Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 27333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
"I'm so, so sorry this had to happen to you," his wife said brokenly. "But you can't keep forcing yourself to hate him."
So this is why.
"Forgive him, Lorenzo."
And as his wife cried with him—-
"Forgive him. And start living again. Please."
He finally understood he had it all wrong.
All this time, he had always believed that Potenziana Marchetti had secretly arranged for his pardon for Gazelle's sake.
All this time, he had believed that the old woman only saw Lorenzo as her sacrificial lamb to use, in case war broke out, and she needed someone who would give up his life to protect his granddaughter.
But now he knew it was the other way around.
And instead of him saving Gazelle—-
Potenziana had chosen him because she knew it was his granddaughter alone who could save his soul.
Journal Entry
Mafia monstera, n.
A rare species of famiglia that's capable of erubescence
"I'LL DRIVE YOU TO SCHOOL," Lorenzo says quite casually after breakfast.
It's only been a week since I came to live with my husband, and if not for Giancarlo still missing, this could've easily been the best week of my life.
Every day with my beast is a revelation, and I just never know what to expect from him. He's gentle one moment, ravenous the next. He makes me laugh without trying, but he can also make me cry just by being himself. The only constant thing about Lorenzo is his need for me. He can't seem to help touching me. And I wouldn't want it any other way, which is why I hate the fact that it's time for me to go back to school.
I clear my throat as he helps me to my feet. "So, I was thinking. Maybe I can take a leave of absence—-"
"What for?"
"I think Gloom's lonely."
Lorenzo only looks pointedly at his dog, whose tail is happily wagging at the moment.
"Kidding!"
I force myself to laugh, and Lorenzo looks at me like I've lost my mind.
Someone please turn back time.
Please!
Lorenzo glances at his watch. "Time to go. We don't want you to be late on your first day back."
I scowl and try dragging my feet, but I'm no match for his strength, and Lorenzo eventually manages to get me into the backseat of his SUV.
Grrr.
Lorenzo looks at me curiously. "Are you sulking?"
"You're going to miss me, you know," I warn him darkly.
"I won't."
Okay, now, he's just being plain cruel—-
"If you're in school, I'll be there, too."
Or maybe he's just misinformed.
"I wish that's true, but our college has a strict no-visitors policy."
"I know."
"And it won't matter if you're the Beast of New York either," I stress. " You can be Godzilla and King Kong's love child—-"
Lorenzo chokes at this.
"But it still wouldn't matter—-"
"I know."
I open my mouth to tell him that not even Giancarlo was able to bend the rules, but Lorenzo beats me to speaking.
"I forgot to tell you," he murmurs. "I bought your school."
I start to laugh but end up choking when I realize he's serious.
"For real?"
Lorenzo only stares at me.
"You're really not joking?"
"You haven't heard? Monsters don't have a sense of humor."
"Oh, but you're not a monster," I protest right away. "How dare anyone call you that? Don't they know you're the monster and not just any monster?"
His lips slowly curve, and I just...die.
Oh, thank You, God.
Thank You for choosing Lorenzo for me.
Thank You for keeping him safe for me.
But...
"You told me you never lie."
Lorenzo's gaze narrows.
"And yet here you are, smiling."
He immediately stops doing so, but it's too late. I've already taken a photo, and you bet his beautiful smiling face is going to be my wallpaper on both my phone and tablet.
"Delete that, dammit."
But that just makes me giggle.
"I never imagined the Beast of New York could be so cute!"
"While everyone clearly lied about the youngest Marchetti being weak and meek," Lorenzo retorts.
Oh, this is just too perfect.
And so my hands fly up to my mouth as I gasp.
"What?" my husband demands.
"I think it's happening," I whisper.
But Lorenzo is ever so clueless still, and his face only hardens. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Can't you see? I think we're falling in—-"
My husband suddenly drags me to his lap, and the rest of my words are lost in his kiss.
Journal Entry
I can never get enough of this.
LORENZO HAD ENOUGH presence of mind to flick a switch on the side of the car, and as soon as he saw the privacy window slide into place behind his driver, all thoughts of holding back were completely abandoned.
He kissed his wife with a fierce mix of hunger and desperation, wanting and needing to shut her up for both of their sakes.
He was no idiot not to guess what she had attempted to say. But those words, just like her feelings, were best ignored, and the only way to do that was to let passion take control of both of them.