Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
He reaches into the pocket of his leather jacket. My mouth goes dry at the sight of a black velvet box. “Luca …”
“Me.”
The single word has tears stinging my eyes, and my chest tightens. I wanted this for so long. For him to love me and want me. But it’s a lie, and I won’t live a life based on a lie. Not with him. Not for anyone.
“This is your favorite place.” He gestures to the rock wall. I used to love to climb it before jumping into the pool. “This is where I first kissed you. Where I first told you I loved you.” I flinch at those words. Just more lies. “Where I first fucked you …”
“I get it!” I snap, pushing to my feet, and take a step back from him. He rises too and grips the box in his hand. My face tells him all he needs to know, and he is not pleased.
“I won’t marry you.” I shake my head, forcing my lips to say the words out loud no matter how much it hurts my heart. He’s all I’ve ever wanted.
“This isn’t up for debate,” he growls.
My head is spinning. I can’t understand why he is here. Why he all of a sudden wants me. And to be his wife of all things. “Luca …”
“Do you know what I had to do to make this happen?”
My fear quickly turns to anger. What he had to do? “Don’t try to make this sound like you want me,” I snap. “This is only to benefit you in some way.”
“Haven …”
“Or you would have married me two years ago …” Tears sting my eyes.
“That was a long time ago,” he says through gritted teeth.
“It still happened.” I throw my arms out wide. “Right here in this very spot.”
“Yes, and I regret it,” he snaps.
My chest tightens at his words, and the first tear falls. His narrowed eyes soften, and he runs a hand through his dark hair, the action opening his leather jacket and showing me the black grip of his gun. My eyes go to his when he releases a sigh.
“I didn’t mean that.”
I swallow around the massive lump in my throat and try to control my breathing and calm my racing heart. I don’t want to show him how much his words hurt me. I gave up on us a long time ago. But every time I finally felt ready to move on, he’d enter my life, and I’d fall back into his trap like the weak woman I am.
I hate it.
I hate myself.
“No, for once, you said exactly how you feel.” I sniff, running my hands down my face to erase the tears, and then I square my shoulders. “You don’t have to pretend you want to be with me. Don’t do me any favors.” I turn, giving him my back, and return to the house. He follows me, but he remains silent.
Entering the back door, I make sure to slam it shut in his face. I hear him let out a curse before it’s ripped open. I don’t stop. Instead, I pick up my pace until I’m running down the hallway to the front of the house and take a right. I pass the guest bathroom and game room before I enter my room and gasp.
My entire Louis Vuitton luggage set sits on the floor at the foot of my bed along with my purse and backpack. “What the …?” I spin around to see Luca leaning against my doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest and eyes on mine. He watches me with a look of annoyance. Like he has somewhere to be, and I’m keeping him against his will. That tightness returns to my chest, and I shake my head as those damn tears begin to sting my eyes once again. “No.” That’s all I can say.
He pushes off the doorframe and walks over to me. I want to back away, but I’m frozen where I stand. Cupping my tear-streaked cheek, he whispers, “You belong to me now, Haven. And it’s time to go home.”
LUCA
Two years ago
I sit on the rock wall, waiting for her to meet me. She told me she’d be here at eight, and it’s now almost nine. I pull the leather jacket tighter around my chest, trying to block out the cold. For some godforsaken reason, it started snowing in Las Vegas twenty minutes ago. And the fact that the sun has set doesn’t help.
Where the fuck is she?
At first, I was worried. I blew up her phone with calls and messages, but she ignored them all.
My teeth grind, and my fists clench. I’m Luca Bianchi, and I don’t wait for any woman.
Making up my mind, I jump down from the wall. Just as I take my first step, I see her brown hair blowing in the wind. She has the white ski jacket on that I bought her last year for Christmas before I went with her and her family on their trip to the Alps.