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)
“Right…” Henry’s voice trails off as he glances back down the hallway toward the ballroom. “We’re going to be in a fucking mess when his men find out what happened, even if he’s a piece of shit who deserved it.”
“There has to be something we can do,” Liz says meekly, stepping beside me.
I reach for her hand, squeezing it. “I told you that you never had to marry him, and now I think we’ve concluded that’s not going to happen. Is it, Henry?” I look at my best friend pointedly, who nods.
“Yeah, not handing her off to a man who doesn’t respect her,” Henry says, glaring at me as the words leave his lips. “Ever.”
“Wouldn’t ever ask you to,” I say flatly. “So I guess we need to get the fuck out of here and prepare for war, then.” The words come out in a tone that makes it sound like it’s not a big fucking deal, but it is. It’s one we’re gonna have to fight alone.
Henry nods. “I’m not okay with this.” He motions between the two of us. “I’ll never be okay with it.”
Liz’s body trembles. “But—”
“What the hell are you guys doing back here?” Gerard’s voice interjects, and we all spin around to see him come jogging down the hallway. His eyes go wide as they bounce between us all, stopping on mine and Liz’s intertwined hands. “Oh.”
“Don’t even,” I warn him.
“I won’t,” he says as he shakes his head and peers around us at Vitali, still out cold on the floor. “This looks like a mess.”
“Yeah,” Henry grunts.
“I might have good news, though,” Gerard says. “It might be just the remedy that we all need for this clusterfuck, especially with Vitali over there.” Gerard waits for us to say something, but none of us does; the tension is still palpable. He clears his throat. “The Romano and Greco wedding is off.”
“What?” I can’t hide the shock.
“What happened?” Henry echoes what we’re all thinking.
Gerard grins. “I guess sometimes true love really wins out in the end. I got to thinking about Liz’s sacrifice for Troy.” Henry groans, but Gerard continues. “And I thought, why not try? I’ve upped my ranks in the family, and I’m basically an heir or maybe close to it. I took my case to Romano himself. I told him I love her and I’ll protect her better.”
My heart fucking soars.
“So he called her in. He asked her if she still loved me and would rather join the Rossi or Greco family. She chose me.”
Holy fuck. Problem solved.
“You’re serious?” Henry asks, his voice brightening.
“Yep. Dead serious,” Gerard beams, pulling out his phone and pulling up a picture. “Even put a fuckin’ ring on it tonight. I got my grandma’s old one, one of my only family heirlooms. Greco is gonna be pissed, but it’s a done deal.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Liz says, her voice still tinged with emotion. “I guess sometimes things work out how they’re supposed to.”
“Don’t get too carried away with that,” Henry snaps at her. “I’m still not done with you two. It’s not even the fact that you started seeing each other. It’s the fact you never told me. You hid it behind my back,” he yells, glaring at me. “You’re supposed to be my best friend.”
“You weren’t fucking listening about marrying your daughter off,” I counter, growing defensive. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I figured you’d have had my head the moment you found out.”
“Well, maybe, but at least I’d know.” The hurt in his eyes is worse than if he’d just laid a punch right to my jaw.
“I’m sorry, Henry.” My tone loses all offense. “I am. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing or why, but I fell in love with her.”
Henry lets out a sigh and runs his fingers through his hair. “We need to get out of here before he comes to. He knows what he fuckin’ did and knows we’ll be back to sort it out. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 25
Liz
“He took that better than expected,” I say from the passenger seat of Troy’s car, a mixture of relief and anxiety rattling around in my chest. “I need to tell you something.”
Troy grabs my hand. “Before you do, you need to know that what I said back there is the truth. I should’ve told you before you agreed to marry Vitali, but I love you, Liz. I don’t want to live a life without you. It’s been fast, but I belong to you.”
My cheeks flush with heat as emotion wells up in my chest. “I only agreed to marry him to protect you and my dad, too.”
“I know,” his voice deepens. “That shows how much you love me. You’re an incredible woman, and you deserve the best. I’ll always strive to give you that.”