Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Why didn’t you eat before we left?” I asked.
“I did.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s a Catholic wedding, so you know it’s going to be long.”
“When I get married, every time we do a Hail Mary, we’re going to do a shot,” Leo said.
Wolfe released a quiet chuckle.
Dad didn’t say anything, just subtly shook his head like he didn’t have the energy to deal with Leo’s bullshit today.
It took us almost an hour to arrive in Taormina. It was a little town with streets made for pedestrians instead of cars, so Wolfe dropped us off before he left to park his car. The other guys got out of the second car and escorted us to the church in the town square.
It was a beautiful summer day, and unfortunately, that meant the place was overrun with tourists. You couldn’t squeeze down a single street or alley without bumping into someone’s shoulders. It was a mistake wearing these nude heels on such uneven pavement, but my father offered his arm for balance so I could make it the rest of the way there.
We arrived at the church and took our seats just before the ceremony began, and right when the room went quiet, Leo’s stomach rumbled loudly. It was loud enough to attract the attention of the row in front of us because some people turned around to look straight at my brother—as if they knew he was the culprit.
It was hot as hell in the church, and people were fanning themselves with the programs that had been handed out by the ushers. I didn’t know anyone in the wedding party. My father was friends with the father of the bride…because he was friends with everyone on this side of Sicily.
Leo leaned toward me. “You got a mint in your purse or something?”
I elbowed him hard in the side in rejection.
He groaned then leaned back into his seat.
My father side-eyed us both like we were kids again.
An hour later, the ceremony concluded, and the bride and groom walked out of the church to music, applause, and white rose petals. Sunlight filled the church along with a gust of sea breeze that was a welcome reprieve after being stuffed inside with hundreds of other people.
Everyone filed out into the town square and made small talk before they started to head to the reception. My father was quickly consumed by conversation with other people that he knew. He introduced us to a few people whose names I wouldn’t remember, and we exchanged meaningless pleasantries while the sea breeze continued to cool our warm skin.
When I felt Wolfe’s stare, I knew he was nearby, somewhere near the church, keeping an eye on us. The extra security was probably unnecessary, but my father wasn’t a risk-taker. He believed the best way to deter provocations was to make an approach as difficult as possible. It seemed to work because we rarely had unwarranted confrontations.
We walked together to the hotel on the sea cliff where the reception was held, and that was when Wolfe, Elio, Andre, and Salvatore joined us. I hadn’t had a chance to see how Wolfe was dressed before because he’d been seated in the car, but now I saw him in slacks and dress shoes with a collared shirt and a tie.
Utterly fuckable, basically.
His arms stressed the sleeves of the shirt, and with the shirt tucked into his trousers, you could see exactly how tight his stomach was, how tight his ass was in the dark blue trousers. He combed his hair a little differently and wore one of his expensive watches.
Everyone stared. And when I say everyone, I meant fucking everyone.
He rolled his sleeves to his elbows and showed off that dark ink, and that just made everyone stare even more. He seemed oblivious to it, locked in conversation with Elio about something. He wore a pair of Tom Ford sunglasses on the bridge of his nose, looking like a model who should be plastered on billboards in Manhattan.
Cristo, he was so hot.
We walked to the hotel and followed the signs that guided us to the large outdoor terrace with a spectacular view of the sea. An awning covered most of the tables, but the deck extended beyond that, dotted with large white umbrellas to protect guests from the warm sunlight overhead.
Each of the round tables could accommodate at least ten guests, so we were able to sit comfortably with Wolfe and the others. Waiters immediately came out to deliver pitchers of water and iced tea as well as bottles of wine.
My father left to mingle, while I remained seated next to Leo.
With Wolfe directly across from me.
I could tell he liked my dress by the way his eyes ripped it off me. His sunglasses were left on the table next to his water glass, and his massive arms were crossed over his chest.