Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“I told you to think about it.”
“I did, and I’m officially turning you down.”
Saul gets a kick out of that. “She’s making you work for it. Very smart.”
“I’m not—” she starts, but I interrupt her.
“What do you need? A new car? A new apartment? You’ll have to live with me, but I can buy you a house for when we divorce. How about a place down the shore? Do you like Ocean City or Sea Isle?”
She’s looking at me like my skull just sprouted a mushroom on top. “No, listen to me, I don’t want more money or property or whatever. I just don’t want to marry you. I can’t do this.”
Saul gets to his feet, looking delighted. “I’m going to go talk to Carlo and maybe convince him that this isn’t such a bad idea after all. Seems like you two have some discussing to do.”
“We don’t,” Maddie says.
“Thanks, bro. Tell Carlo he’s a prick for me.”
“Sure, will do.” Saul walks over to Maddie and leans toward her. “Go easy on him, okay? You’ve got his ass in a bad bargaining position, but don’t take advantage. I’m afraid it’ll only piss him off.” He leaves the office, grinning like a maniac, leaving me alone with Maddie.
She looks stunned, her eyes wide and panicked.
I gesture for her to come closer, but she doesn’t move.
Chapter 11
Renzo
“You introduced me to your brothers,” she says, voice meek again. I wish she wouldn’t do that—it’s like she’s hiding herself as a defense mechanism and it annoys the hell out of me.
“Yes, I did, because I need them to know that I’m in control of this situation.”
“But you’re not. I’m not going to marry you, much less have your baby.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Do you recall something about the other night?” She doesn’t move. I gesture her over again, and finally, she walks to the chair Saul vacated and sits on the very edge like she’s about to bolt. “You recall what we did.”
Her cheeks turn red. It’s so fucking sexy I could drag her into my lap and take her right here. “Yes, I remember. Thanks for reminding me though.”
“You’ll also remember that I didn’t wear protection.” I wait for her to react. Her ears turn bright red. “I came deep inside that lovely, slick pussy of yours. More than once if I recall. How many times, exactly?”
“Renzo,” she says, and fuck, I love the sound of my name on her lips.
“Yes, bella topo, you might not want to have my baby, but I suspect it may be too late.”
“You realize there are other forms of birth control besides condoms, right?”
“Are you on the pill?”
“No, but—”
“Then my point stands.”
Anger peeks out from behind her mortified expression. “It’s called Plan B, you asshole. The morning-after pill.”
I sit back. I hadn’t considered that. The thought of her killing our child before it has a chance to grow sends a jolt of red-hot rage and sorrow rolling down my spine. It’s a surprising reaction—I never would’ve cared in the past about something like this—but the thought that Maddie would go to such lengths to make sure she isn’t pregnant with my child burns.
“Tell me you didn’t take it,” I say and my voice comes out more menacing than I intended.
She shrinks back. “Renzo.”
“Tell me you didn’t take it,” I repeat, trying to soften, but my rage comes through.
“I didn’t take it.”
Relief floods me. I was afraid I’d lost my chance. The idea of getting her pregnant but losing the baby because she took that pill—
“Good,” I say, getting myself together.
“But it’s not too late. We had sex Saturday night and it’s Monday morning. At this point, Plan B is still pretty freaking effective, so give me a reason not to take it.”
I let that sit. She’s staring at me with defiance, cheeks flushed, ears burning, and I can tell she hates this conversation.
But only one thing comes to mind.
She had the chance. She thought of it already, probably agonized about it all day yesterday, and she still hasn’t swallowed the pills.
Which means she wants this.
Even if she’s too afraid to do anything about it, she’s willing to let nature make the decision for her.
I get up and come around the desk. She’s looking at me like she wants to get the hell out of there. I don’t blame her. This is probably more than she ever asked for. Poor little Maddie, a normal girl only a few days ago, not sucked into my world.
Maybe Carlo’s right and this life’s going to rip her to pieces.
But my brother didn’t see her that night. He didn’t get a glimpse of Maddie with her protections stripped away. Meek little mouse, the quiet, scared Maddie scampering around the office, that isn’t the real her. That’s a fake, an act, some armor she uses to keep the world at bay.