Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 43928 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43928 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
"Jesus," he mutters.
"Do you want me to tell you that I regret marrying her or that I never should have done it? What is it you want to hear, Coda?"
That'd be a lie too, and I'm not going to fucking lie about it. Not to him. Not to Rafe. Not to anyone. If I die for what I did, I'll die for the truth.
"I saw the way you looked at her that night, Mattia," Coda says quietly. "I saw it again last night. We both know that isn't why you married her. We both know you don't regret it. You're in love with her."
"Yeah, I am." I blow out a breath, not denying it. Why would I? In three days, she's become the reason I breathe. Nothing matters without her. Fucking nothing. "I plan to tell him everything. I'll leave your name out of it, but I'm not going to lie to him."
Coda is quiet for a moment. "I never cared if he knew I was involved, Mattia. That's not why I'm calling. My orders are to protect this family, no matter what. I did that when I helped you rescue her. I did it again when I signed my name on your marriage license. She's safer with you than she will be with anyone else because you love her. You'll protect her above anyone and anything. It's who you are. Once Rafe calms down, he'll realize it, too."
"She's his sister."
"And she's your wife. Sounds to me like you're both going to want to protect the same woman. You do the math," he says.
I shove a hand through my hair. He makes it sound so fucking easy, but we both know it's not. Our path is littered with pitfalls. I married the Capo's sister without even telling him that she existed. And I did it without giving her a choice. It doesn't matter why I did it. Any way you slice it, he's going to be pissed.
I don't regret a single fucking thing I did. I don't regret a single moment with her. But Rafe…well, convincing him to see the light has never been particularly easy. He's a stubborn bastard with his own moral code. And in Rafe's world, women are untouchable. Coda knows that. Everyone knows it. I didn't just touch one. I drugged her and forced her to marry me. He's going to lose his fucking mind.
"Why are you calling, Coda?"
"Her mother," he says. "I think I may know where she is."
Chapter Ten
Aurelia
Ahint of acrid smoke wafts through the air as I slip into the bedroom, eager to shower with Mattia. I missed him all day. Being by myself was strange after spending so long under constant guard, but I didn't hate it. I simply missed my husband. His commanding presence and those steely gray eyes comfort me in ways nothing ever has before now.
He's my peace, my safety. Ironic that I'd find it in the one place I've been terrified of going for the last two months—my brothers' inner circle. But Mattia gives me hope that I've never had.
In his arms, I don't feel like I'm drowning. For once, I feel like maybe, just maybe, there is a way out of this for all of us.
I didn't realize how badly I needed that until he gave it to me last night. I've been so afraid to tell anyone, so convinced that no one would believe me and that there was no way this ended without blood and pain, that I stopped hoping there was a way out.
Today is the first time, I feel like maybe I'm not going to lose everything. Maybe we can save my mom. Maybe my brothers won't hate me. Maybe, just maybe, Mattia is the answer to every desperate prayer I've spoken since Brio invaded my life and turned it into a waking nightmare.
As I approach the bathroom, I hear his voice murmuring from inside.
Is he on the phone?
"Jesus Christ, Coda," he mutters.
I pause outside the door, not wanting to interrupt his conversation. Truthfully, Coda scares me a little bit. I've never met anyone as big or formidable as him. He kept watching me last night as if he was trying to figure me out. He didn't look angry. Just…quietly intense. He's a hard man to read.
"What do you want me to say?" Mattia growls suddenly, startling me. "That I fucking married her to protect the family?"
My heart slams against my ribcage. They're talking about me—about why he married me.
"That I did what I had to do just like I always do?" he asks. "That I'm a fucking heartless asshole for it? You already knew that."
I stand there, frozen, my hands trembling as his harsh words twist through me. They're a betrayal, crushing me. He told me that he married me to protect me. But he didn't, did he?