Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
“Mama tickled me,” Simi replies, a happy smile on her face.
“Like so?” he asks, right before he tickles her side. She squirms and laughs, the sight food for my soul.
Georgi presses a kiss to her head before he sets her down on the bed. “Get ready so we can go.”
“I already ate. Georgi gave me an egg in a cup. And toast.” She jumps on the bed, too excited to stay still. “Come, Mama. Hurry!”
I quickly get up, patting a hand over my disheveled hair.
“Remember to get pajamas today,” Georgi says, drawing my attention to him. “I want to burn that outfit.”
Then he turns around and leaves.
For the next twenty minutes, Simi talks my ear off while we get ready. Well, as ready as we’ll ever be. She’s wearing another tracksuit, and I’ve just put on a clean T-shirt.
I’ve braided both our hair so it won’t get in the way, and as we leave the bedroom, my daughter’s hand in mine, I feel excitement beginning to unfurl in my chest.
“Why did you sleep so long?” Simi asks as we slowly take the stairs down so she doesn’t fall. “Georgi said not to wake you. Will the big bear still be at the store? And the castle?”
Georgi gave her breakfast and wanted me to sleep in.
“I think so,” I answer her last two questions.
It’s only been days, Nina. Things could change. You need to be careful.
As soon as I see Georgi, standing in the middle of the foyer and talking to Santino, the warning to be cautious falls on deaf ears.
Just like my daughter, I’m so desperate for everything he said to be real, I can’t keep up my defenses.
I just want one person I can trust to protect me, and I want that person to be Georgi Torrisi.
He glances in our direction, and while still talking, he gestures for me to come closer.
“Just make sure they all know. I want this day to be perfect.”
“On it,” Santino replies before smiling at us. “Morning, ladies.”
“Morning,” I reply. “My daughter doesn’t speak English.”
“Shit,” The guard mutters before waving at Simi. She returns it with a big smile.
“That’s something we have to rectify. I’ll find someone who can teach Simi English so she’s ready when it’s time for her to go to school,” Georgi says, as if it’s the simplest thing on earth, and he’s not talking about way into the future.
He’s really serious about us staying with him.
The thought hits me over the head again.
I’m still processing the emotions Georgi evokes in me when he wraps his hand around the back of my neck and leads me to the elevator.
“Are you ready to get all the toys you want, malkata mi printsesa?” he asks Simi.
“Yes!”
She pulls her hand out of mine and squeezes between Georgi and me before holding her hands up so we can each take one. I watch as his fingers engulf her small ones, and it shifts something in my chest.
Clearing my throat, I keep my eyes downcast. I don’t even try to process all the emotions I’m feeling. I just let them flood me and turn my stomach into a fluttering mess.
When the elevator doors open, and we step into a basement, I easily count twelve men.
Just as panic tightens my muscles and fear trembles through me, Georgi picks up Simi, holding her with his right arm while he places his left around my shoulders. I move closer to him, and walking toward an SUV, my eyes are trained on my shoes.
Santino opens the back door, and Georgi nudges me forward so I’ll get in first before he follows with Simi.
It’s a normal thing for other people, but to me it’s huge. He didn’t shove me, and it felt as if it was a protective move.
When his left thigh presses against my leg, I scoot up so I don’t rub against his wound, but then Simi steps on the painful area, and I quickly pull her off Georgi. “Careful, Simi! Georgi has a big owie.”
“I’m sorry,” she says while sitting down on my lap.
“It’s okay.” He brushes his palm over her hair, then locks eyes with me as he leans in very close. Once again, I freeze, and when his shirt tickles my nose and I get lungfuls of his cologne, a kaleidoscope of butterflies goes crazy in my stomach.
Then he tugs the seat belt over us and clicks it in place before he pulls back and grins at me.
Georgi knows I’m attracted to him.
I quickly turn my head the other way while my cheeks grow warm.
“How long still?” Simi asks as Santino starts the engine.
“Twenty minutes,” Georgi answers. “The toy store is nearby, but with traffic, it will take a while.” He tugs at her sleeve. “Tell me which toys you want.”
My daughter doesn’t hesitate. “The castle! The bear is too big for me. I want a baby bear.”