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)
“It’s because God is in your heart.”
He smirked. “No one’s in my heart except for you. I’m sure when my time comes, I’m going straight to the boss downstairs. But that’s fine. I’ve earned that. I’ll probably have a better time down there anyway.”
She continued to stare at me with the same seriousness, analyzing my expression and searching for the emotions under the surface.
But my rivers didn’t run that deep. Neither did the roots from my lungs. And my heart lay in a shallow grave.
I pushed aside my plate then leaned farther over the table toward her before I lowered my arms across the surface. My fingers were in reach, so I gently touched her fingertips, feeling the tiny spark between us when we came into contact.
“Now I understand why you chose to work for my father, even though it’s a major step down for you.”
“More like a major step up,” I said. “He would never stoop that low, so I consider him to be the superior boss. I think he needs to be sterner in his operations and a lot more proactive in his negotiations, but he’s an honest man doing honest work. Despite the way our business relationship ended, I still respect the way he does business.”
She gave a slow nod, the sadness drifting into her expression.
“Both of our pasts are behind us now,” I said. “I’m excited for what lies ahead.”
The sadness remained for a moment longer, slowly dissipating as she let my words sink into her flesh. “I hope one day we can be a family again.”
I knew Don Mancini had made a grave mistake when he dismissed me. But he’d also made a grave mistake with Francesca too, which was unfortunate because I knew he truly loved her. He’d lost sight of that behind his enormous ego, but that love was still there. “I have no doubt, Francesca. But it’ll just take some time.”
20
WOLFE
After Francesca fell asleep, I texted Leo. Have you handled Warren? After the shootout at the house, my focus had shifted entirely to Francesca. She was traumatized by what happened and then overwhelmed by the falling-out with her father. I had every intention of destroying Warren myself, but the days with Francesca in Palermo had sped by. I knew Don Mancini would want revenge against Warren for coming for his daughter in the dead of night, so I decided to let them handle it.
Leo didn’t respond.
Asshole, I asked you a question.
His three dots popped up right away. Yes.
Yes, what?
We killed Warren.
When? How?
The dots didn’t come back.
Remember I know where you live, Leo. And remember I know exactly how to get there. Because Francesca just lived farther down the hill. I could see his house in the distance in daylight.
You aren’t one of us anymore, Wolfe. I answered your question, so now fuck off.
The next day, I took her out on my boat. It wasn’t quite a yacht like the larger ones that never docked on shore, but it was more luxurious than a regular fishing boat. It was small enough that I could handle everything on my own.
I took her out on the water, far enough from shore that we could see all of Palermo. The waves were minimal because it was still early in the morning, but by afternoon, they would turn choppy.
She was in a little thong bikini, black with a couple stars on it. And her top was so small the cups could barely contain her tits. She was on the cushioned bed at the front of the boat on her stomach, her legs up and ankles crossed, a shine on her skin from the sunscreen I’d just put on her. And she wore a wide-brimmed hat to protect her face from the sun.
“Do you fish?” she asked as she lay beside me.
“No.”
“So you just come out here to lie in the sun?”
“Mainly to dump bodies that I don’t want to be found.”
She laughed like I’d just made a joke.
Nope, wasn’t a joke.
She went back to her book, her perky ass on display.
I lay on my side with my head propped on my arm, just admiring the view of her curves, the deep sway in her lower back and the plumpness of her tight ass. Her toenails were painted pink, and there was something about them that turned me on.
When she felt my stare, she turned back to me, her eyes hidden behind her sunglasses. “Yes?”
“You’re mine. I can stare all I want.”
“Well…is stare all you’re going to do?”
I smirked as I moved my hand over her ass and gave it a squeeze before a smack. “If we go inside.”
“No, I want to do it out here.”
“There are people out here.”
“Where?” she asked, looking around at our immediate proximity.
“People bring binoculars on boats and to the beach.”
“Come on. No one’s going to look.” She reached behind her back and grabbed the string to her bikini and pulled it loose. It immediately hung from her neck, her tits exposed.