Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Mason dropped his head, shaking it in sorrow. “Why didn’t you take her to the galleries, Roman? I knew she’d be safe with you. You have no appeal to most people.”
Roman threw back his head in amusement, and I grinned. It was true. Unless he wanted you to like him, Roman couldn’t give a shit about your opinion. He’d had zero interest in playing babysitter for Mason, and by turning the job over to Luca, he had set them on their path.
Roman approached Luca, holding out his hand. “Congratulations, big brother.” He smiled kindly at Justine. “Welcome to the family.” He looked nonplussed as she hugged him. He wasn’t used to people touching him, but he accepted it, albeit awkwardly.
Mason sighed. “We need to talk.” He looked at Justine. “Alone.”
Luca bristled, but Justine nodded. “It’s fine. We’ll go to the suite.”
Roman smiled, his expression neutral. “Aldo will escort you.”
I knew he wanted me outside the door in case there was trouble. Mason didn’t refuse—he didn’t dare.
Roman turned to Luca. “It will give us a chance to talk as well.”
I had a feeling more shouting would happen before the talking, but I opened the door and let Mason walk out ahead of me. Justine paused and lifted herself up on her toes to kiss Luca. “See you soon.”
“I’m here if you need me.”
She smiled at him so widely, even I felt her affection. “I know.”
Luca appeared about half an hour later, striding down the hall. He was upright and I didn’t see any marks on him, so I assumed he and Roman had been actually talking, not trading fisticuffs. He paused. “All okay in there?” He indicated the closed door I had been guarding.
I nodded. “There were raised voices a couple of times, but nothing drastic.” I had to grin. “Your woman wasn’t taking any BS from her brother. She is feisty.”
“She is incredible,” he agreed. “So intelligent and curious. Her brother and father have no idea of the woman they’ve been keeping wrapped up. They’re so busy trying to shield her, they’re taking away her spirit.” He shook his head. “She’s very close to her mother and aunt and her female cousins. And she has several friends. She’ll miss them, but she wants to be here with me. She’ll give all that up to be with me, even knowing everything I’m involved with. I plan on letting her fly. I want to watch her soar. I think it will be incredible to watch.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “Congratulations.” I paused. “Roman handling it all right?”
He smiled. “He’s fine. He’s over the shock. Once I deal with Mason, I’m taking her to meet Nonna. I think she’ll love her.”
I held out my hand. “I wish you all the best.”
He smiled and shook my proffered palm. “Thanks, Aldo.”
“Do you want me to stay?”
“No. I’ll deal with Mason now. He loves Justine, and he wouldn’t do anything stupid.”
I slid my hand into my pocket and handed Luca the bullets I’d insisted Mason remove from his gun. “A little extra insurance.”
He laughed and put them in his pocket. “I’m certain Justine has worked her magic by now, but thanks.”
He went inside, and I headed up to Roman. He was at his desk, another glass of scotch at his elbow. I met his eyes and took a fresh glass, pouring a splash into the tumbler and taking a sip.
“Well, that was interesting.”
He sat back. “I’m still processing.” He shook his head. “Luca. Level-headed, always in control, never settling down, Luca. Married. To a woman he has known for an instant.”
“Stranger things have happened.”
“I’m aware.” He took a sip of scotch. “He says the day he picked her up from the spa, they went for dinner at Maple II, and she got a little drunk and started talking about everything. Her life. Her family. She told him when she was sixteen, she was grabbed off the street on the way home from school. She was smart and managed to get away, but after that, her father and brother were relentless with security. Even when they found the people involved, they never let up. She’s been chafing at the bit to get away. I asked him if he was sure she didn’t see him as the escape, but he says no. And he is in love. Fuck, is he in love.” He shook his head. “I have never heard him talk about someone the way he talks about her. She fascinates him. He admitted they haven’t been apart since that night. He never wants to be without her again.”
“So, what happens now?”
“He’s going with her to meet her parents and face the music. I hope it doesn’t start something, not that we’re connected that tightly. Her family is small potatoes compared to us. But he is determined to go with her, bring back her things, and start a life with her. He wants to get married here, so I told him to get with Judith, our event coordinator, and figure it out. I’ll give her a heads-up that he gets priority. He wants it soon.” He sighed and scrubbed his face. “I may have to go to Ottawa to help.”