Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70928 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70928 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Her chin begins to tremble again, and it has me leaning over and pressing a kiss to her way-too-warm forehead. “Go get cleaned up so you can eat. I’ll get you meds and hang around so you can rest.”
“Thank you.” Valentina spins around and hurries down the hallway.
“Uncle Christiano,” Asher tugs on my hand. “I’m hungry.”
“Food is on its way, little man.”
It takes fifteen minutes to bathe Talia and Asher, and when I have them dressed in their pjs, I take them to the living room and make them comfortable on the couch facing the TV.
“Can you put on Bluey?” my five-year-old nephew asks.
“Sure.” I switch on the TV and find the show. “Keep an eye on your sister.”
I’m given a cute grin that eases some of the tension in my body.
When I walk into the kitchen, I see Will eating some of the mashed potatoes Valentina was preparing when I got here. My hands clench into fists, and even though he’s cleaned up, my temper flares to hell and gone. I go straight for him, and he quickly drops the bowl and spoon before backpeddling all the way out the back door, while squealing, “I did what you said. I cleaned up!”
Once we’re outside, I slam the door shut so the little ones won’t hear, then growl, “Your fucking kids are hungry, and you’re eating?”
Before he can reply, I lay into him, delivering punch after punch until I’m sure I’ve cracked one of his ribs.
Standing fucking close to the pathetic asshole, I order, “Straighten up.”
He does his best, pained lines etched deep into his face.
“You’re going to go in there and pretend it doesn’t hurt. Get the plates and cutlery ready and pour everyone something to drink. When the food arrives, you will make sure your wife and kids eat before you put anything in your mouth. Got it?”
Looking like he’s about to piss himself, he nods.
When Will scurries back into the kitchen, I know I have to calm down before I kill him. I dig my phone out of my pocket, and going into the gallery, I look at photos of Sienna and screenshots I took of our chats when we were still dating.
It’s enough to take the sharp edge off my temper.
Hearing voices inside, I put the device away and open the door. Valentina and Will instantly stop talking when I step inside, and while the fucker hurries to carry out the instruction I gave him, my sister looks like she’s a second away from dropping dead.
“Take some medicine,” I tell her.
While she does as she’s told, Nico comes in and places the bags on the table.
When it looks like Valentina is going to abandon her task to dish up, I snap, “Take the damn meds!”
She quickly pops a couple of pills into her mouth while I open the bags and remove the containers.
“I got a bit of everything,” Nico says, his eyes locked on me as if he’s ready to jump into action to stop me from shooting the place up.
I pull the kids' plates closer and place chicken tenders and fries on them. I only add ketchup to Asher’s plate because Talia doesn’t like any kind of sauce.
Carrying the food to the living room, I set the plates down on the wooden coffee table.
“Yay!” Asher jumps off the couch and quickly sits down.
I pick up Talia and set her down beside her brother, and for a moment, I watch as they eat before I rise to my full height again.
Stay calm.
When I get back to the kitchen, I snap at Will, “Take the kids something to drink.”
He flinches when he moves, but carries out the order, and the moment he leaves the room, I lock eyes with Valentina. “Eat and then we’ll talk.”
She hesitates for a few seconds before fixing two plates, and when Will returns, she says, “Come eat, honey.”
The fact that there’s no warmth in her tone doesn’t escape my attention. I lean back against one of the counters and cross my arms over my chest.
While they eat, the atmosphere remains tense, and when Will doesn’t eat much, it fills me with great satisfaction.
The moment he gets up, I say, “Go check on your children.”
He nods and leaves the kitchen again.
When Valentina glances at me, I can’t keep it in anymore and mutter, “You sure know how to pick them.”
“Don’t start.”
“I never stopped.” I push away from the counter and take the seat Will vacated. Shoving his plate out of my way, I lean forward and hold her gaze as I say, “You’re sick, and the kids are a mess, and the fucker is watching a game in his office. You can be glad I haven’t killed him yet.”
She slumps in her chair and lowers her head. “I know it doesn’t look good.”
“Damn straight it doesn’t.” I reach across the table, and gripping hold of her chin, I force her head up. “You’re a Falco. Act like one.”