Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
"Twice."
A tear slips down her cheek, wrecking me. How can she cry for me? Why would she? I brought her here. I'm holding her here against her will. Ten minutes ago, I had her pinned to the bed. I'm the last person who deserves her tears, and yet she cries them for me anyway.
"Get some sleep, tesoro. It’s late," I murmur, cupping her face in my palm. I steal her tears, rubbing them into my skin so she can't take them back. She cried them for me. They belong to me now.
"What about you?" Heat creeps into her cheeks. "I mean, you should try to sleep too."
Four hours ago, she threatened to smother me with a pillow like usual if I crossed onto her side of the bed. Now, she wants me back in the bed with her. Women are very confusing. This one most of all.
"Didn't you know, mi reinita?" I ask, leaning down to press my lips to hers in a quick kiss. "The devil does his best work in the dark."
I'm halfway to the door before she answers. "I'm not afraid of you, Rafe."
Perhaps she should be.
Chapter Four
Amalia
"You aren't supposed to be out here alone."
I glance over my shoulder, my stomach sinking when I see Carmine Esposito leaning up against the wall behind me, grinning. His eyes are locked on me, the smirk on his face making my stomach turn. He's the same guard who creeped me out when I first arrived here four days ago. I don't feel any better about him now.
Every time I turn around, he's watching me. This is the first time he's tried to speak to me though. He usually keeps a polite distance. I think that's because Coda and Domani are always breathing down my neck. That's probably my fault for trying to run out the front door at every available opportunity, but Rafe can't say I didn't warn him.
It's not like he's even here anyway. He walked out of the bedroom two nights ago…and disappeared. He hasn't been back since.
"I'm not trying to run away," I mutter, rolling my eyes at Carmine. I tried that earlier. All I got out of it was a twisted ankle. Besides, I doubt Coda and Domani are far. They tend to materialize out of thin air whenever I even think about trying to make a break for it. Its infuriating. And impressive. I'm pretty sure they were ninjas in a former life.
It's not hard to see why Rafe is the big boss in this city. He's a force to be reckoned with, and so are his men. They're intimidating as hell. Unfortunately for them, I don't intimidate easily. I grew up surrounded by violent men and the sound of gunfire. Diego and Alvise taught me how to protect myself long before I really understood that it wasn't even the gangs they were truly worried about. It was Rafe and his brothers. For them, it was always Rafe and his brothers.
I only now find myself wondering why. It's…disconcerting to come face-to-face with the enemy and realize that he's not the monster they said he was. He's not innocent, not even close. But he's a product of his environment, just like the rest of us. Part of him is still a terrified eleven-year-old boy who watched his mother die…who almost died himself. He's fighting to survive this world, just like the rest of us.
I can't hate him. I understand him all too well.
Carmine's smirk widens. He's handsome. At least, I'm sure most women think so. But there's something about him that just feels…off to me. It's the way he looks at me like he knows something I don't. I don't like it. No, I don't like him.
"How's your ankle?" he asks.
"Fine." I lift my legs out of the hot tub, swinging them out onto the cement. My pants are rolled up to my knees. I quickly tug them down, not wanting this man to see any more of my skin than absolutely necessary. The fabric immediately sticks to my wet skin, but I don't care. At least I'm covered.
"You remind me of someone," he says, pushing away from the wall. He strolls toward me, his gaze flicking up and down my body. "This balena I went to school with for a while. Here, let me help you." He stops in front of me, holding out a hand to help me to my feet.
I hesitate, wanting to tell him no, but it's either accept his help or let him stare at my ass in the air when I roll to my knees. I quickly place my hand in his, letting him pull me to my feet. I expect him to let me go as soon as I'm standing, but he doesn't. He holds onto my hand for a moment, his head cocked to the side, still smirking.