feet and walking to my sons.
Christiano notices me first and comes to throw his arm over my shoulders. “Having fun?”
“Not with you undressing Sienna with your eyes.”
He lets out a bark of laughter then shakes his head. “I’m not.” A serious expression tenses his features, “But if I were, would that be a problem?”
“Christ,” I sigh. “No, but ask Franco’s permission before you decide to date his daughter.”