Total pages in book: 206
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
The door swung back open, and Tommy snatched my phone from my hand. “You can have a phone after we go over the rules.” His eyes were a bit crazed as he looked at the screen and then put my phone into his pocket. “You won’t be seeing Nick again.”
The door shut.
Trial engagement? Based on what, on an order from a mafia godfather? No romantic candlelit dinner with a guy who loved me, down on one knee in candlelight, telling me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Nope. Instead I got a forced engagement with underlying threats. Lovely. What now, though? How could I get out of this without getting hurt or killed or without Dad getting hurt or killed?
Her phone rang a little while later with the name, “Mia” on it. I ignored it. Then a text came through from the name “Bethany” with “Where the bleep r u and who was THAT who you left with?” I shut it off. My own phone rang immediately afterwards. I glanced at the screen and debated rejecting the call, but shook my head and answered, “Yeah, Pop?”
“Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Who do you think will win the playoffs? Shit, what do you think I mean? What about the girl?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” I answered.
“Of course, you have, Tommy. Please. Like I don’t know you. You tell me you really haven’t decided and I’ll be–”
I cut him off, “Pop, give me five minutes, will ya?”
“I’ll give you a few days. Dinner Sunday at my house. If you’re keeping her, bring her with you. Then we’ll celebrate. If you come alone…well…”
I had things to do. The sooner they were done, the sooner I’d be back in my bedroom with her.
“Gotta go, Pop.”
“Okay, my boy,” he said, and I could almost see his cocky smile through the phone.
I ended the call.
I was pacing. What else could I do? I was in this bedroom, waiting for him to come and tell me what his rules were. Rules. Pff. I couldn’t believe this.
A million thoughts flitted through my brain, and I couldn’t think straight. All I could do was pace back and forth and back and forth. I could try to walk out and leave, but what would happen if I did? All the scary dudes and the gates and everything made me think it’d just be a waste of my time. But there had to be a way out of this. Could I reason with this guy?
I stepped into the bedroom a few hours later. She was in my bed, watching TV. The sight of this girl in my bed stirred my sex drive big time. She’d taken her hair down and it hung down her back like a glossy curtain. Her shoes were on the floor; she had her feet tucked under herself. She was against my pillows, hugging one against herself. Her eyes were a little puffy, most of her make-up gone. She’d been crying.
Her eyes widened at the sight of me as I strolled to the other side of the bed and sat down beside her. I could see she was trying to stay frozen in place but she was failing. Trembling. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a heart-shaped ring box. I set it down between us. She stared at the box like it might bite her.
“You’re not ready to wear it yet, that’s fine. I’ll put it on the table. We’ll discuss later. Our engagement’s contingent on several things; we’ll see how it goes. In the meantime, there are a few rules. Want a drink? We can discuss.”
She closed her eyes and nodded. A tear slid down her cheek. She was chewing her juicy-looking bottom lip. I was so fucking turned on right now.
Before I could calculate the move, the back of my hand touched the tear. She winced. Involuntarily, I groaned low in my throat. It must’ve sounded like a growl to her. Goosebumps rose on her arms. I pulled my hand back, got up, then walked to the wet bar, dropping the ring box on the dresser on the way.
My room was pretty self-contained with a small fridge, a fully stocked bar, an office area, sitting area, ensuite bathroom, and doors that led to a balcony that had a hot tub and stairs that led down to the backyard where there was a pool and patio. Pop had bought me this house and presented it to me a few months ago on my 29th birthday as a surprise. I had the money to buy my own house, with cash even, but had been content living in the condo. In hindsight, I should’ve known that this, the engagement, was the next step. It had five other bedrooms, quarters for staff, and a two-bedroom pool house. Why did I need all this space unless I was starting a family? I was still getting used to having people around all the time.