Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“Yeah, because your father is. . .” Rocco stopped and let out a chuckle, shaking his head. “I already told you we’re not like him.”
“Dom has women managing his businesses. Gio’s right hand is a woman. Rocco has women spies, for Christ’s sake,” Gabe stated, and my stomach coiled with unwarranted jealousy. “Just because Dad’s stuck in the old times when women did nothing but birth kids and cook doesn’t mean we’re all like that.”
“That’s what Adriano expects of me,” I whispered.
Neither of them had a readable expression when I looked at them. They looked like they didn’t know what to say and weren’t sure if they should even try to comfort me.
“How do you know?” Gabe asked, his voice low as if he was speaking to a child.
“He told me. He said he heard I was ‘submissive,’ whatever that means.” I looked over at Rocco, whose jaw twitched. “And he said he heard I’d make the perfect wife. He also said he wouldn’t allow me to take Aanya to live with us.” My voice broke on that last part.
“Oh, Norie.” Gabe sighed, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around me. I let myself be cocooned by him. He wasn’t a wall of muscle like Rocco or Dominic, but he was still much larger than me and made me feel safe. “I hate that you have to do this.”
“Yeah.” I sighed, pulling away. I needed to get out of this kitchen before I started crying over Aanya again. “I’m going to go change for the party.”
I didn’t say anything more after that. What could I say — that I may or may not have a way of getting out of this marriage by resorting to blackmail? God. I wished I could tell him. Gabe was less judgemental than Dom, though I knew if I told Dom, he’d have a fleet ready in an hour to protect me. I couldn’t rely on either of them, though, because it would make them complicit, and while I was pretty sure Dad wouldn’t hurt me, I couldn’t say the same about them. They had rules to adhere to. Even Gabe, who worked in finance, had somehow involved himself with organized crime. Dominic refused to talk about it.
Whenever Dominic talked about it, he got upset. It was understandable since he sacrificed a lot for Gabriel to attend college. Gabe was the type of guy parents wanted their daughter to bring home. Meanwhile, Dominic was the broody, tattooed bad boy. Well, former bad boy. A perpetual smile had replaced his permanent grouch since he'd gotten with Rosie.
When I arrived at the room I'd been assigned to, I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. I usually didn't stay the night since my parent's estate, where Aanya lived, was only a fifteen-minute drive from here. Despite theirs being a magazine-worthy estate, I preferred this house. It was still a mansion, but somehow Rosie and Dominic had made it feel warm and cozy, like a home. Loud laughter woke me. My eyes popped open as I sat on my elbows and looked around. It was dark out now. I must have overslept. I reached for my phone and noticed two missed calls and a text. The text was from Emma, Cat’s sister, who I hadn’t seen yet. She lived in Florida now but flew up pretty often — the perk of having a boyfriend who could fly planes.
Emmaline: I’m here and want to see you! Rosie said you were taking a nap. COME PARTY WITH US. when you’re ready!
Me: be there soon
I tossed my phone down and stood up, following the sound of the voice I thought I heard earlier. It was coming from the balcony. Unsure of who or what to expect, I held my breath as I walked closer to the french doors.
“Nah, I’ll be there,” he said.
Rocco. The voice on the balcony was Rocco. I moved the curtain aside. He was standing on the right side of the large balcony connecting these two rooms. I vaguely remembered coming out here last time and saying it reminded me of Romeo and Juliet. My pulse raced. Was he staying next door? I wondered if he’d be alone or have a roommate. The house was huge, but they had more friends than rooms, so a roommate was possible. I pressed myself against the glass to get a better look at him. He had something in his hand. A cigarette, maybe? I didn’t even know he smoked.
He laughed again, and I wondered who he was talking to. A woman? I pushed the thought away immediately, but that thought made me unlock the door. At the sound of it, he stood up straight, told the person he’d call them back later, and dropped the phone on the cushioned chair next to him. When I opened the door fully, his stance was wide, as if he was ready for a fight. He was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. I assumed his hair was wet and slicked back from a shower, and those piercing blue eyes were burning into me. The balcony smelled like weed.