Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Right? She looks amazing for someone who’s in her late fifties.”
Holy crap. I want all the secrets to her skincare routine.
The thought is fleeting and quickly drowned out by my anxiety.
When we’re closer to her, Adriano says, “This is Laurie.”
His mother’s eyes move over my clothes before settling on my face. “Hi, Laurie.” Her voice is so sweet-sounding, it’s hard to believe Adriano’s her son. “It’s nice to meet you.”
I don’t hear a hint of judgment or the usual rich people snobbery in her tone.
“Hi, Mrs. Rizzo,” I reply, and not knowing what else to say, I press my lips together and sway on the balls of my feet before starting to fidget with the hem of my sweater.
God, I feel like a teenager meeting a boyfriend’s parents for the first time.
A pretty smile curves her lips. “Don’t be nervous.” She glances between Adriano and me, then asks, “Has my son explained things nicely to you and made you feel right at home, or did he just throw you over his shoulder like a caveman and you have no idea what’s going on?”
A burst of laughter escapes me. “A little of both. He likes hauling me off my feet and tossing me around.”
She pins him with a scowl. “I told you not to traumatize her, and now I have to hear how you manhandle her?”
“Sorry, Ma. Some of it was unavoidable.”
“Right,” I mutter.
“You can call me Tori, sweetheart,” she says while taking hold of my hand and pulling me away from Adriano. “Come with me so we can talk without my son intimidating the crap out of you.”
“I want to introduce her to Dad,” Adriano calls out as she leads me to the back of the house.
“That can wait!” Tori replies. “The poor woman’s sanity comes first.”
I think I might just fall in love with her.
Chapter 17
Laurie
Feeling overwhelmed because Tori is actually showing an interest in me and seems to care about my well-being, I struggle to process the emotions it evokes in me.
We come to a stop at a lovely wrought-iron garden set with cute flower-pattern cushions.
“Sit down,” she instructs me while glancing at the house and asking, “Gia, be a dear and bring us some of the lemonade you made.”
Remembering Adriano told me about Gia, I glance over my shoulder and see a woman standing by the back door. She seems to be in her mid-thirties, and gives me a curious look before nodding and disappearing into the kitchen.
Tori sets the basket of roses down on the table, and as we take a seat, she gives me a comforting smile.
“I’m going to get right down to business.”
Oh no. Here we go.
“I was in your shoes once, the only difference was that I knew who I was marrying and about the Cosa Nostra.” She reaches across the table and gives my shoulder a squeeze. “I can only imagine how overwhelmed you must feel right now, but I want you to know you are safe with us. No one on this property is going to hurt you. Okay?”
Hearing the truth in her words means a hell of a lot to me, and I exhale a relieved breath.
“Thank you.”
She shakes her head. “No need to thank me, Laurie.” Her eyes are a lighter shade of brown than Adriano’s, and as they study me, she asks, “I heard there was a shooting at the church. How are you holding up?”
I lean back in the chair and answer honestly, “I don’t know if I’m coming or going. It’s been a very weird, intense day.”
“Of course.” She scoots her chair closer so she can place her hand on my forearm, her touch so comforting, it eases some of the tension coiling inside me. “If you need to talk about any of it, I’m here, and if you have any questions, just ask.”
I stare at Tori for a long moment, trying to gauge if I can really trust her.
I don’t know what she sees on my face, but it has her scooting even closer and pulling me into a hug. “I know, sweetheart. It’s difficult right now, but I promise things will get better.”
Then she cradles me like I’ve never been cradled before, her palm brushing softly over my hair, and something just snaps.
Being neglected my entire life, it all crashes into me while I’m being held by a woman I’ve known for all but two minutes.
When the first sob sputters from me, the rest follow hot and fast, and before I know it, I’m ugly crying my heart out in her arms.
Not because of today, but because this perfect stranger is showing me more care in a matter of mere minutes than my own mother has shown me my entire life.
Without realizing I’m talking out loud, I whisper, “Please let this be real.”
“What do you mean, sweetheart?” Tori pulls back and uses her thumbs to wipe my cheeks dry.