Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
I can barely breathe as it is, knowing Finn’s going to marry her.
“Yeah, fine.” He brightens and sits up. “It’ll be good. We haven’t spent a lot of time together. We’ll call it a family bonding trip.”
“Bonding,” I say softly, nodding and smiling too. “That’ll be good. I like that.”
My saint with ropes around her wrists behind her back writhing and moaning as I fuck her deep from behind and slide a rubber dildo mold of my dick down her fucking throat—
“Then here’s to my future marriage.” Finn raises his glass. “Hey, you know, I’m happy you showed up tonight. Want to hang around for another drink?”
“I’m good.” I slide out of the booth. The thought of staying here and putting up with all the stares and whispers feels like too much. “I’ll see you in a few days. We’ll have those drinks then, and you can tell me what you’ve been working on lately.”
He grins, brightening, and I want my brother to be happy. I want to be the kind of man that can lift him up instead of dragging him down into my hell.
Only I want him to be happy with anyone other than her.
I leave him and ignore the voices muttering in my wake, hate and need and obsession pounding in my head with every step, aware that I’m fucking up and losing it, but unable to stop myself from spiraling into this nightmare.
Chapter 6
Bianca
“Are you nervous?” Adriano squints toward the mansion’s back fence like he can see down the block. He’s sitting on a rocking chair in the shade while little Alessia runs around and plays in the bushes and shrubs.
“No, feeling totally fine,” I say, watching as the little girl tosses a ball toward where a butterfly is resting on a flower. It flutters into the air, and she laughs, trying to chase after it. “I’m only about to meet the total stranger I’ll be spending the rest of my life with.”
“Good. No reason to be nervous then.” Adriano tries to smother a grin. “Just a casual meet-cute, that’s all.”
“Don’t make jokes. I’m still not happy with you.”
“I know.” He sighs and glances at me, frowning slightly. “I didn’t want to do this.”
“But here you are, doing it anyway.”
“Padraig didn’t give me much of a choice. I offered a dozen alternatives, but he wanted you.”
“Strange how I was never consulted about this.”
“What can I do to make it right?”
I stare at him. A dozen ideas flash through my mind. Cut your own throat. Jump off a bridge. Douse yourself in gasoline and smoke a cigarette. “Keep Grace House open until the day I die. Hell, fund a trust and make sure it’s always around, forever.”
“That’s doable.”
“Then don’t talk about it and do it. And don’t think that’ll solve all our problems.” I push myself up from the chair and stare at him. I’ve always loved my older brother. He’s been good to me for a very long time, and I’m trying to keep that in perspective. If he hadn’t become Don, I would’ve been sold off or killed or worse a long time ago. Adriano gave me space and freedom to do whatever I wanted, at least until now. Most women in my position don’t get that.
It still somehow doesn’t make this any better.
“Daddy!” Alessia comes running over. Her little spindly arms flail as she throws herself at her father. Adriano catches her with a genuine smile, and the love and warmth between those two is genuinely heartbreaking. I pause and watch as he hugs his daughter tightly, and I’m aware that she’s the product of an arranged marriage, just like mine.
Only that’s lightning in a bottle. She’s a damn blessing. Adriano’s relationship with Lucy is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of fluke.
There’s no way in hell it’ll happen for me.
Which means a life of drudgery.
“Auntie Bee, why do you look sad?” Alessia’s big eyes stare at me as she wriggles from her father’s hug.
I wipe my face and put on a big girl smile. “Just allergies, little shrimp.”
“Whatever, big shrimp.” She comes over and bangs her head into my thigh. “Chase me?”
“Can’t, baby girl. Your dad and I have some business.”
“Work.” She rolls her eyes. “Boring. Dumb. Stupid.”
“Alessia,” Adriano warns. “Don’t talk like that.”
She shrugs, the sassy little thing. “Sorry, Daddy.”
“Go play. Your mom’s coming out in a second.” Adriano checks his watch and gets to his feet. He looks at me, expression going hard. “It’s time.”
Nerves jangle down my spine and gather in my belly. Alessia runs off again, singing to herself. I spot Lucy coming out of the sliding back door up on the deck and wave. She waves back and gives me a double thumbs-up of encouragement. I love that girl, but my god, her thumbs aren’t nearly enough right now.
“One more thing,” Adriano murmurs as we head to the front of the mansion together. “Finn’s coming with his father and his older brother.” He glances at me, the smile completely wiped away. “How much do you know about Cormac Whelan?”