Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“The idiot’s loss is my gain.”
I swallow the creamy pasta, then level Leo with a glare. “He might be an idiot, but at least he’s not threatening to kill me and my family.”
“Your family didn’t cost him the life of one of his men,” Leo replies, his tone dark again. When my gaze flits to his, he continues, “Finish your food. I have to go to pay my respects to his widow and have two other men in the hospital to check on.”
My heart squeezes in my chest, and my first instinct is to offer my condolences, but instead, I keep my mouth shut and focus on eating so I can return to my bedroom.
With a bit of luck, I won’t have to interact with Leo for the rest of the day.
Chapter 6
LEO
What the fuck am I doing?
I keep asking myself that question the entire drive to Klodian’s house, where Massimo is waiting for me.
Every second I spend with Haven makes me feel more and more aggravated because I have no idea what it is about the woman that made me take her.
She’s right. I’m fucking insane.
Sure, Haven is breathtakingly beautiful, but that’s no reason to force her to marry me.
Gesù Cristo, am I really going to go through with the wedding?
What if we can’t learn to get along, and she drives me up the wall? Fuck, I really don’t want to tie myself to a woman who’s going to make my life miserable.
The memory of when I pinned her to me in the kitchen flashes through my mind.
Every time I touch her, the urge to grab onto her and not let go surges through me.
What the fuck is it about Haven that has me doing things that are entirely out of character for me?
When I saw her cowering beside her mother in Nicolo’s house, the words that I’m taking her left my mouth before I could even process the thought.
I almost shot Mattia because he backhanded her.
And now you’re holding her prisoner.
Fuck, I’m never going to know a moment's peace in my own home again.
I bring my Porsche to a stop in front of Klodian’s house, and it pulls me out of my thoughts. When I get out of the vehicle, I can hear Carlotta weeping, and it makes my heart clench in my chest.
Sucking in a deep breath, I walk to the front door and let myself in. Carlotta glances over her shoulder from where she’s standing in Maurilio’s embrace. Massimo is sitting on a couch, looking exhausted as fuck.
Giving her a remorseful look, I walk closer and place my hand on her shoulder. “I’m so fucking sorry, Carlotta.”
Lost sobs shudder from her, her eyes swollen red and drowning in sorrow.
I tilt my head and promise, “I’ll always make sure you lack for nothing. You have my word that we’ll all take care of you.”
She begins to sob uncontrollably again, and it has Maurilio holding her tight in an attempt to comfort her.
Locking eyes with him, I ask, “Will you stay with her for a few days?”
He nods while rubbing his hand up and down her back. “I’ll help make the arrangements for the funeral.”
Carlotta lets out a wail, and her legs give out beneath her. Luckily, Maurilio has a tight hold on her. He moves her to a couch and helps her to take a seat.
The sight of Klodian’s widow crying her heart out isn’t easy to watch, and it makes the need for vengeance surge through me.
My eyes flick to Massimo. “Any word on whether Luciano survived?”
“He’s still alive,” my right-hand man mutters as he stands up.
“Cazzo,” I snap while I turn around and walk out of the house. I should’ve made sure I killed the fucker instead of getting distracted by Haven.
I fucked up today.
Massimo joins me in the front yard, and giving me a confused look, he asks, “What are you doing, Leo? Why did you take the girl?”
“Woman,” I correct him. “She’s twenty-three.”
“Seriously?” he snaps at me. “What the fuck is going on with you?”
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I shake my head. “I have no fucking idea.”
“Why did you take her?”
I shrug as I meet his eyes and give him the only answer I have. “I can’t place my finger on it, but there’s something about her that draws me in like a moth to a fucking flame.”
Massimo lets out a sigh, his gaze boring into mine. “Are you really going to marry her?”
I intend to say no, but it’s not the word that leaves my mouth. “Yes.”
“Gesù Cristo, Leo. Are you fucking with me right now?”
Turning away from my right-hand man, I head to my car. “I’m going to check on Raffaele and Andrea.”
“They’re fine. I’ve already checked on them. They’ll be back at work in a week,” he informs me. I hear his footsteps behind me, and as I open the car door, his hand grips my shoulder. “Leo, talk to me.”