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)
“How do you look at it?”
I shake my head. “Can we talk about anything else, please?”
“Okay.” His dark gaze searches my face, then he says, “Tell me about your happiest memory.”
“Oh, that’s easy.” A smile tugs at my mouth. “Sunday mornings when my dad was still alive. I’d wake up to the smell of bacon and eggs. We always had breakfast together on Sundays and spoke about what had happened the past week.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. I was told he died recently?”
I nod, sadness welling in my chest. With everything that’s happened, it’s overshadowed Dad’s death. “He had a heart attack almost two months ago. It was a huge shock to us.”
Leo reaches across the round table and gives my hand a squeeze. “You haven’t even had time to mourn.”
“No, I haven’t.”
His eyes fill with guilt. “I’m sorry, Haven. Just tell me if there’s anything I can do to make things easier for you.”
“Seeing as freedom is off the table, getting my mom a place of her own is number one on my list.”
I can see he means it when he replies, “I’ll make it a priority.”
I enjoy another sip of wine, then say, “Tell me about your childhood.”
Leo’s face grows somber, and it looks like his thoughts drift off for a moment before he says, “My father was a cruel man.” He lets out a sad-sounding chuckle, and it makes me want to hug him. “Honestly, I’m a ray of sunshine compared to him. He loved to beat us when he was stressed out.”
“Why didn’t your Mom leave him?”
“There’s no such thing as divorce in the mafia. A wife overhears things she shouldn’t, so there’s no walking away.”
Compassion fills my heart. “I’m sorry.”
He taps his fingers on the white cloth, then glances over at where the musicians are playing. “It wasn’t all bad. I had a best friend. His family and home were my safe place.”
“Massimo?”
Leo shakes his head, then intense sorrow tightens his features. “No.” When he lifts his eyes to meet mine, I can’t hold back and reach for his hand. Our fingers intertwine, then he whispers, “I don’t talk about them. It hurts too much.”
“I understand,” I whisper, rubbing my thumb over his skin. “But I’m here if you ever change your mind and you want to talk about what happened.”
He nods, his eyes flicking to the server as she pushes a cart toward the table. “Enough with the heavy subjects. Let’s enjoy the meal and keep the topics lighthearted.”
“It’s a deal.”
Pulling my hand away from Leo’s, I stare at him while the server places the plates in front of us.
If things continue like this between us, I know without a doubt it’s only a matter of time before I learn to love him.
Chapter 19
LEO
While we enjoy the linguine with lobster risotto, I ask, “Have you told your best friend about us?”
Haven shakes her head. “No. I don’t want to put her in danger.”
“I won’t hurt her, and if she ever visits you, I’ll make sure she’s protected.”
“Kristen will lose her everloving mind if she finds out I married the head of the Italian mafia.”
“Because I’m a criminal?”
Haven lets out a chuckle. “No. Weirdly enough, I think she might actually be okay with that.” She shakes her head, then asks, “So, besides killing people, what other laws do you break on a daily basis?”
I let out a bark of laughter, loving her humor. “I create false information and situations.” When she gives me a confused look, I explain, “If there are two politicians in the run for the same position, I’ll bury the rival in scandals.”
“Ohhhh. Have you ever done that to someone I might have heard of?”
I nod. “I’ve helped presidents win elections.”
“Holy crap,” she gasps.
“It pays really well,” I chuckle.
With her full attention on me, she asks, “What else?”
“That’s all I deal in. I’m a part of an alliance with four other people whom you’ll meet at some point. If they ever encounter trouble, I’m bound by an oath to help them.”
“Then why is there so much killing?”
“I only kill when I’m betrayed or threatened. Luciano got one of my men killed while we were attacking a drug dealer operating in my territory.”
She lifts an eyebrow at me. “Do you deal in drugs?”
“No. I don’t shit where I eat.”
She lets out a burst of silent laughter. “Well, that’s one way of putting it.”
When the server comes to collect our empty plates, I ask, “Would you like more wine?”
Haven shakes her head. “Any more, and I’ll get drunk. I don’t drink alcohol often.”
“Hmm…” I narrow my eyes at her. “What are you like when you’re drunk?”
Smiling, she shakes her head. “Unless me hanging onto the side of a toilet does it for you, I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Noted.” Standing up, I move closer to her chair and pick up my jacket. “Put this on so we can go to the deck.”