Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
THIRTEEN
Nico
“This is not how I expected things to go when I had Enzo bring you to my place early.” Journey is lying on my chest, ear to my rapidly beating heart. The knowledge in my gut that this languidness will be gone shortly isn’t helping matters. I tossed the covers over us after cleaning her with a warm washcloth, not ready for us to leave the comfort of my bed after finally having her here instead of at her condo or what was my last place.
“No, I imagine talking was meant to happen.” She traces the tattoo along my arm. Her hair is a knotted mess from the bed and also my hand that is currently playing with it.
“It was, which we’re about to do.” She lifts her head off my chest. My arm moves to press her to my body again. Journey isn’t budging, though, so instead, I sit up in the bed, pulling her with me until she’s straddling my lap.
“I have a feeling I’m not going to like where this is going.” She burrows her head into my shoulder and neck, breathing in deeply before letting it go.
“Wish like hell you could bury your head in the sand, vita mia, but that’s not possible. If you want to know the full extent of how things are going to go to keep you in my life and safe while doing so…” I pause, waiting to see if she’ll give me her eyes or if I’ll be talking to her hair for the duration. When she doesn’t move, I continue on, “There’s the old-fashioned way, use you as bait to reel in my enemy. It makes me sweat to think about putting you in harm’s way. It’s my last fucking resort, Journey. Hear this now; I’ve tried to protect you from the very beginning, sucking it up, making you feel like you aren’t worthy to be seen on my arm, in the eyes of my famiglia. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Now there’s a fucking Russian making moves, going after teenagers, not just our territory but kids at school. This one is a high schooler, not like it makes much difference that he approached him, let alone offered him a job to sell drugs for them. Another one is passing a note, telling us he’s coming after the people we love the most. Using you doesn’t sit right with me, not for a second.” Journey pulls away from my neck, leaving wet tears in her path. She doesn’t look scared like I’d have suspected her to.
“I know you’re not ashamed of me. Does it suck I’m not included in some aspects of your life? Absolutely. I didn’t even know you moved. The last house I was at, I thought it was yours. Having Enzo tell me that was a rental was a kick in the gut. I didn’t know if it was me who didn’t ask the right questions or you keeping me out of the loop. I hate that you’ve had this on your conscience that some asshole is going after a piece of you, and don’t get me started on him doing so with kids. If I could spare them by using myself as bait, I would, in a heartbeat. No kid should have to walk around worried about who’s after them while walking home from school.” My selfless woman, ready to battle for people she doesn’t know, all because they’re a part of me. Papà wasn’t wrong when he said she’d make a good mafia boss’ wife. Journey will be that for me, no matter how much she hates me for it.
“Not fucking happening!” My voice comes out harsher than ever, hands going to each side of her neck, allowing Journey to see that will not ever happen, not while I’m alive. It’s already bad enough Petrov knows she’s my weakness, another worry on my list of everyday bullshit. Journey, though, that’s where I draw the line. If he wants a war, I’ll start and finish it.
“Nico, whatever you need me to do, you know I will.” All too willing to do this for me. I’m not sure if I should kiss her or smack her ass for offering herself up so freely.
“What I want is going to piss you off.” Green eyes are shimmering with sadness, not for herself but for me. “The only way I can keep you safe and in my life is to bind you to me completely. I’m not taking this lightly. You’ll become my wife tonight.” I watch as she swallows what I’m assuming is a lump in her throat. When she scrambles to get off of me, I drop my hands. Try as she might, there’s no way to leave my house unless you know the password as well as have a thumbprint sent to the monitoring system, another thing to add on my never-ending list.