Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
A feral look enters his eyes as he snatches his hand away, laughing huskily.
“You really are driving me insane, Dreamer. I can’t even function around you.”
“Is there anything I can do?” I whimper, even as nervousness tries to force the sentence back down my throat.
He smirks. “Yeah, there are lots of things you could do. But I thought you weren’t ready?”
“For… sex,” I say, somehow pushing the word out even as anxiety courses through me. “But I want to help you, Dom. I want to be there for you. Like you were there for me, you know, in the bathroom.”
His smirk widens, his gaze fixated on me and me alone, as though nothing else matters, just me and him and Lucky, just this room, just this moment.
“Maybe I’ll take you up on that,” he growls deeply. “But eat your dinner first. I want you to keep your strength up. For our children… our five children.”
My cheeks blossom with a fresh flush, spreading through me, down my body, and dancing around my sex, screaming at me to give this hulking man what he wants, when he wants it, however, he wants it.
But what if I make a fool of myself? What if he’s disappointed?
“Let’s take a walk after dinner,” he says, looking into me with that soul-shivering attentiveness. “We’ll—”
He cuts off when his cell phone blares from his pocket, a dark look coming across his face.
We will what?
Find somewhere quiet to make love?
Tell each other I love you?
Make even more plans for the future?
But whatever he was going to say is rudely cut off with his blaring cell phone.
“I wish I could ignore this,” he growls. “But it’s the nature of my work. I’m sorry, Dreamer.”
“It’s okay,” I say quickly. “I understand.”
I remember all he’s told me about the Bratva, how he’s turned it from an illegal criminal organization into something good, into something that has a positive effect on the city.
He sighs deeply and takes out his cell phone, answering it and holding it to his ear.
“Brother,” he says, and then nods. “Yes, I understand. No, you were right to call me.”
He hangs up, replacing his phone in his pocket, his jaw tight.
“That was Kesha,” he says. “It looks like I’ll need to return to the city after dinner. I wish I could tell him to go fuck himself, but if I don’t go…”
“Innocent people may get hurt?” I finish for him.
“Exactly,” he says gruffly. “You’re a fast learner, eh? But it’s not just lives that are at stake. Its money too. I know that makes me sound cold, but money means more to me since we met.”
“Why?” I murmur, my heart flurrying.
“Because it’s our future. It’s your dog sanctuary. It’s our kids’ college funds.”
“I understand,” I say, my chest going tight with emotion. “It’s okay, Dom. Do what you need to do.”
He nods. “Always. It’s part of being the boss.”
Chapter Fifteen
Dominik
“Fucking Luca,” I snarl as Kesha pulls up outside the club.
The sun is beginning to set and my body pulses with fatigue, but more than that, my need to return to Daniella barrels through me. After everything we shared during our date – telling each other about our pasts, our childhoods – all I wanted was to spend the rest of the evening with her.
All I wanted was to learn as much about her as I humanly can.
But instead, I’m here, getting ready to meet with Flavio’s consigliere.
Kesha nods from beside me. “I know. But he said if we were going to meet, he didn’t want to wait.”
I sigh darkly. “I understand. It’s just…”
“Just what?” Kesha glances at me, his eyes seeming more perceptive behind in his horn rimmed glasses. “What’s going on with you, brother?”
“Nothing,” I grunt.
“You seem different,” he notes. “Don’t worry about this shit with the Italians. We’ll work it out. We always do. But it does make a nice change.”
“A nice change?”
He grins, looking like the little kid who used to follow me around wherever I went, always hanging off my arm, eager to be involved in whatever I was doing.
“I’m normally the worrier.”
I grunt. “Yeah, that’s the fucking truth. It’s just—I’ve found a woman, kid. I’ve found a woman and I’d much rather be at home with her than here.”
“At home… Wait, are you talking about the veterinary assistant?”
“Yes, I am,” I say firmly. “Her name is Daniella and she’s going to be the mother of your nieces and nephews one day.”
Kesha’s mouth falls open. “That was fast.”
I laugh drily, glancing across the street at the club’s entrance. It’s bordered up, as arranged, and we’re waiting for our signal to enter. Luca’s going to have a car down the street flash its high beams at us.
If this is a trap, he’s signed his death warrant.
I’ve got Bratva and mercenary men all over the surrounding buildings, ready to snap into action if they try anything, rifles aimed at the streets below.