Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
I stare at the note for several seconds, but the words are too jumbled, and without the color reader, I can’t be sure what I’m reading.
“Here,” I say to Dominick. “Read it.”
“Matteo,” he begins, “I hear congratulations are in order. Becoming a father and a husband on the same day. Hopefully, you live to see both through. XX.”
He hasn’t even finished before I’m running from the room to get to Dani. Anyone with a brain will take that as a threat, and if whoever left it was able to get it in here, who knows where else they’re able to get to?
“Matteo, stop!” Bri yells just before I open the door that I know Dani is behind. “You can’t see her before the wedding.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” I say, turning the knob.
“Stop.” Lorenzo steps in front of me. “Don’t let whoever that is ruin this for Dani. I’ll check on her. Give me a minute.”
He slides inside, and I wait with bated breath, praying that Dani is okay.
A moment later, he opens the door. “She’s good. She’s dressed and ready to walk down the aisle.”
“Don’t let her eat or drink anything,” I tell him, suddenly paranoid. “Ian, George,” I say to the guards standing outside her door, “I want you to search the room without alerting her and have the guys search the perimeter. Someone left a note with a threat in my dressing room.”
The guys nod and go in.
“C’mon,” Bri says, dragging me back to my waiting room. “You still have to open your gift.”
When we get back in the room, it’s empty, and Bri says that Dominick went to check on our mom, Peyton, and the babies since they’re seated and waiting for the ceremony to begin.
I open the box and inside is a kick-ass all-black watch. Not a pretentious one, like Dominick would wear, but one that I would wear. I lift it out of the box and notice that it’s engraved on the inside. It’s not long, so it only takes a few seconds for me to read it.
I’m yours, until the end of time.
Since I’m not wearing a watch, I clasp it around my wrist and eye it for a moment, not for the first time wondering how I got lucky enough to have the privilege of spending my life with Dani.
“I like to see you like this,” Bri notes.
“Like what?”
“Happy. First Dominick, then Mom … now you.”
“You’ll get there one day.”
I wasn’t Theodore’s biggest fan—mostly because I’m protective of my sister and no guy will ever be good enough for her—but I was glad to see my sister putting herself out there. I don’t know what happened between them because she won’t talk about it, but whatever it was has her back to being single again.
“Maybe.” She shrugs. “Maybe not.”
“I never thought it would happen for me, and now, look where I am. About to marry the woman I love with a baby on the way.”
We had dinner last night as a family, and Dani and I told everyone that she was pregnant. Mom burst out crying, which led to Dani crying. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that I don’t like to see her cry, regardless if it’s because she’s happy.
“The hotel is secure,” Dominick says, walking back in with Damien in tow. “Security checked the cameras, and a delivery service dropped off the gift with the instructions to have it brought to you.
I sigh in relief that whoever sent it isn’t on the property—that we know of.
“Maybe we shouldn’t leave …”
“You only get married and have a honeymoon once,” Dominick points out. “But we need to stay vigilant. You’re bringing guys with you?”
We’re going to an all-inclusive beach resort in Mexico. Our room will have a private pool and beach, but I’m not naive enough to think that we’re untouchable.
“Yeah, Ian and George are going with us.”
“Good.” Dominick squeezes my shoulder. “You ready to do this?”
“More than ready.”
40
Daniella
“What’s going on?” I ask Lorenzo as George and Ian search my room while trying to act like they’re not searching my room.
“You know how Matteo is … always making sure everyone is safe, and now, with you pregnant, you can expect him to be even more protective.” Lorenzo smiles at me, but I can tell he’s holding something back.
“Did he get my gift?” I ask.
I noticed he was always checking the time on his phone because he didn’t have a watch, so I figured it would be the perfect gift. And then I had it engraved, so he’d always have a piece of me with him when he wore it.
“Yeah,” Lorenzo says slowly. “He damn near lost his shit. Apparently, he didn’t know about the whole bride and groom exchanging gifts thing, and he didn’t get you anything.”
“Oh no,” I breathe out. “Now, I feel horrible.”