Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
I still can’t speak. I don’t want to lie to her… as if I haven’t done that already.
“I’m your event manager. You don’t have to tell me. But if we’re going to do this…” She lays her palms flat against my chest. She can probably feel my heartbeat thundering. “I think I deserve to know. I’m probably being silly, right? Aren’t I, Dario?”
“Is this because of what Rocco said?”
“Are you dodging the question?”
“I can’t…” I smooth my hand up her arm, over her shoulder, and cradle her face, frame it with my hand. “Siena, I only want to exist in the moment with you. I just want to be the goofy prick who climbed into your boat… and for you to sass me, tease me. I want to forget about everyone else.”
“I want that too,” she whispers. “But I can’t get involved with someone if they won’t answer a simple question.”
“It’s not simple.”
“I’m sorry,” she murmurs. “I don’t mean to keep teasing you. I honestly don’t. I know men hate that.”
“I love when you tease me.”
“I don’t mean to be hot one minute and cold the next.”
“You can be any damn thing you want as long as you stick around.”
“I need to think about myself. I need to be selfish. This, I believe, has to end. And I know I keep saying that. Believe it or not, I’ve meant it every time.”
“Is that what you want?” I demand.
“Want,” she repeats. “That’s an interesting concept.”
I grab her, pull her flush against me, kiss her like my life depends on it. She throws her arms around my shoulders. My body responds as she grinds against me.
“No,” she says, breaking off the kiss. “Damn it, Dario. Let me go.”
Reluctantly, I do so. As I watch her walk away, I wonder if she’s going to look over her shoulder again like the other times, but she doesn’t, and it somehow feels more final this time.
I know it’s not. It can’t be. I will not give up that easily. She deserves honesty. Once I tell her about the mob though, there’s no going back.
I leave the waterfall and head to the restaurant. When I spot Rocco eating with a few of our men, I nod to him to meet me outside. He joins me with a grin on his face. “Beautiful morning, eh?”
“Why did you mention the Family to Siena?”
“I didn’t mention the family, Dario. I mentioned our family.”
“I don’t understand why you’d just walk up to her and say that.”
“She looked upset. I wanted to let her know last night wasn’t her fault, to let her know it was a family issue.”
“You mentioned family, Rocco, but you could only have meant the mafia. You’re not in our family.”
guess
Rocco sucks in a breath. “Shit, Dario. I assumed I was part of the family when I became your godfather. I’m sorry if I misinterpreted that.”
I stuff my hands in my pockets. “Hell, Rocco. My bad. I didn’t mean that.”
“I’m sorry if I overstepped. I was trying to help.”
“It’s fine. It’s not your fault.”
It’s mine for lying to Siena in the first place.
CHAPTER 25
SIENA
Istand at the edge of the party. The sun has set, and the lights are glowing from behind the waterfall, in the pool, and all around the perimeter. The lights change softly through all the colors of the rainbow. Serving staff circulate, and the food gazebo is running smoothly. So far, there have been no mishaps.
I leave the party and walk into the semidarkness of the perimeter when Rosy offers me a shaky grin, but the resort manager can’t hide her nerves. I remember what she admitted to: the funny business, the sabotage. But she didn’t say it outright.
I’m sick of living in the dark.
“Is the fireworks team ready?” I ask.
“Everything is going as planned,” she replies.
“And I’m not going to get any surprises?”
She touches her chest. “Excuse me?”
“You know what I mean, Rosy. Everything’s going to keep going as planned?”
“I’m doing my best, but as you know, I’m reluctant to make guarantees.”
I almost snap at her. Ever since earlier with Dario, I’ve been on edge. It’s like the hot air has turned from pleasant to cloying. Without replying, I make my way back to the party.
Is this family just stuck up and plain stuck in their Old Money ways, or is there more going on? The criminal element was a theory… until Dario refused to deny it.
Rocco approaches me, wearing a tuxedo, with a flashy gold watch on his wrist. “Hello, Siena. Having fun?”
“I’m happy everything is going well.”
“I wanted to ask…” He moves to place his hand on my arm, but then lowers it when he sees my face. “Am I free to assume you’ve kept quiet about mine and Veronica’s private relationship?”
“I don’t gossip about my boss.”
“Excellent,” he says. “And I also wanted to apologize if I came across as… less than gentlemanly before. I didn’t mean to upset you.”