Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Is it true?”
Roman nodded.
“And you knew?”
“I’m the only one apart from your mother and father who knew. He regrets having told him.”
“He should.”
I cursed my father for having told Dominic like that. What purpose did it serve? It would only wound Dominic. Perhaps irreparably.
“Franco is no longer able to manage the family, the businesses, anything, Salvatore. I’ve been doing it until you’re recovered.”
We studied each other for a long time. I just couldn’t tell what my uncle was looking for.
“I have papers here, things I want to go over.”
A small knock came on the door. Lucia opened it.
“Not now,” I said to him. “Just take care of everything for now.”
“I can come back,” Lucia said.
“No, you stay. Roman, thanks for your visit.”
Roman took his dismissal with grace and left. Lucia sat back down in the same chair.
“Coffee is so crappy here,” she said, setting the untouched paper cup on the table nearby.
Before we had a chance to talk, though, the doctor walked in to look things over and told me I’d be home in three days’ time. Lucia vacated her chair and stood back and watched, giving the doctor room. Every time I looked at her when she didn’t know I was, I saw the worry on her face. My mind traveled back to what I’d told her. What I’d promised her. Freedom, as soon as I was boss. Freedom, once I knew she was safe. A quiet life. Happiness. I wanted it for everyone I loved. I wanted it especially for her.
24
Lucia
Salvatore moved into a bedroom downstairs while he recovered. I slept beside him, taking care not to touch the still tender spot the bullet had ripped into. I knew he felt pain, but he insisted on less and less medication, saying he could manage it. Within a day of being home, he could walk on his own to the bathroom, although it wore him out.
“I hate this,” he grumbled a week later after one of his visits to the bathroom. “I hate being weak.”
I tucked the blanket up to his waist. “You’re getting stronger every day.”
“Not fast enough.”
“You hate having someone else take care of you. You’re so used to taking care of everyone and everything and being in charge of it all but can’t stand to be in a position where you need others yourself.”
He studied me, then looked beyond me to the waning light outside the window.
“Let’s sit outside.”
“I’ll get your wheelchair.” I’d already stood to unfold it. He hadn’t used it except for the time they’d rolled him in here in it.
“No.”
I looked back to find him rising on his own.
“Jesus, Salvatore, it’ll only take longer if you don’t take care—”
“I said no,”
He leveled his gaze on mine, giving me a glimpse of the man I knew him to be—rough and tough and sexy as hell.
He must have seen the change in me too, because his expression softened, and his gaze rolled over my body.
I swallowed, my nipples tightening, my belly fluttering. Just one look from him, and I shuddered.
“Okay,” I said, clearing my throat. Then, without asking his permission, I opened the bedroom door and called out to Marco. “He’s too stubborn to use the wheelchair, and I can’t support his weight, so maybe you can walk with him.”
Marco gave Salvatore a look then glanced back at me. What he saw in my face must have trumped what he saw in Salvatore’s, because he put Salvatore’s arm over his shoulder and held on to his waist.
“Come on, boss.”
Salvatore shook his head. “You’ll answer for that later,” he told me.
“Is that another promise?” I gave him a dirty grin and walked ahead, taking my time, knowing he was watching my ass as I led the way out back.
Once Salvatore was settled, Marco left us. We sat quietly, watching the light dance along the surface of the swimming pool. Salvatore held my hand.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said, then stopped.
I glanced at him, but he looked straight ahead.
“I’m going to hand it all over to Roman.”
“What?” I didn’t expect that.
Salvatore looked at me. “I only have one thing to do as boss, then I’m walking away.”
One thing. I knew what that was. It was what I had wanted.
“You’re free, Lucia. I’ll talk to Roman tomorrow, destroy the contract, and draw up a new one, so they can’t touch you or your family ever again. You’ll be free of me, of all of us.”
Free of him?
I watched his eyes. Soft again. Like they’d looked the day we’d been forced to sign that terrible piece of paper. Gentle. I’d been wrong when I’d thought he was like them. A monster. This was the real Salvatore. It had always been there, lying beneath the fear.
Only thing was, I didn’t know if I wanted to be free of him at all anymore.