Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Do you think you should do this?” Giovanni questions from the doorway, the sunlight stealing his features, his face half in shadow as he regards me with narrowed eyes. He might be younger than me and I know he’s only trying to be the voice of reason, but I’ve made my decision. There’s nothing and nobody that’s going to stop me from having her.
“An opportunity had landed in my lap. I’m not letting slip through my fingers. Let’s see if her brother can handle my games. He wants to fuck with la mafia, I’ll teach him how the big boys play. There’s something he’s hiding, and if my gut feeling is right, he was the one who killed Lucio. Like the saying goes, an eye for an eye. This time, however, it will be a life for a life.” I flit my gaze between them. Both nod quickly. They know the life. They know that soon, we’ll need to avenge our familia.
“First things first, tonight I collect Raina. I’ll bring her back here,” I tell my brothers. “Then we’ll have a man on her when she’s at school.”
“You know, Franco, since we’re not sure who is responsible, I can tail her.” Matteo smirks, and I know exactly what he means. My brother is a player. He loves women. One, ten, fifty, it doesn’t matter how many at a time, and it doesn’t matter if they’re married or not. As much as I trust him to do his job, she’s my responsibility.
“You need to be at the warehouse,” I inform him. He nods in understanding. “And you,”—I glance at Gio, who’s still basking in the sunlight—“I want focused on Andrea. You’re both going to take two soldiers with you at all times.”
“Yes, Franco,” Matteo responds.
For years, my father ran a tight ship. He did nothing by half measure. Only one hundred percent. Or nothing at all. What got him killed was the fact that he allowed himself to lower his guard against someone he considered a friend. Me, however, I don’t have friends. That’s why I will not go down like he did.
I should’ve been at the meeting last night. Lucio should’ve called me. But he probably didn’t realize the danger he was in until it was too late.
“Let’s get this done. I want to focus on going home soon.”
They move without responding.
I will set my plan in motion soon enough, and I’ll have a Mafia Princess by my side.
6
Raina
The morning sunlight wakes me from a restless dream of a handsome man in an immaculate suit. Last night was strange. The way he looked at me was as if he knew me. But I don’t know his name. He never offered it. The only thing that struck me was how much he reminded me of Lucio.
My heart aches again when I pick up my phone and open the message from Lucio’s number. It makes little sense. Why would he send this or even say this?
I’m more confused by the time I get up. When I pad into the kitchen, I don’t notice the package on the table. It’s only when I settle in with my coffee that I see it. A silver box. Square, large enough to carry a necklace perhaps, but deep enough to hold something far more dangerous. Tied with a black ribbon, it beckons.
Tugging at the silk material, I allow it to fall free, then lift the lid. On the velvet cushion below is a gun. Silver glints in the morning light. The handle has hand carved wood where my fingers and palm would hold on to it. A small heart sits on the panel, and beneath it four letters two above the heart, and two below.
L. R. and R. L.
Lucio’s and my initials.
My heart kicks in my chest painfully when I think about him. Lifting the weapon, I notice a small card attached. It’s bound to the barrel with a string. I tug it free, setting the gun down, then read his scrawl.
Bella, there’s never a moment I’m not with you. But when I’m gone, you need to live too. Lucio x
Shaking my head, I close my eyes and will those words away. I’m not sure where he is or why he has sent this to me, but something is amiss. My fear that he would be injured on one of his jobs has always made me anxious, and this right here only makes me wonder where the hell he is.
I’m not sure who would have left this in here, but I know Lucio always had his men watching me. They weren’t obvious about it, but there were times their gazes would burn through me. If he’s dead, one of them must have broken in, left this here, and it would have been under orders.
I know that nobody can have tomorrow guaranteed, especially in this life, but I never expected it would take Lucio from me. Whatever happened, I have a bad feeling about his disappearance. First my father, now the man I love. My chest is tight. My lungs struggle to pull in much-needed air. Even as I try to fight the wave of emotion, it holds me tight when I consider being alone in this world. I always thought Lucio would be around. I wanted him to be immortal, never leaving me. But I know it’s not possible. It never was.