Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 33078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
She swallows hard. “No one’s ever asked me that before. Well, no one except Angelica. But certainly not a man, and absolutely not my father. He doesn’t care what I want. Never has. Neither does Mom.” She finally drops her gaze, her eyes going to the wooden floor at my feet. “It’s because they don’t care. For so long, I hoped they did, but then I found out they wanted me to marry a Frangione.” She shakes her head slowly. “The cruelest family of all, the worst of the worst, and they’re going to sell me to them, to make me a brood mare for those horrible people.” She sniffles. “So if you demand a big ransom, they’ll pay it. They don’t want to mess up their deal with the Frangiones. You don’t have to hurt me or threaten them. It’ll be easy for you to get your money. Then they’ll marry me off like I said.”
This time when I step to her, I take the risk and reach out to stroke her cheek. “Over my dead fucking body.”
2
BIANCA
Slowly, he reaches his hand out. I think he’s expecting me to flinch away, but I don’t. Is he scared of me? His finger ever so gently strokes my cheek. I lean into his touch.
I can’t remember the last time someone touched me so softly. Not since my sister was married off and taken from my life. She was the only person who ever protected me. For some reason, everyone always thought I was the prized one out of the two of us. They were so wrong. My sister isn’t only beautiful, she's brave. I'm eleven months older than her, but it’s always her watching over me, not the other way around. I’d never been more scared than when she left.
Not even when this hulk of a man burst into my bedroom and scooped me up. I hadn’t even bothered to fight him. I knew it was pointless. I’d only end up getting hurt more. I’d also been a bit in shock. Especially when he was carrying me out and I saw some of my father’s men dead on the floor with their throats slashed. There had been so much blood, it soaked the rugs. He merely stepped over them or around the bodies as if it was no big deal.
Angelica would have fought. She would have kicked, scratched, and screamed at least. If she’d been there, she would have even thrown herself in front of me. She’s a protector, and I don’t know why, but as I stare up at the man hovering over me, I think he might be one too.
Even when he placed me into the trunk of the car, he did it with care. He could have tossed me right in without regard for my well-being. Nothing he’s done so far has given me a reason to truly fear him. I turn my head, his finger catching the corner of my mouth. He leaps backward. I swear the house shakes as he lands on his feet.
“Don’t do that.” He grits his teeth together. I’m not sure if he’s fascinated by me or annoyed. His eyes linger on me. They have been since he placed me on the bed. I noticed him trying not to look my way but failing.
Angelica often joked that I was a siren. That I drew everyone's eyes toward me. I hadn’t noticed until she pointed it out. She was right, and I hated it. The feeling of having my father’s men always looking at me creeped me out. It had gotten worse after Angelica was gone, but they’d thankfully kept their distance. I’m not sure if it was in fear of my father or my future husband. What I do know is that if I didn’t show up a virgin there would be hell to pay.
But with this hulk of a man, I find that it’s kind of adorable that he’s trying not to stare. That he only steals his glances.
“Do what?” I lick my lips. His eyes drop to them.
“That,” he grits out.
“Lick my lips?” I do it again. “Now that you said it, that's all I can think about.” My tongue darts out again to wet them. He grunts, turning to give me his broad back. My fingers itch to run my hands up it.
I’ve seen a lot of men come and go from my father’s home, but none have been as big as him. I bet people stare at him too. I’m finding I can’t help myself.
“You can stare at me. I don’t mind.”
He glances over his shoulder at me.
I snort a laugh. I put my hand over my mouth to not laugh harder as he sends a glare my way. He looks adorable. I bet no one has ever described him that way before. “What’s your name?” I ask.