Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
He could never miss a good party.
“You sure that’s a good thing?” An antsy Dominic looked around the room to see practically every made man in the city was gathered here. “We’re fucking sitting ducks.”
TWENTY-ONE
PRO TIP: GIVE ADALYN SKITTLES TO MAKE HER SHUT UP
Once the fittings were over, they went out to the stretch limo Lucca had gifted them for the day.
Adalyn jumped up and down on the luxurious upholstery. “What are we doing next?”
“I don’t know.” Chloe was just as excited and clueless as the others. “Lucca said it’s a special surprise. I guess we’ll find out when we get there.”
“You want me to ask Vincent?” Lake asked, moving to where she could knock on the barrier separating the front of the car from the back. “He might tell me.”
Elle stopped her. “No, let’s not spoil Lucca’s surprise.”
“Ooo … You think he’s going to splurge and give us a shopping trip?” Lake’s eyes grew wide at the thought, though Maria quickly burst her balloon.
“Knowing my brother, that would be a no.”
Amo didn’t park the limo in the parking lot. Instead, he went behind the mall to park next to a back door to one of the businesses.
Amo opened the door for them. “This is it.”
They all piled out excitedly. Chloe let her guests go first, getting out last.
“What about Gia? I invited her—”
“She’s already inside. Lucca had an Uber sent for her.”
Relieved Gia hadn’t been forgotten, she went up the stone steps to the back door marked “Private Entrance Staff Only.”
Using a key, a quieter-than-usual Vincent unlocked the door. It was obvious Lucca had read him his rights and had told him that he better be on his best behavior today.
Following him inside, they went up two flights of stairs, coming to a metal door that a man in a dark suit was holding open for them.
Walking in last, with Amo right behind her, she heard her friends’ excited yells before she could see anything, and when she finally did, Chloe saw why they were all yelling and why her best friend’s yell had been the loudest.
They were standing smack-dab in an empty movie theater. The front entrance was closed; no one allowed inside except for them and the staff. The “Now Showing” posters had all been replaced with some of their favorite movies—Bridesmaids, Fifty First Dates, Titanic, Scream, The Little Mermaid, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Pride and Prejudice, Dirty Dancing, and Twilight.
An awestruck Elle stared at the posters. “I have died and gone to heaven.”
“Oh God, Nero and I are fucked. We ain’t never gonna hear the end of this.” Whatever spell Vincent was under had started to fade with each scrutinizing glance Lake was giving him. “How the hell am I supposed to top thi—”
Amo elbowed him, clearly to remind him of something.
Chloe was still taking it all in. She looked at Maria as her eyes started to brim with tears for the second time today. “Did you bring any tissues with you?”
“No, but I wish I had.” Maria looked like she wanted to cry, too, but not with happiness.
Kat gave her a kill me, please look, letting Maria know she felt her pain when she saw a big cutout of Edward Cullen.
The manager stepped forward to introduce himself.
“Ms. Masters, your fiancé has rented the theater for the rest of the day and night. The staff will provide you with anything you want. As you see, we have hamburgers, hotdogs, nachos, popcorn. All you have to do is order, and we will have it prepared to your liking. You may choose from any of the movies on the wall. As you get your food and snacks, I’ll let the projectionist know which movie you have chosen first. What shall it be?”
Too excited to choose, she looked at her friends. “What should we watch first, guys?”
Ordering a tub of popcorn with triple butter, Elle gave her suggestion. “We should watch Titanic first. It’s the longest.”
Knowing her best friend was thinking tactfully, she began the movie list order in her head.
“Gia?” She let her choose next, wanting her to feel more comfortable.
Poor Gia looked as if she had been catapulted into another dimension, clearly not knowing what she had signed up for. Her eyes moved down the line at the different movies. “No Fifty Shades of Grey?”
Maria gave her an approving smile. “I think I’m going to like you, whoever you are.”
Chloe quickly introduced her to Maria and Kat. “Sorry, Gia. Lucca told me he had a surprise for me. I just didn’t expect all this.”
Gia stared at her. “Your fiancé did this?”
Chloe nodded, becoming teary again.
“Does he have a brother?”
“Yes, two. Nero, who’s Elle’s boyfriend, and Leo is his younger brother. Maria’s their sister,” she said, making more introductions to help Gia understand better.
Gia, however, was still caught on catching a brother. “How much younger?”