Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I feel her breath before she kisses my temple, and the instant I suck her nipple into my mouth, she gasps.
Fuck, I just want to worship her.
Rosie yanks at my shirt, and I let her pull it over my head, then our mouths collide again. Hooking an arm around her, I squash her breasts to my chest, and we both groan from how good it feels.
She breaks the kiss and pulls back, then looking down, her fingertips trail over the ink on my chest and shoulders. “This is why I got the dragon tattoo on my back,” she admits softly, her gaze darting to mine. “Is it creepy?”
I shake my head. “Not at all.”
She got a dragon to match mine. I fucking like that a lot.
Rosie caresses the ridges of my abs, and when she looks at me again, her eyes narrow slightly. “Since when have you loved me?”
I think for a moment, slowly brushing my palms up and down her sides. “Remember the day I threw you in the pool?” Once she nods, I continue, “When you surfaced and coughed like that while struggling to breathe, my heart all but stopped. I jumped in and felt how fucking cold the water was, and after hauling you out… There was a moment you couldn’t get air into your lungs, and it put the fear of God in me.” I move a hand up to cup her jaw, my gaze staring deep into hers as she hangs on my every word. “That’s when I realized you were much more important to me than I had thought.”
I take a deep breath before I get to what she actually wants to hear. “The day I came to you after learning I’d tortured Yuki instead of some guy, I realized I loved you because when everything inside me was falling apart, you were the person I needed. You’re the only one who can quiet the noise in my head.”
A smile curves Rosie’s mouth. “That happened years ago.”
I nod. “We were already in a routine, and our friendship remained the most important thing to me.” I brush my thumb over her skin. “I couldn’t risk losing you at the time.” The hell of losing Rosie for two and a half months shudders through me. “And now I can’t live without you. Not a single fucking day.”
She leans in and presses a tender kiss to my mouth before combing her fingers through my hair and looking at me like I hung the fucking moon.
“Never stop looking at me like that,” I beg before I seal our mouths together and get lost in kissing my woman.
Chapter 27
Rosie
It’s been a week since I practically moved in with Enzo, and knowing I can’t hide in his arms forever, I’ve forced myself to leave the apartment.
Our first stop is the cemetery.
Armed with a stack of tissues, I follow Enzo to my fallen men’s graves. I take a moment to read the name engraved into the temporary marker before placing a flower beside it.
With every step, a face flashes through my mind.
They were a constant presence in my life for years, and they died giving their all to protect me.
When I reach Raffaele's grave, I can’t stop the tears from falling.
He wasn’t just my underboss but a close friend of Augusto's.
Jesus. This should never have happened. You should still be here.
For a couple of minutes, I just stand and stare at his name, struggling to accept that he’s gone.
Eventually, I force myself to move, but when I reach Alessio’s grave, I can’t hold it together anymore and move down to my knees. Placing my hand on the area he’s buried, I clear my throat and say, “You were always there. A constant. Someone I trusted with my life for years.” I have to pause to take a shaky breath as the tears keep streaming down my face. “Thank you for your sacrifice, my friend. I will never forget it.”
Looking up at the sky, a cry tears from me, and I finally get to mourn my selfless men.
Enzo crouches behind me and wraps his arm around my front. I grab hold of his bicep and struggle through the ragged sobs.
Once I manage to calm down enough, I ask, “Their families?”
“They’ve all been compensated,” he answers.
He helps me to my feet and links our hands together as we walk back to the Mustang. I lean into his arm and shove the grief down because soon I’ll have to force a smile to my face so I don’t cause the family any worry.
“Are you still okay going to Adriano’s place?” Enzo asks.
Everyone has agreed to meet at Adriano’s house because he has one of the biggest properties that will be able to host everyone.
“Yes. I can’t keep putting it off.”
Enzo tugs me to a stop, and taking hold of my chin, he tips my face up so I’ll look at him. “If you’re not ready, I’ll cancel it right now.”