Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Yeah, but no one calls a meeting and then offs someone at said meeting they called. That’s bad business. Also, Henry and Troy know better than to give him a reason to do that. It’ll be fine.”
I fall silent after that, running my fingers through the tangles in my hair. Everything about this day is anxiety-provoking, and it doesn’t help that Troy left like he didn’t even care about me. I know I’m being petty about that, too. Still, it burned.
“You’re giving me anxiety,” Gerard mutters, pausing the TV. “You want a cigarette or something? Because this is too much.”
“I don’t smoke. I don’t want lung cancer.”
“You’re so much fun,” he says dryly. “It’s clear you’re Henry’s daughter. Jeez.”
I don’t comment on that, letting out a sigh. “What do you think the meeting is about?”
“Probably the target on you and your father’s back?” he suggests, though he doesn’t seem too sure. “Could be a lot of things, but I hope it’s to settle their differences. Word has it that a couple of the other families are making some big power moves.”
Curiosity blooms, and I eagerly take the distraction. “Like what?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Gerard begins, leaning back against the couch and looking at me. “Sometimes, it’s arranged marriages. Sometimes, it’s business deals. I think this one is the first.”
“An arranged marriage?”
“Yeah,” he nods. “It’s a great way to make a strong tie. I feel for the bastards that get sucked into it, though. It’s never an easy thing for either party. I’d probably lose my shit if I got sucked into one.”
“Me, too,” I comment, pulling my knees up to my chin. “I can’t imagine marrying someone I don’t love.” Gerard doesn’t reply, and I shift my attention directly to him. “Have you ever been in love?”
He makes a face. “What are we? Fuckin’ sixteen?”
I shrug, feeling my face heat in embarrassment. “Sorry.”
“Ugh,” he sighs. “Yeah, I guess I was in love once, but I was too young to know what the fuck was going on with me.”
“How old were you then?” I ask, resting my chin on my knees as I study his face. Something in his eyes softens, but it quickly fades.
“Seventeen. She was a year older than me—part of the Romano family. I don’t know what about her drew me in so much. She was just… different. I was taken in by Troy by that time, doing minor shit. It wasn’t a great job, but I needed Troy. I didn’t have anyone, and her family hated me.”
“Kind of like Romeo and Juliet?”
“Yeah,” he snorts. “Except, like hell, I’d kill myself for a woman. Anyway, in the end, she chose loyalty to her family over me. She’s getting married in a couple of months now.”
I blink a few times, trying to process what he just said, and then my mouth drops. “Is this the arranged marriage that you just talked about?”
He grimaces, his facial expression answering the question. “It’s long over between the two of us.”
“That’s rough,” I say softly, wishing I could hug the brute. “You’ll find someone else.”
“Yeah, I don’t really care to,” he responds frankly. “I have shit luck with women, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
“You should tell her you still love her.”
He bursts out laughing and then shoves himself up off the couch. “You need to stop watching so many damn fairy tales, Liz. Real life never works out like it does in the movies. You need to get that shit straight now. Otherwise, it’s gonna bite you in the ass one of these days. If you think Troy is your prince charming, you need to get that thought out of your head real fuckin’ quick.”
“Why’s that?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
“Why?” he echoes me. “I’ll tell you why. He’s a fuckin’ mob boss, and you might have some sort of secret standing because of your father, but you’re no princess. Your only worth comes from the price tag you come with. That’s it. That’s all you got going for you. Now, to some lowly guy like me, you’re a prized jewel, but to Troy? Nah, you’re just a fuckin’ cute little plaything.”
“That’s not true,” I reason. “I’m—”
“I’m not trying to tear you down. I just think you need to be realistic about the shit happening between you and Troy. Don’t get your hopes up that something will become of it. Henry will always stand in the way, and it makes no sense for it to go further.”
I bite down on my lip, my heart squeezing. “He’s not using me.”
Gerard shakes his head and lets out a sigh. “I’m going to have a smoke.”
I watch him go, my mind reeling. I have real feelings for Troy, and it seems like he returns them. It’s not just a fling, right? My insecurities start slipping in, and my mind brings up all my concerns. Gerard makes some good points, but I know there’s more to us.