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)
“You’re welcome.” She bats her long lashes at me. “Sweetie.”
We ring up our purchases, and when Rosie gets ready to pay, I shove her hand away and tap my credit card.
“You know I can buy my own food, right?”
“How about saying thank you?”
A mischievous glint sparks in her eyes, then she grabs hold of my shoulders, yanks me down, and plasters a kiss to my cheek. “My hero. Thank you for feeding me.”
I know she’s being playful, but when she pulls back, I’m hit with an urge to slam my mouth to hers and kiss the living fuck out of her.
Yanking away from her, I signal to some of the guards to grab the bags and walk ahead of Rosie toward the exit.
“Sorry, Enzo,” she says behind me. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“It’s fine.”
I unlock the Mustang with the app on my phone but come to a stop when Rosie says, “I’m going to go with Raffaele and Alessio so you can get back to work.”
I shoot her a dark look. “Get in my car.”
Her shoulders slump, and her energy feels all wrong when she climbs into the passenger seat. I slide in behind the steering wheel, and when I start the engine, Baby Shark starts playing.
Rosie quickly stops it, and I keep my tone soft as I say, “Don’t do that.”
Not looking at me, she stares out the window. “What?”
“Withdraw into yourself. There’s nothing wrong with you kissing me on the cheek. I overreacted.”
Because I wanted to fucking devour you.
Rosie just nods but continues to stare out the window.
Knowing how much music means to her, I scroll through my playlist, and after connecting to the car, I hesitate a moment before pressing play on Fair To You by Vincent Lima.
It’s the closest I’ll ever come to telling Rosie I love her.
I begin to drive as the song fills the air between us, and when I glance at her and see her chin quivering, I reach across the center console and squeeze her hand.
Needing to give her something, I say, “You’re my favorite person.”
Rosie sucks in a deep breath. “Yeah-yeah.”
She takes control of the playlist, and when the weirdest shit starts playing, the corner of my mouth lifts. “What the fuck is this?”
“I swear by the Minions.” Rosie serenades me at the top of her lungs, and just like that, everything is fine between us again.
Chapter 7
Rosie
Chewing on a carrot so Dad and Enzo will stay off my back, I look at the screen showing all the security feeds of Adriano’s club, the shipping yard, and the Rizzos’ property in Long Island.
Happy that nothing is out of place, I move on to Augusto’s house, Paradiso, and then Vitale Health. Seeing Raffaele is with Augusto, I shake my head.
After Raffaele started working as my underboss, he was hardcore at my side for six months, but then he gravitated back to Augusto because I’m too boring. Now he just checks in on me and attends meetings in my stead.
When I look at my parents’ place and see Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa sitting at the kitchen island, going over paperwork, I tune into their channel and say, “How are my favorite people this morning?”
Smiles spread over their faces, and they look at the camera. “We’re good. Taking care of the finances,” Mom answers. “How are things at the fortress?”
“Busy as always. I’m checking on everyone before I update my firewalls.”
“That means you’re going to work yourself to death again.” I hear Dad’s voice before he appears on screen. He gives me a look of warning. “Don’t overdo it and remember to eat.”
“Healthy food,” Grandma adds. “Not just candy and snacks.”
“When do I ever live only off junk?” I gasp.
Grandpa lets out a chuckle. “Just every damn day.”
“Do you want me to come over and help?” Dad asks while he begins to make coffee.
“Nah, it’s just the usual process. Nothing major. I’ll get it done in a couple of days.”
“Good. Then you won’t be too busy to come for lunch on Sunday,” Mom says.
Grinning, I chuckle. “Wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world. See you all Sunday.”
“Love you,” they all call out at the same time.
“Not half as much as I love you,” I reply before cutting communication.
I grab another baby carrot, and crunching down on it, I make sure the rest of my loved ones are safe before bringing up the cameras in Enzo’s apartment. I always leave him for last in case I get lost in staring at him.
Today, I’m in time to see him working out in his private gym.
Holy, abs.
The carrot is forgotten in my hand as I watch him bench press the crap out of the weights, sweat glistening all over his gloriously hot body. The way his abs contract, the muscles curved hard into his skin, practically makes me drool.