Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“I don’t think I need to tell him anything,” I say with a laugh. “He already saw us.”
Her smile fades, and I chuckle.
“Let’s go, baby. Your brother is waiting.”
When we get downstairs, Lorenzo is on the phone, discussing business. But when he sees us, he tells whoever it is he’ll call them back.
“Fuck, Dani.” He pulls her into his arms and hugs her tightly. “When I heard what happened this morning, I damn near lost my shit.” He glares up at me. “You should’ve told me.”
“Everything happened so fast,” Dani explains, pulling back. “One minute, I was ordering food, and the next, Enrique had me in his car, telling me he was going to rape me and then kill me.”
Her admission has me seeing red and wishing I could’ve spent a few hours with that fucker. He deserved the worst kind of torture for the shit he’d put her through, but he’s dead, so that’s not going to happen. And all I can do now is focus on Dani and make sure nothing like that ever happens again.
“And then Matteo and Dominick blocked us in, and before Enrique could kill me, Matteo shot him in the head,” she continues. “It was insane. Don’t ever piss off Matteo because, let me tell you, his shot was dead-on.”
She giggles at her own joke, and the sound goes straight to my heart. Without thinking, I pull her into my arms and kiss her temple, and Lorenzo’s attention shifts from his sister to me.
“And then you brought her back here and you were so busy fucking my sister that you couldn’t let me know she was okay?” He quirks a brow.
If he were anyone other than my best friend, I’d punch him in the face for what he just said. But he’s pissed—and he has every right to be.
“Lorenzo,” Dani begins, but I squeeze her, silently asking her to let me handle this.
“You’re right,” I tell him. “I should’ve called and told you what happened. I’m sorry.”
Lorenzo’s face softens, and he sighs. “So, what is this thing between you two? Are you just fuckin—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” I warn. “I love you like a damn brother, and I let it slide once, but it won’t happen again. I love your sister, and I should’ve talked to you about it, but I was trying to resist her and …” I shake my head. “I didn’t want to be with her. I know I’m not good enough for her, but—”
“Fuck that,” Lorenzo says. “You’re one of the best people I know. And when you love someone, you do everything you can to keep them safe. So, if you love my sister …”
“I do.”
“Then, I know she’s in good hands,” he finishes. “You’ve been protecting me our entire lives, and I have no doubt you’ll do the same for my sister.” He steps toward me. “But if you fuck around on her or hurt her, I’ll hire someone to kill you.”
I bark out a laugh, and Lorenzo chuckles.
“I’ll never do anything to hurt her,” I promise him.
“Good.” He pulls me into a hug. “Then, welcome to the family.”
We break apart, and he glances at Dani. “And you … the threat is officially gone, so I’d better see you in the office first thing tomorrow morning to start learning the family business.”
He raises a brow, and her face breaks out into a huge grin.
“I’ll be there.”
25
Daniella
“Well, that went better than I’d expected,” I say to Matteo a few hours later, once Lorenzo is gone.
“Yeah,” Matteo agrees, pulling me into his arms. “But it doesn’t surprise me. Lorenzo is the calmest, most levelheaded guy I know.”
“I don’t really know him as well as I’d like to,” I admit. “But I look forward to getting to know him.”
After I told them I was hungry, Matteo offered to order food, and Lorenzo stayed to eat and chat. It was nice, talking to him without any distance between us. He’s the only family I have left, and I want us to be close.
When the doorbell rang, I jumped and hid, and Matteo soothed me, assuring me that I was safe, while Lorenzo took the food from the guard.
Thankfully, Enrique hadn’t killed anyone, but two guards and the doorman were shot and are recovering in the hospital. Matteo said all three will be taken care of, especially the guard who made sure to sound the alarm before he blacked out, which led to Matteo being made aware that I was in trouble.
After the food was devoured, Lorenzo said he needed to head to the office, and when I offered to join him, he told me to rest and he’d see me tomorrow.
Which reminds me …
“I need clothes.”
Matteo looks at me in confusion, and I laugh.
“Sorry, weird transition. But I was thinking about how I’m going to work tomorrow, and I don’t really have any work clothes. Any chance you want to go shopping with me?”