Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
“Will you marry me?”
“There you go, right on point,” she said. “Yes, Antonio, I’ll marry you. There’s nothing else I could ever want.”
He slowly slid the ring back on her finger. The perfect fit. Just as he knew it would be. Leaning down, he kissed her head. “I love you, Ellie, so damn much.”
She covered his hands with her own. “What happened, Antonio? You can’t lock me out. I know you’re going to want to for my protection, but don’t. Please.”
He sighed. “Fine.”
“No, I mean it, Antonio. What you know, I want to know.”
“And I’ll give it to you. Every single day.”
“You can’t be with any other woman either.”
He laughed. “I won’t. I believe you’re going to keep me on my toes. Of that, I have no doubt.”
Kissing her lips, he shut her up. He couldn’t wait to spend the next fifty-plus years with this woman. He just knew it was going to be one hell of a ride.
****
Six months later
“Are you nervous?” Ellie asked.
Antonio took his wife’s hand, locking their fingers together. Their wedding had been a modest affair. Romeo and many of the capos he’d worked with had been there, as well as a few civilian guests, to see his union with Ellie.
She, for the most part, was an outsider. She didn’t mingle well with the other women, and he knew she tried but had long since given up. Whenever there was a gathering, she stuck by his side until he had to talk business. If they were in Romeo’s house, he would often find her alone in the library, reading.
It worked for them and she hadn’t complained about any of the families or the lifestyle.
Her old apartment was gone for good, as was most of her furniture. He’d sold the apartment he’d purchased for their meetings, and she now lived with him. They were also currently moving into a country house, with a nice large garden, pool, and six bedrooms. The home was found by Romeo, who had listened to the kind of home she wanted. She was the only woman to have charmed The Boss, who enjoyed her company. Antonio had realized Ellie had become the daughter Romeo never had.
He didn’t have to worry about selling her into marriage, or using her as a pawn. With Ellie, he could have some fun, feel like a father where with Raphael, he could not. He still intended to find the perfect match for his son.
As for Raphael, well, Antonio didn’t even want to think about his friend. He’d taken the slave girl and hadn’t returned her. He wasn’t going to be involved in that mess, not with him.
“Are you nervous?” Ellie repeated her question. He’d been so deep in thought he hadn’t yet replied.
“No, I’m not,” he said, drawing their locked fingers up to his lips and kissing her hand.
“I’m nervous. I didn’t realize how much I would be.”
He reached over and placed a hand on her swollen stomach. The moment they discovered she was pregnant, Ellie had freaked out. It was weeks before the wedding and she’d told everyone who was organizing it to hurry because she wasn’t going to fit into her wedding dress.
Personally, he adored the extra weight on her. Her cravings were constant and weird, and he loved it. Peanut butter ice cream with a cheese and pickle sandwich. Totally gross, but even as she ate it, she would look grossed out and like she was in heaven at the same time, which was funny to watch. Not only had her appetite for food increased, her need for sex had as well. He had no problem with that. She had even texted him during a meeting, telling him in explicit detail what she wanted.
He was her husband, and he was more than happy to oblige whatever his woman needed.
Today was a big day for both of them. They were going to find out the sex of the baby. Boy or girl.
“Does it really matter?” he asked.
“Yes, no, I don’t know. I think I’m just worried. I want it to be happy and healthy. Do you think a baby could be happy in the womb? I put classical music on and let it listen as long as it wants. I don’t know. I’m sounding creepy right now, aren’t I? I really want to know.”
“Ellie, calm down,” he said. “I love you and our baby knows it’s loved already. Boy or girl, we’ve got this.”
They were called into the room and Ellie started to shake, but he held her hand. She’d admitted to him a few nights ago she was afraid of being a bad mom. She didn’t have anyone to compare to. Her life hadn’t been the best, but he knew without a doubt she would be one hell of a mom.
She was loved by all the men who worked for him to keep her safe. Romeo had a soft spot for her. Even Raphael liked her. She was smart, sweet, kind, considerate, and he knew he’d hit the jackpot with her. She was just so fucking perfect in every single way.