Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
I grab a fistful of nuts and toss some into my mouth. “As long as you’re happy.”
“I am, but when are you going to teach me the rest of the business?”
“When you turn thirty.” I lock eyes with Enzo, who’s the dealer for our table. “You better give me a good hand.”
He smiles while shuffling the cards. “You get what you get.”
As the game starts, I listen to the men bantering and think how fucking blessed I am to have such a large family.
Knowing Ryo doesn’t have family backing him, I check in with him daily. He pretends it annoys him, but I know the fucker appreciates it.
Yuki comes into the foyer, and as she tries to sneak past the back of my chair to get to the kitchen, I grab hold of her hips and place her on my lap.
Taking hold of her jaw, I keep her in place as I press a kiss to her mouth. “Are you having fun?”
She quickly nods, and I drink in the sight of her eyes that are filled with love and happiness.
“And you?” she asks.
“I am now that you’re sitting on my lap.”
“No fair,” Adriano mutters beside us. “Some of us are single as fuck.”
Letting Yuki climb to her feet, I pat her ass, and as she walks to the kitchen, I smirk at my friend. “You need to pull your head out of your ass and find yourself a wife.”
“Easier said than done,” he replies as he frowns at his cards. “Enzo, you’re a shitty dealer.”
Yuki comes back through the foyer with a bowl of dip, and as she passes my seat, she presses a quick kiss to my cheek and whispers, “I love you.”
As she continues to walk, I call out, “Not half as much as I love you, my wife.”
“Not half as much as I–” I throw an almond at Georgi to shut him up as he tries to mock me, but the fucker catches it and proceeds to eat it.
As the night progresses and the whiskey flows, we get louder, and soon Riccardo puts on music, and our poker night turns into a full-blown party.
Pulling Yuki into my arms, I feel relaxed as I dance with her for the first time, while we’re surrounded by our family.
“Thank you for today,” I say as I stare into her eyes. “I’ll make sure everything is cleaned up tomorrow.”
“It turned out okay, right?” she asks.
“It’s a huge success, my wife,” I praise her. “You’re incredible.”
I love seeing how she basks in my words, as if they give her life.
Wrapping her in a tight hug, we sway to the slow song.
Yeah, this is what life is all about. Friends, family, and owning the heart of the most precious being on this planet.
Epilogue
Yuki
Ten years later…
Sitting in my rocking chair, I stare down at our beautiful newborn boy.
Before I gave birth, Augusto said I could choose his name, and after looking through endless lists of baby names, both Sicilian and Japanese, I decided on Kai to honor my heritage.
My toes gently push against the floor as I rock the chair, and when Kai frees my nipple and yawns, my heart melts even more.
I cover myself up before I carefully lay him against my shoulder, and rubbing his back, I wait for him to burp.
I press my face into his tiny body and take a deep breath of his addictive scent, then let out a sigh.
“Mommy could eat you up,” I murmur, and when he finally burps, I praise him, “Such a good boy.”
I cradle him in my arms again, and for the hundredth time since I gave birth, I marvel at the little bundle of joy Augusto and I created out of our love.
Suddenly, Augusto says, “I could watch the two of you for hours.”
My eyes lift to where he’s standing in the doorway of the nursery, pride and affection shining in his eyes.
“Let me take him.” As I hand Kai to his daddy, Augusto gives the water on the table a pointed look. “Drink all of it. I don’t want you dehydrating.”
“Yes, my controlling and overprotective husband,” I tease him before I pick up the glass.
“You bet your sweet ass.” He looks down at our son, his features softening, then back to me. “I came to get you. There’s someone here to see you.”
“Me? Who?” I climb to my feet and make sure I look decent as I walk to the door. “Mom?”
“Stop asking questions and go.”
I shoot him a scowl, but curious to see who the visitor is, I hurry down the stairs. When I reach the foyer, a shriek bursts from me, and I run to Ryo.
“Oh my God!” I throw myself into my brother’s arms.
I haven’t seen him since Augusto took me on a trip to Tokyo two years ago.
Ryo lets out a chuckle as he hugs the crap out of me, then he pushes me back and looks me up and down. “You look good, Yuki.”