Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74035 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“I don’t have to eat in bed like an invalid,” I tell him. I want to get downstairs. I want to see all of them. I want to be at home.
“Tonight, you do,” he says softly. “The doctor said you’re in bed until he gives you permission to get out, but more importantly…” he clears his throat. “You’ve got shit to tell me.”
I sit back on the sea of pillows, reach for a napkin, and nestle the tray on my lap.
And I tell him everything.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Dario
The days pass so slowly, it feels as if every minute drags its feet with dread.
I miss waking up beside her.
I miss the soft feel of her breath on my back when I sleep, and the way she snuggles up to me when she wakes.
I miss kissing her, holding her, and every damn way we touched each other.
I miss her wit and her smile, her generous laughter and simple honesty. The way she screamed when a bug skittered past her and the way she looked at me like I was her knight in shining armor when I rescued her.
The way she felt in my arms when I lifted her into the water, and the way she furrowed her brow when she was deciding on her next poker move. Vivia Montavio is the only woman I’ve ever loved, and being without her feels as if a part of my body is severed.
“You’re mourning like your fuckin’ dog died,” Mario says three days after I’ve come home to The Castle. The youngest of the Rossi brothers, Mario’s the most happy-go-lucky of the lot. “I would’ve thought you’d be happy to be home. I mean, the cabin’s fun for a bachelor party, but—”
I give him a withering look. He blinks, then his eyebrows shoot upward and he stops. “Ooooh,” he says, backing away. “So it’s like that, is it?”
I turn away with a sigh. He married his Gloria but only after she was his captive as punishment. He’s no stranger to how things sometimes work, how all’s fair in love and war.
I quickly get my emotions under control so no one else sees. I trust Mario, though, and I haven’t hidden my feelings for Vivia. Granted, my purpose was for a reason, but my feelings for her aren’t a secret.
My phone beeps at the same time Mario’s does. I glance down at the screen.
Romeo: Shoot out. All men at The Castle report to the Great Hall immediately.
Mario sets his jaw and turns to face me. I look at him and we stand in solidarity. I don’t know any more about what this means than he does, but we had no warning of an impending attack. Wouldn’t be surprised if this had something to do with the revelation that I wasn’t killed in that car crash like others were led to believe.
And if people now know that I’m alive… they’ll know that Vivia is, too.
So I drag my ass out of the pity party and focus on my job. It’s all I can do now. Vivia is gone. I’m here, alone, and thankful I didn’t lose my job or worse, my life, because I lost her.
The sound of people running fills The Castle as the men of the Rossi family join us. The kitchen door flies open and Mama tosses a hand towel over her shoulder.
“Who, Dario? Where? What’s happening?”
“I don’t know,” I tell her honestly.
Romeo enters the Great Hall, dressed like usual in a suit and tie. His brother Tavi follows him, as well as fellow mob brother Santo. More of our men encircle us and we all look to Romeo.
“Orlando got caught in his restaurant,” Romeo says with a look of grim determination. “Says they’re heading this way.”
My blood runs cold. “Is he okay?”
Romeo’s jaw tightens. “He’s on his way here.”
“Did he say who it was?”
He shakes his head. “Doesn’t fuckin’ know who it was, just said they ambushed him and attacked. His bodyguards threw down for him. One gave his life.”
Silence falls over us for a brief moment before Santo speaks up.
“You say they’re coming here?”
He nods. “Orlando was sure of it. Said they came after him because they had footage of him rescuing Vivia and Dario.”
Motherfucker.
“Who are you sending?” Mario asks.
Romeo shakes his head. “No use sending you to Boston, not after this happened. You guys stay here. We batten down these hatches and prepare for an attack.”
I stand up straighter and remove my gun from its holster.
Vivia… where are you?
If they know that she’s alive… she’s in more danger now than ever.
She’s gone, I tell myself. I hope for her sake she’s far away, so far away that no one will ever be able to touch her or hurt her ever again. I ignore the rush of pain that stabs me at the thought, and focus.