Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
I stand and help my wife up, checking to see if she has any scrapes. With her looking as pristine as usual, I address my men. “Good—bring her in. We have questions before we take care of business. Make sure we don’t have any witnesses.” They leave to deal with the matter.
“We need to figure out how she got on this island and how she knew where we’d be,” Vivian says.
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, it wasn’t a state secret where we were going, but since she’s obsessed, I’m guessing she’s going hardcore and following us.”
“Is she dead?” the bitch says. “I hope she’s dead. Ouch. Don’t hurt me. My Matty wouldn’t like it.”
“Your Matty?” Vivian whispers to me. I don’t know this fucking woman. When she comes into the room and sees us, she screams, “You bitch. You are still alive. Why didn’t you die?”
“You need better aim. Who the hell are you, and why are you after my man?”
“He’s mine.”
“No, I don’t know you.”
“You’re lying, Matty. We spoke for hours when we created that ring. It was for me, and yet you gave it to her.”
“Holy fuck.” Everything is starting to make sense.
“Oh, so suddenly you remember her,” Vivian snaps, getting out of line. I grab my wife by the waist and drag her to my side, cupping her chin.
“Wife, you better quit your shit because the second this is over, I’m going to punish you for doubting my fidelity.”
“You know that shit doesn’t work on me.”
“She doesn’t deserve you.”
“Bitch, shut up,” my viper hisses at her and then turns her ire back at me. “So is she telling the truth? Do you know her?”
“Yes and no. I ordered the ring custom made and the specifications were done through a service for specialty clients. I only spoke to her on the phone once about the sizing and design shape. How I wanted it to look like a snake’s eye, but I didn’t remember her name or anything. In fact, all other conversations were done with the owner, a man, but he had to step out and asked her to handle the specs. That’s all. Shit, I ordered the ring two years ago.”
A smile spreads over Vivian’s face as the truth hits her, and then a realization does as well, changing her expression. The same one that hit me too. “Oh my goodness. That’s why she was able to track us. The ring.”
“That’s why she was able to be at events I was at. I carried it with me everywhere I went. A piece of you with me so it was like you were there.”
“Fucking hell, I love you, Matteo.” I kiss him in front of the crazy woman, which sets her off. She tries lunging out of her chair, but I kick her in the throat with my heel.
“Fuck, you crushed her hyoid bone.”
“Good. Now she’ll shut the fuck up. Clean up this mess. I’m on my honeymoon, and I’m still dealing with trouble.”
“You’ll always be trouble, my devil queen.”
“You love it.”
“I love you.”
Vivian
I’m not ready for babies. Oh my goodness.
I hold this little one in my arms, and it hits me with all the feelings involved. My love for this little person makes me want to kick my own ass. My parents put up with so much shit because they loved me, and I gave my dad in particular pure hell. Always sneaking around, trying to follow him, almost getting myself killed.
“Matteo, we made this little boy.”
“Yes, we did,” he says, sliding onto the bed beside me. He cradles his arm around my shoulder, kissing the scar, and then bends to kiss the top of our son’s head. “Hello, my son. I love you.” I nestle my body against his and let him support our weight.
“Our parents will be here soon.”
“I know. They’re excited to see the first addition to the family, but you need to rest, my little momma.”
“I’m scared, Matteo.”
“Why?”
“I’m not a good mom like my mother or yours.”
“You’re the viper. You’re going to be a great mother. You’re strong enough to protect our kids, smart enough to teach them, loving enough to worry about them going into danger, and you’re sneaky enough to catch them before they do some crazy shit.”
“Sorry, little man. I’ll try to watch my mouth.” He rubs our son’s fuzzy little dark head of hair. He’s like the both of us and he was born with a full head of dark, almost black hair.
“Knock, knock,” my mother says, sticking her head in the hospital room. She comes in with a bunch of balloons, followed by Matteo’s mother and our dads. I’m sure our brothers will be here soon. It’s no doubt that we’ll be leaving by tomorrow. Matteo’s brother has been in Italy for the past year, so we have hardly seen him. He came after the attack on us, but then had to get back to his business. He’ll be here soon to meet his nephew.