Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“As is my duty. This isn’t a one-way street.”
“I know. But I have a feeling you’re better at being kind and taking care of people than I am. I’m better at ruining lives.”
She pursed her lips, questions filling her eyes. Thankfully, she didn’t voice them. “We both can do our best. This is only the beginning of our marriage. We’ll have a lot of time to figure this out together.”
I woke to the sound of gentle breathing. The memories of last night filtered through my sleepy brain, and I had to stifle a smile. When I opened my eyes, the room was still mostly dark because the curtains were drawn. I blinked and turned my head toward the sound of breathing. Samuel lay with his muscled back turned to me. The blanket pooled around his hip, allowing me to take him in. Three names were tattooed on his back. It was the position where his heart was. For a moment, I worried they were names of women he’d perhaps dated over the years, though it seemed strange to keep a list of previous lovers. Not to mention that I knew from the gossip mill that Samuel had been with more than three women. Yet he hadn’t been with any of them long enough to warrant a permanent place for their name on his skin.
When I scanned the names, relief settled in me. Enea, Domenico, and Arlo must have been friends who’d died over the years. As a Made Man, death was always a close companion. Several scars covered his back, reminding me that he too had gotten close to death before. I knew he’d been captured by the Camorra when he’d tried to save his twin.
He stirred suddenly and rolled over. I tried to pretend I had been waking up too and not staring at him. His blond hair was tousled from sleep. He looked cute and not as distant as usual. I resisted the urge to touch him even though I really wanted to.
“Morning,” I said with a hesitant smile. What was I supposed to talk about? Was Samuel a morning person? Or did he prefer silence because he was a grump?
“Do you need help?” Samuel asked, his voice still rough from sleep. He motioned to my wheelchair beside the bed.
I gave him a tight smile. “No, thank you. I’m fine.” He thought I required constant support. I didn’t want to blame him for his misconception. Many people who’d never lived with a disabled person felt they needed constant help. Some people actually did, but I could get through my daily routine with minimal support. The only thing I usually needed help with were things on the upper shelves.
He sat up.
“The names on your back, are they of dead friends?”
Samuel’s face hardened, a shadow of the past flitting through his eyes. “Of friends who died because of me.”
My lips parted in surprise. I could tell it was a topic Samuel didn’t want to talk about. I nodded and stopped myself from asking more questions. Maybe I’d ask Danilo about them. He definitely knew the details about Samuel’s past, especially his rescue mission. But Danilo, too, didn’t like talking about it as it marked the year in which he’d lost his fiancée to Remo Falcone.
Maybe one day, Samuel would feel comfortable enough with me to share the full story.
“I’ll freshen up and get dressed. Will we have breakfast together?”
“Sure. I took the day off.”
I got into my wheelchair, acutely aware that Samuel watched my every move. The tension in his upper body and the keen attentiveness in his expression made it clear he was ready to leap out of bed and assist me should I require his help. It was kind of sweet but also frustrating. I didn’t want to become someone he had to care for, at least not beyond what a husband did for his wife. I smoothed out my nightgown and resolutely gripped the wheels before I moved toward the bathroom. The door was closed, and I had to angle my wheelchair to the side to push it open. Samuel climbed to his feet, obviously thinking he needed to open the door for me.
I sent him another smile before I disappeared inside the bathroom. The moment I stopped in front of the sink, Samuel appeared in the doorway. I had to stifle my laughter, though I also felt a little like screaming. Clearing my throat, I gathered my courage and said, “You don’t have to hover, you know? I’m an adult. The wheelchair doesn’t mean I can’t handle things on my own. You can treat me like you would any other woman.”
I cringed at my last words.
Samuel frowned. “You are my wife, and I want to take care of you.”
“That’s really nice, and I appreciate it, but unless I ask for help, I can do it on my own.”