Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
She looks like she wants to smack me, but Michael grabs her by the arm before she makes this any worse than it already is.
“Come on, Ang. We’re done with her.”
As Michael drags my mom away, Joey lingers behind. His pea-sized brain seems to be calculating whether or not he could actually take the Vitale brothers.
“I welcome you to try,” Angelo says dryly. “See how that works out for you.”
At that remark, he wisely scuttles off.
Warm lips brush against my ear as I watch them go. “Liberating, isn’t it?”
A shiver moves over me as I nod, letting myself sink into the shelter of Romeo’s body.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, baby,” he murmurs, low enough for only me to hear.
He turns me in his arms and lifts me up, wrapping my legs around him as he captures my mouth in a kiss.
“Whoa.” Rafe chuckles beside us.
“It’s about fucking time,” Michele says.
I tune them out, vaguely aware that everyone is probably watching, but as Romeo tries to haul me off, Abella stops us.
“Hang on a minute, caveman. You can’t keep her holed up in your dungeon for the rest of her life. Especially after you just dropped that engagement news.”
Reluctantly, our lips part, but our gazes stay locked together before someone clears their throat.
“Alright,” Romeo grunts, carrying me over to the sofa and parking me on his lap. “Ask what you need to ask.”
Abella arches a brow at him while Angelo smirks behind her. When she turns her gaze to me, I can tell she’s about to burst at the seams with happiness.
“Are you really getting married?”
Romeo settles a possessive hand on my hip as I nod and show her the ring.
“Wow,” she whispers, coming closer to examine it. “You did good, Romeo.”
“It’s perfect,” I agree.
Her eyes meet mine again, and I can tell she’s trying to hold back tears. “This is all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
“See,” Nonna says smugly. “I told you he’s been kissed by the Vitale fate.”
“Yes, I have,” Romeo replies quietly.
“Any idea when the wedding might be?” Abella asks hopefully.
I glance up at Romeo. We haven’t even had time to discuss this, and I’m sure he’s expecting me to say after graduation. But I don’t want to wait.
“What do you think of Christmas break?” I ask him. “I don’t want a big wedding, so we could just have it here on the island.”
He nods his approval, getting harder beneath me, as if that’s even possible. It’s safe to say he likes the idea, and not just because we’re both introverts. More than anything, he wants to know I’m his, forever.
“I can get started on the planning right away,” Valentina pipes up.
I offer her an appreciative smile. Val is used to planning weddings for the Cosa Nostra and The Society. It was no small miracle what she was able to pull off when she planned Abella’s wedding. Although Angelo making his surprise entrance as the groom threw that way off course, but it all worked out how it was supposed to.
“I don’t want to go overboard,” I tell her.
“Whatever you want, we’ll make it happen,” she says. “And I’ll handle everything so you can focus on your senior collection.”
“Thank you, Val,” I answer softly. “That would be perfect.”
“Does anyone else have any inane questions they’d like to ask, or can we leave now?” Romeo grunts.
“Someone’s a grouchy motherfucker.” Rafe snorts. “What’s the matter? Getting a little blue over there?”
“Vaffanculo.” Romeo flips his brother off, then promptly picks me up, just in time for Mariella to enter with a disapproving look on her face.
“Romeo, your stitches.” She sighs.
“Fuck the stitches.”
He carries me off, and I wave goodbye over his shoulder, a ridiculously stupid smile on my face.
He might be a caveman…but he’s mine.
EPILOGUE
GABRIELA
“Gabs, you look like a princess,” Abella gushes.
“You really do,” Val agrees.
I glance at my reflection in the mirror for one final check. The dress is unapologetically me—endless layers of blush pink tulle and a sweeping skirt dotted with rosette appliqués. The bodice sits off the shoulders, wrapping me in delicate tulle blooms. It looks like something out of a fairytale.
I still can’t believe Val was able to orchestrate this in such a short amount of time. I suspect Romeo and his bank account had a hand in that, too, because she told me he didn’t care what it cost to make this wedding happen. I didn’t want anything over-the-top. Just a pretty dress, a few flowers, some cake, and of course, my charming serial killer of a groom.
He's given me everything I ever could have wanted, and some days, it’s hard to believe this is my life. I choke up when I think about how far we’ve come and where we’re going. I’m more than ready to spend the rest of my life with Romeo Vitale.