Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 144979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
“I love you,” I murmur the words against his skin.
His lips brush my ear. “Ti ho amata da sempre.”
I smile, and his fingers drift down the length of my spine, sending goosebumps over my entire body. When I tilt my face up to kiss him, we come together the way flames spark, feeding off each other. And soon, he’s back inside me.
For the moment, nothing else matters.
Anxious energy claws at my chest as the jet coasts through the sky, carrying us home to a world of uncertainty.
I told Angelo I wasn’t feeling well, which is true. My stomach has been in knots all day, and I’m positive it won’t fare any better by the time we’re back in Seattle.
He gets me settled into the bed, and molds his body to mine as he wraps an arm around my waist.
“What do you need, amore?”
There’s so much concern in his voice, and I’m wildly emotional. I can feel my thoughts spiraling, and there’s no hiding it.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” I whisper.
“As certain as the sun will rise tomorrow.”
When I search his eyes, I can see that he means it. But he also recognizes that this doubt in me isn’t something that will go away easily.
“You’ll have to find a way to make peace with it,” he murmurs. “I’m keeping you, forever. Now be a good girl, and go to sleep.”
I soak up the warmth of those words, closing my eyes as he holds me. And I realize that this…is exactly what I need.
53
ANGELO
“Ican walk,” Abella protests halfheartedly as I carry her to the waiting SUV.
“You’re exhausted, cara. Save your energy, and don’t argue with me.”
She gives me a soft smile as I load her into the vehicle and settle into the seat beside her. I meet Nicky’s gaze as he takes the driver’s seat, and he gives me a subtle nod. Everything’s in place.
Between the short drive from the dock to the estate, Abella closes her eyes again. This kind of bone-deep exhaustion concerns me, and I’m already making plans to have Mariella check her over. But she won’t be home for another hour, and that’s why we’re moving now. I don’t need her getting involved in what’s about to take place, and if she knew, she would.
When the gates open and Nicky pulls onto the circular drive, Abella sits up and glances outside. Her eyes widen when they fall on my brothers waiting on the stairs, along with the army we’ve assembled. Under the cover of darkness, while Abella and I were on our way home, the Seattle Cosa Nostra gathered on the island to prepare.
One way or another, Ares Stavros and I will come to an understanding tonight.
“Angelo?” Abella looks at me in question.
“There’s no need to worry.” I reach for her hand.
She still does, but there’s no way around that. I need to get her inside before she can think up more reasons to protest.
On the way into the house, each of my brothers greet Abella, and I nod at them to indicate I’ll be with them shortly.
Inside our suite, I get her settled into our bed and sit beside her for a minute, stroking her face as she fights to keep her eyes open.
“You’re not fighting fair,” she says.
“I never do,” I flash her a lazy smile. “I’ll be back before you wake.”
“Wait.” She grabs my hand, holding me hostage as she pleads with me one last time. “I—”
“I’m coming back to you,” I assure her, leaving the rest unsaid.
I can’t promise her that tonight will end without bloodshed, so I won’t. But for now, she seems to accept what she knows she can’t change.
“Be sure that you do,” she whispers.
I lean in and kiss her before I drag myself away. “Sleep, dolcezza. It will all be over soon.”
After everyone is in position and waiting for our signal, I stop at the gates to the Stavros compound and inform the guards I require a private word with Ares.
They eye Rafe and Romeo on either side of me like they’re imagining shooting all three of us just for the hell of it. In any other scenario, I might take it personally, but if the roles were reversed, my guards would react the same to the sight of a Stavros on my property. It’s ingrained in us—this decades-old feud. And though I have serious doubts there will ever come a generation of each family that doesn’t despise each other, my goal today is to make this a peaceful amendment to the treaty. Because even if we hate each other, Ares and I both know war doesn’t benefit anyone. And although his father may still be alive, it’s widely known that Ares has been calling the shots for several years as Leonidas’s health declines.
I have no desire to start a bloody war if it can be avoided, but I also have serious doubts that Ares is capable of anything other than being a prick.