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)
I knew he loved Palermo, that he’d only moved to be closer to work, and he would be a lot happier here. The idea of moving two hours away from my family sounded ludicrous momentarily, but once I let that shock pass, I realized it made a lot of sense. I loved his house, I loved this village, I loved being close to the ocean. I could walk right outside onto the street and get coffee whenever I wanted. I could walk to the market and gather everything I needed for dinner every night. If we continued to live at his new house in Caltanissetta, we would be in the middle of nowhere behind a gate, and that sounded a bit lonely.
When I didn’t answer right away, he added, “No pressure. Wherever you want to be is fine with me.”
“No, I like that idea,” I said quickly. “I just needed a second to think about it.”
“You seem to like this house a lot more than my other one,” he said with slight amusement.
“Well, your other one is just…enormous.”
“And that doesn’t impress you?”
“A couple days ago, I literally got lost.”
He released a quick chuckle.
“I guess I prefer that cozy feeling. I like that your house is right in town. I like that the ceilings aren’t crazy high. When I walked in here, I felt like the walls gave me a big hug. It just feels more welcoming.”
“Then let’s live here,” he said. “The sea suits you.”
“Especially when I’m in a skimpy bikini?” I teased.
His smile widened. “Absolutely.”
“You seem like the kind of guy to break someone’s face if they look at me too long.”
“Do you want me to break someone’s face for looking at you?” he asked. “Because if so, that would be my full-time job.”
“I don’t think men stare at me that much.”
“They do. You just aren’t paying attention.” He grabbed the stem of his glass and swirled it before taking a drink. “The stares don’t bother me because it comes with the territory. If you have a hot woman, people are going to stare. Just how it goes.”
“I wish I could be that mature.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“When I see women stare at you, it drives me fucking nuts.”
He cocked his head slightly, his grin stretching. “It does?”
“Yep.”
“Huh, didn’t notice.”
“Didn’t notice that it drove me nuts? Or didn’t notice the women staring at you?”
“Both, I guess.”
I grabbed my glass and took a drink. “Now look who doesn’t pay attention…”
“I pay attention to men. Women are harmless.”
“I think all those guys I shot would disagree.”
A distinct look of affection moved into his gaze. “Fair point.”
The waiter returned to our table, and we ordered dinner. Wolfe chose the fresh catch of the day, while I got a big bowl of pasta. Menus were handed over, and we returned to enjoying our wine.
“So, that’s settled?” he asked. “We’re going to live in Palermo?”
“Yes, let’s do it.”
He didn’t smile outwardly, but there was a distinct joy to his gaze like that was exactly what he wanted. He almost looked boyish, excited to wake up on Christmas morning and see all the presents under the tree. He took another drink of his wine as he gazed at me, visibly high on happiness that removed the tension he normally carried in his shoulders and his arms.
And then all of that disappeared in the blink of an eye.
His stare shifted past me across the terrace and remained there, not like his mind wandered with his eyes, but he saw something that grabbed his attention. He remained still, his eyes only moving slightly. The energy around him immediately became tense and palpable.
But I knew better than to ask.
Footsteps sounded behind me, and my hair started to prickle and stand on end. Judging by the way Wolfe’s eyes shifted upward, the person was right behind me.
“So the rumors are true.” It was a man’s voice.
I peeked a side look to see the person beside me. It was a man in a blazer, decades older than Wolfe but with similar power.
“What brings you to Palermo, Wolfe?”
Wolfe continued to stare him down. “It’s my home as much as it is yours. Now, take a step away from my woman if you don’t want me to sever your carotid with my butter knife.”
“I meant no provocation—”
“I said, step away.”
The man was close enough that I could smell his cologne like it was on my own skin.
He took a step back as Wolfe asked, probably because he knew Wolfe didn’t make idle threats. “Join us for dinner—for old times’ sake.”
“I’m good.”
“I come in friendship, not hostility.”
“We’re enemies, not friends.”
“That’s your interpretation.”
I wasn’t sure what to do but sit there and stay quiet. I quickly connected the dots and realized this man was from Cosa Nostra. Probably Don Russo, the man Wolfe had viewed as a father the last decade. He’d tried to poach Wolfe back from my father, but Wolfe’s loyalty was ironclad.