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)
Uneasy standing in the room where she’d fought on her own.
She tilted her head back as she looked at the soot and fire damage that went all the way to the ceiling. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice me staring at her in the doorway. Her throat shifted when she swallowed. Her eyes trailed back down again and she turned toward the doorway, but when she realized I was there, she gave a jolt in surprise. “Cristo…” She released a quiet gasp before her hand went to her chest.
I continued to lean against the doorframe. “Looking for something?”
“No. I just…” Her eyes went back to the soot marks. “I don’t know… I thought it would help.”
She’d had a couple nightmares, but she hadn’t spoken of it since. I’d assumed she was moving past it. “Don’t underestimate yourself, baby.”
She turned her head to look at me again.
“They came here for you—but you fucking annihilated them.”
Her eyes flicked away like she couldn’t take the compliment. “I was so fucking scared.”
“Which makes it even more impressive. People panic and lose all sense of direction, but you continued to load and shoot.” I respected Don Mancini for a lot of reasons, but I respected him the most for how he’d raised his daughter. Trained her for military combat so well that she was able to do what she needed to do without having to think about it. It was instinct. “And when you didn’t have a gun, you cut them open.”
“Only because of what you taught me.”
“That’s my job,” I said proudly. “And I’m going to keep teaching you everything I know.”
“Sometimes I wonder if I’m cut out for this.” She stared at the wall again.
I studied the side of her face, watched her fall into consternation. “I think so.”
She turned to look at me again, and this time, she turned her entire body toward me. Her eyes were full of hesitation and trepidation. She’d been so calm and confident when I’d met her, but she seemed to have lost herself momentarily.
“Remember.” I stepped toward her and entered the office, drawing closer while she didn’t move away. She didn’t seem to care if anyone walked by and saw us together because she let me wrap my arm around the small of her back and slide my hand into her hair. “Remember exactly who the fuck you are, Francesca Mancini.”
Her eyes flicked away momentarily, and the corner of her mouth lifted in a pained smile. “That I’m a tough bitch.”
“Tough. Fucking. Bitch.” I brought her face close to mine, our foreheads almost touching as I stared into her brilliant green eyes. “With a man who will go scorched earth for her.”
The day was almost over when I got a text from Santino, whom I hadn’t heard from in weeks.
Can you meet up?
For what reason?
Need to talk to you about something.
I read the message a couple more times, standing outside the winery because I was about to head to my Range Rover in the parking lot. My mind worked furiously to connect dots that weren’t even on the page. Then a smirk moved over my lips. Or you just need something from me.
I’ll meet you at Florio at seven.
I’m not going to drive three hours when you’re the one who needs a favor. Meet me in Caltanissetta if you want to talk.
Fine.
I knew Francesca was at one of the many funerals with her father. I felt bad for texting her when she was probably seated on a pew in a church, but I wanted to give her a heads-up about my plans. Didn’t want her to make dinner for me when I wouldn’t be home to eat it. I’ve gotta meet an old friend for dinner tonight in Caltanissetta. Probably won’t be home until after nine. Then I shared my location with her, realizing I hadn’t already done it. That way, if she ever wanted to know where I was or if I was on my way home, she could just check my location.
Her three little dots popped up and then her message. Thanks for letting me know, babe.
The biggest fucking grin stretched across my face when I read that. “Babe.” She didn’t say it a lot, but when she did, it turned me the fuck on. A possessive endearment. I was frustrated she hadn’t come clean to her dad, but I knew her hesitation had nothing to do with the way she felt about me.
I got to the restaurant first and ordered a stiff drink while I waited for Santino.
I noticed that Francesca had started to share her location with me, reciprocating my gesture of transparency.
We were in deep now.
There was nothing her father could do or say to put a stop to this relationship. He could try to kill me, but that wouldn’t work out so well for him. And he knew full well that I wasn’t the kind of man he wanted as an enemy.