Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“I can handle Matteo.”
Dante shakes his head, amused. “You’re braver than I am,” he says as he gestures for me to follow him to an SUV.
The jewelry store smells of velvet, polish, and quiet wealth. Glass cases gleam under soft lighting, and rings sparkle like tiny stars. Camille presses her face to a display of watches while Dante saves his credit card from irreparable damage by placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
I stare down at the men’s wedding bands, unsure which ring to purchase. I’ve already chosen a simple band for myself, but Matteo deserves something that reflects him.
This decision is harder than the one Dante made at the pharmacy. He bought one of every pregnancy test and happily carried them out of the drugstore in a see-through plastic bag.
“Do you think he’d like the onyx ring?” I ask Dante after narrowing my choices down to two.
He doesn’t hesitate. “He’ll love whatever you get him. It’s from you. That’s all he’ll care about.”
All my worries vanish as my chest warms.
I request the onyx ring, and the jeweler disappears into the back to see if he has it in the size he measured on Dante’s finger earlier. Out of all his siblings, both in height and weight, Dante is the closest match to Matteo, hence me asking for his help.
As I impatiently wait for the jeweler to return, Dante joins Camille near the window. She’s staring at a sweets shop across the street, licking her lips.
“Do you want to get some treats for Mama and you?”
Camille nods so hard her curls bounce.
Dante turns to me. “We’ll be right back. Stay in the store until we return.”
Accustomed to his tone—it’s the same tone my brothers always use—I agree without pause for thought.
He waves to the jeweler, who is returning to the front with the ring I hope to purchase. “I’ll be back next week to collect my purchase.”
Purchase?
My head snaps to the display cabinet he was standing near earlier, and my mouth gapes.
That cabinet only holds engagement rings.
My heart squeezes, confident that whatever Dante purchased will be as special to Lucia as I hope this ring is to Matteo.
This ring isn’t just a ring.
It’s a promise.
Matteo spent his entire life sharing everything. His mother’s attention. His father’s expectations. His brothers’ chaos. Even his identity has always been tied to something. He’s a Caruso, and although he loves that, I want him to have something that is solely his.
I am the first thing in his life that belongs solely to him. Not because he claimed me or lied to force me to marry him.
But because I chose him.
This ring is my way of showing him that.
I want him to look at his hand and remember that what we have is his alone.
After polishing the ring, the jeweler places it into a ring box. “Cash or check?”
I curse under my breath. I was so caught up in the hype of spoiling Matteo that I didn’t consider the price tag. I might not have enough money to fund the purchase.
I’m logging into my checking account to check the state of my funds when a voice behind me says, “Let her use the credit from the return of our rings. From what I’m hearing, the lies she’s telling guarantee I won’t need it anytime soon.”
My blood turns to ice when I turn in enough time to watch Antonio enter the jewelry store and lock the entrance door behind him.
As he fans out his jacket to announce he’s carrying, my eyes dart to the window. Dante is just inside the sweets store, scanning the street for danger he doesn’t realize is already here.
“Hi, Antonio,” I say, forcing politeness.
He doesn’t smile.
Instead, he stalks closer as his eyes burn with ugly hatred.
“Why are you spreading vicious lies about me?”
“They’re not lies,” I say, finally standing up for both Hattie and me.
His jaw clenches before he carries on as though I said nothing. “Did you think I wouldn’t react? That I wouldn’t hear what you’ve been saying?”
“I told the truth. If that is too much for you to swallow, that’s your problem, not mine.”
“That bitch walked off the roof!” He slams his hand against the glass counter. “Why should I be blamed for that?”
Hearing him talk about Hattie like she wasn’t the kindest soul I ever knew twists the knife in deep.
“You know what you did,” I shout back. “The Hattie I knew would never hurt herself like that. I don’t care what you say; I won’t stop until everyone knows what a monster you are!”
His eyes narrow as his evil laughter bounces around the store. “Lookie here. Someone thinks she’s suddenly grown a backbone. Careful, sweetheart. Your bulldog isn’t here to save you now.”
His reminder that Matteo will always protect me lifts my chin. “You can’t touch me. You know the rules.”