Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“You know it isn’t.” Gilly raises a brow. “Not unless we have real proof. The other families will never take our side over the Larones.”
I sigh, tired of the back and forth. “We aren’t hitting Constantine. Even though he’s a bastard, he’s still my wife’s father. She doesn’t have much love for him left, but there’s enough that I don’t want to destroy him and risk hurting her or her sister.”
Butcher groans in frustration.
“You can’t just murder or torture this problem away.” Gilly throws his hands up.
“No more discussion. Tell them I’ll be at the meeting.” I don’t like the decision any more than my men do, but I have to try to settle things between the Larones and my family, for Angelica’s sake. I have to be able to tell her without even a hint of subterfuge that I did everything I could to keep her and her sister safe.
I stride out and up the stairs, my blood heating the closer I get to our bedroom. When I swing open the door, I have to stop, my lips quirking up in an unbidden smile.
“Aren’t you just the sweetest little devil.” Angelica rubs Diablo’s tummy while he digs his claws into the air as if he’s making invisible biscuits. “You are. You haven’t been spoiled enough. That mean old Antonio doesn’t give you all the love you deserve.” She nuzzles his cheek, his purr reverberating through the room.
I’m not jealous of my cat. That would be stupid. Not jealous at all. I bounce onto the bed, startling Angelica and Diablo and sending the latter skittering off the bed and into the hallway.
“Hey!” She sits up, her brows drawing together. “We were busy play–”
I tackle her to the mattress and kiss her hard. “I’ve got something you can play with.”
She giggles and runs her fingers through my hair. “You’ve been gone forever.”
“I agree.” I settle between her thighs, her body clothed in nothing but a T-shirt and panties. I want to strip them off with my teeth.
“What’s going on?” She presses her hand to my cheek.
That simple movement strikes a chord in me. How does she know? How does she know that I’m in a fucking knot on the inside? It’s like she can sense my heart.
“It’s nothing.”
She leans up and kisses me gently. “It’s something. I know when my husband is upset. Tell me. Maybe I can help.”
Fuck, I love it when she calls me that.
I stare down at her, my heart beating so loud I wonder if she can hear it. “Is this how you do it?”
“What?” She ghosts her lips over mine again.
“Kill me?”
She blinks. “What?”
“Killing me with kindness, angel. That’s what you’re doing.” I kiss her again, needing her warmth, her heat. Needing everything about her.
Because I’m about to walk into the most dangerous situation of my life, one I might not return from. But I’ll do it for her. I’ll do anything for my angel.
She sighs against my lips.
I want to rip her panties off and fuck away our troubles, just bury myself in her until they fade. And I will, but only after I’m honest with her.
With a sigh, I press my forehead to hers. “Your father wants to meet.”
Her eyes narrow. “Where?”
I kiss her. I can’t help myself. She asks the right question, her mind already at work.
“Carlino’s.”
“Oh, no. That’s where–”
“The Ferrignos were killed last year. Yes.”
Her eyes widen. “It’s not safe.”
“It’s not, but I won’t be going alone. I’m taking Gilly. Butcher will be here to keep an eye on the house.”
“You mean an eye on me?” she asks.
“Yes. You’re the most precious thing in the world. I won’t leave you unprotected.”
“Don’t go.” She cups my cheeks, her eyes going glassy with tears. “Please don’t go.”
“If I don’t, then your father will take it as an insult and put if before the families as reason enough for him to start a war with me.”
“I don’t care.” A tear slips free from her eye. “If you go there…”
I wipe her tear away with my thumb. “I’m coming back to you, angel. I always will.”
“He’s a bad man, Antonio,” she whispers. “I’m scared.”
I wipe another of her tears away. “I know.” I kiss her softly this time.
“I’m only going to hear him out, angel, try to get news of Bianca. Nothing more.”
“Please don’t go.”
Her tears are ripping my soul to shreds. “Don’t cry, beloved. Don’t cry, my angel.” I kiss them away. “I’ll come back to you. I swear it.”
“You have to, Antonio.”
“I do?” I kiss each side of her mouth.
“Yes. Because …”
My heart seems to skip a beat, my entire being focusing on her, on the words forming on her perfect lips.
She looks up, her eyes still swimming with tears. “Because I’ve fallen in love with you.”
16
ANGELICA
I hold Diablo close and bury my face in his fluff. He purrs loudly, letting me cuddle him as much as I want to. I’ve been lying in this bed since Antonio left. The seconds are dragging by. “Bunch of bullshit,” I mutter into Diablo’s fur. He meows in agreement. “Right? He went and made us love him, and now he’s going to get himself killed. Only I should get to kill him. It’s my right. Not anyone else’s.” Diablo lets out another meow.