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)
“What if my hands were made for you?”
The car suddenly jerks, but Fernando quickly rights it. “Bianca, you have no idea what you’re saying.”
“Just an idea.” I shrug. “I could be your wife.”
Honestly, it sounds perfect to me. I don’t want to marry into the Frangione family. What if I was married to someone else? A special someone that could keep me safe? Also, someone that I like. Fernando intrigues me. He also does things to my body no one else has ever done. I crave his touch. I want to touch him too. To see how many scars are hidden under his shirt.
If I were already married, then the Frangiones wouldn’t have any claim to me.
“We’re here.” Fernando pulls into the parking lot of a pet store while not answering my question.
I don’t think I’m as much of a siren as my sister thinks I am.
5
BUTCHER
I try to keep my mind from spinning as I walk her around the pet shop.
She hands me cat toys, treats, litter, and several other things that I easily balance in my arms–but what’s completely out of balance is my head. She mentioned marriage. Marriage! And that’s not the part that’s truly knocked me on my ass. No, it’s the feeling it gave me when she said the words.
I should’ve wanted to run far away from this situation. I mean, I’m not the marrying type. Never have been. But when she said it … It felt … It felt right.
Fuck. I’m in too deep. Way too fucking deep. I stole her when I should have left her the hell alone, and now she thinks I’m going to ransom her to her father. Abso-fucking-lutely not. I’ll never let her go back to Constantine Larone, not when he intends to marry her off to the dickhead Frangiones.
“I’d pay, but I seem to have left my wallet at home.” She smiles up at me, and I realize we’re standing at the register.
“Shit.” I reach for my wallet and pay, the clerk staring up at me with obvious fear in his eyes as he bags all the toys and treats.
“They are going to love all this!” Bianca grabs one of the sticks with a feather attached and waves it around. “I wouldn’t mind chasing this myself. Look how fun.”
I grab the rest of the purchases and return to the car, stowing them in the trunk.
When I get back in the driver’s seat, Bianca is chattering happily about the kittens and how we were so lucky that the mama cat wandered up to my house.
She’s so caring and warm, her whole demeanor lighting up as she talks about how she wants to take care of the kittens.
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to take care of anyone or anything in my entire life. Not until I saw her. That was all it took. Hell, Gilly always told me I was nuts. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I’m off my fucking rocker.
“You okay?” She reaches out and touches my forearm.
“Hmm?”
She shrugs. “You just got really quiet.”
“I’m always quiet.”
“Sort of, but you don’t always do this–” She makes a face that puts wrinkles between her eyes and a grimace on her lips.
A laugh tries to claw its way from my lungs. “What’s that supposed to be?”
“You,” she says in a lower, gruffer voice. “All frowny and serious.”
God, why does she have to be so adorable?
I sigh. “I’m a serious man, but at the moment, I seem to be a serious fuckup.”
“What?” She drops the mimicry act. “You aren’t!”
I shake my head.
“You’re doing great!” She squeezes my forearm. “You kidnapped me and didn’t get caught. That’s huge. And then you whisked me away to some secret location–totally spot-on for kidnapping. Now all you have to do is make your ransom demand.” Her face falls.
“What’s wrong?”
She shrugs and turns to look out the window. “I guess I just don’t want it to be over so soon is all.”
“The kidnapping?”
“Yeah. I know you think I was talking crazy before about getting married.”
Not crazy. What’s crazy was that I was interested–and I still am.
She sighs and leans back. “I really don’t want to marry a Frangione. I’ve heard about them. Have you?”
I give a nod.
“So then you know. They’re horrible. I don’t know if I’d survive being part of their family. Probably not, if I’m being honest. I wouldn’t have anyone to protect me. My sister is already married …” Her voice trails off. “I miss her so much. When she left, it was like she left a hole in here.” She taps her chest. “Like I’m missing a piece of myself, you know?”
I don’t. I’ve never let anyone get that close to me. Not even Antonio and Gilly. They’re like brothers to me, but I don’t feel like I’ve let them all the way in. I can’t. Not when they can be taken from me in a heartbeat. We live a dangerous life. Though, generally speaking, I’m the most dangerous man in any room, there are plenty of assholes out there who would love to take out Antonio, Gilly, and even me. I can’t exactly relate to what she’s saying, but I can hear the pain in her voice all the same. “I … I imagine that when she left, you realized how alone you were.”