Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Leo crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the surface of the table for a moment before he gave a nod. “Yeah, he is.”
Even Elio seemed to agree. “He could have let Umberto go, but he hunted him down and finished the job. The other gangs fear us because he’s one of us.”
“Took a while for me to warm up to him,” Andre said. “But you’re right. He’s done a lot for us, a lot more than anyone else, and I think he’s earned our trust at this point.”
Even though my father hadn’t finished his previous cigar before he put it out, he lit up a new one. “He still didn’t tell me what Cosa Nostra did to make him leave their employ, but he did say they reversed whatever it was. But too little, too late, I guess.” He put the cigar in his mouth and lit the tip as he sucked on the end, getting it going like a campfire. “Their stupidity has resulted in our good fortune.”
I felt a surge of relief when I listened to my father defend Wolfe’s good character. After months of proving himself, Wolfe had finally earned the trust of everyone here. He really had busted his ass for this family, put his life on the line and cleaned up the bloody mess from our enemies. He’d kept my father and brother alive when they’d been outmaneuvered by Luigi Lombardi. He’d definitely earned it—and I felt a sense of pride.
“There’s a storm coming on the horizon,” my father said ominously. “I don’t know if it’ll be a lightning storm or a rainstorm… a blizzard or a tornado or volcanic eruption. But something is on the horizon, and we need to be ready for when it hits the shore.”
Dinner was ready, but Wolfe still hadn’t shown up.
We hadn’t actually talked yet today, but I assumed he would be there because he always came over unless otherwise stated. He hadn’t reached out and I didn’t want to text him and be clingy, but I also started to worry.
The anxiety finally got to me, so I texted him. I just want to know you’re okay.
The three dots didn’t pop up right away like they normally did.
Now I really started to panic. He was always responsive. I wasn’t worried he’d lost interest or decided to ghost me. I was worried he was bleeding by the side of the road. I wasn’t sure what to do. If I should call or text again. I decided to call.
It rang once before he answered. “Let me call you back.” Click. He hung up before I had the chance to say anything, and he didn’t call me baby. His tone was totally different too, abrasive and hard, like I was one of the guys instead of his woman.
Maybe he wasn’t alone, and he didn’t want anyone to hear my voice.
I remembered he shared his location with me, so I checked his name and saw he was still near Port Gela. That was where the customs office was located, so maybe something had gone sideways.
It was about twenty minutes later when he texted me. It’s been a fucking day. Be there in about an hour.
It’s okay, I can see you tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure you’re alright.
I want my baby.
I’d never been in a serious relationship before, but even without having a comparison, I knew this was different. I knew men weren’t this straightforward and transparent. It didn’t matter how busy he was—he always took my calls. It didn’t matter how tired he was—he always made time to see me.
This man had ruined me for all other men, physically, emotionally, romantically…
I set the oven on low and returned the food to keep it warm until he came home. He probably hadn’t had a chance to eat, so he would be starving when he walked in the door. I checked his location to see when he was close, and once he headed down the dirt road to my villa, I set the table and poured the wine so it would be ready when he walked in.
The front door opened and closed. “I’m home, baby.” He always announced himself when he walked in, like he was afraid he might scare me otherwise. He entered the room in a gray t-shirt and black jeans, hair tousled a bit like he’d been fidgeting with it in exhaustion. When his eyes reached mine, the clouds of fatigue started to dissipate as the sunlight broke through. A little grin moved over his handsome face. “Worth it.” He came to me, hooked his big arms around me, and pulled me close to kiss me.
I melted like a piece of chocolate on a warm tongue. Felt such an ease and a coziness whenever he walked in the door. The place had felt like home before Wolfe entered my life, but now whenever I was home alone, it felt like a strange place. It wasn’t complete without the sound of his footsteps on the stairs, without his body in my bed, without his clothes left on the back of the armchair.