Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Anything.”
“Can I have coffee?”
“On it,” he murmurs before darting back into the kitchen.
Angelo lets out a chuckle. “You have everyone wrapped around your little finger.”
I let go of Tiny’s hand and lean back against Angelo’s chest as I ask, “How do you feel, Tiny?”
“I’m fine,” he mutters. “I’m more worried about you.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“Sit on a couch, Tiny,” Angelo orders. “What did the doctor say?”
“I’m good to go,” Tiny replies while moving to the couch closest to me. “He said I can eat what I want.”
“Sure, he did,” Angelo mutters as his arms tighten around me. He glances down and stares at me for a moment. “The two of you aren’t allowed to leave the house for the next week.”
A smile tugs at my mouth. “You’re grounding us?”
“Yes.” His eyes are still filled with worry.
Rita comes into the living room and hands me a plate. Seeing the cream cheese slathered on the toast, I smile at her. “Thank you.”
A moment later, Big Ricky brings me a steaming cup of coffee.
“I feel spoiled,” I murmur as I bite into the toast.
“We were so worried,” Rita says as she hovers near the coffee table.
I swallow hard on the toast and take a sip of coffee as I glance at the people who’ve become my family.
With a quivering voice, I whisper, “You’re all going to make me cry.”
“Why?” Angelo asks, concern forming a frown on his forehead.
“Because I feel loved.”
He takes hold of my chin, and when I meet his eyes, he says, “You are loved, baby.”
“Everyone out,” Big Ricky orders.
Tiny obeys with a grumble, and I hear him ask Rita, “What’s for lunch?”
I don’t hear her reply, my focus entirely on Angelo.
He tilts his head, then murmurs, “What’s that look for?”
I shake my head and take another bite of the toast. When I swallow it down, Angelo tips my face up so I’ll look at him.
“Use your words.”
My lips curve up, and heat spreads up my neck as I say, “You’re loved too.”
His eyebrows draw together, and I watch as he realizes what I’m trying to say, then the corner of his mouth lifts in a hot grin. “Yeah?”
I set the cup and plate down on the coffee table before I straddle his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. I take a deep breath and meet his intense gaze.
“Yesterday, when I thought I lost you, it broke my heart.”
Angelo lifts a hand to the side of my neck and brushes his thumb over my skin.
I lean closer and press a soft kiss to his mouth, and when I pull back an inch, I admit, “It felt like my world came crashing down around me.”
He lets out a slow breath before saying, “You can never lose me, mia piccola cerviatta.” Closing the small distance, he gives me a kiss, then his eyes lock with mine again. “I love you so fucking much, Vittoria. Nothing, and I mean nothing on this godforsaken planet, will ever keep me away from you.” He kisses me again. “You’re ingrained into my heart and soul.” Another kiss. “Christ, I fucking love you.”
My lips curve into a smile against his, and I let out a happy chuckle.
Hearing how much I mean to him erases the tainted darkness that’s been surrounding me like a heavy cloak. I know it will take time for me to work through all the trauma, but right now, I feel blessed.
I feel happy.
I feel incredibly loved.
Angelo loves me.
Chapter 36
Angelo
It’s been a long day, and I feel so fucking agitated I could kill someone.
I’m staring blankly at the TV screen, not really watching the movie as I sip on a tumbler of whiskey. Suddenly, my phone starts to vibrate, and letting out a sigh, I pull the device out of my pocket.
“Rizzo,” I mutter.
“It’s Eddie. I thought I’d let you know Giorgio’s running another tab in the casino. It’s already sitting at eighty thousand. Do you want me to cut him off?”
Unreasonable anger flares through my chest as I growl, “I’ll handle it.”
“He’s also been harassing the strippers and bragging about being your brother-in-law,” Eddie adds fuel to the fire.
I should’ve killed the fucker already.
Ending the call, I down the rest of the whiskey before I get up and walk to the bedroom so I can change out of the sweatpants.
The fucker seriously has a death wish, and I’m done playing with him.
When I’ve changed into a suit, I tuck my gun into the waistband of my pants as I head back to the living room.
Vittoria is lying on one of the couches, and Tiny is sitting by her feet. He probably moved closer to her the moment I got up.
They’re busy watching a romantic comedy while Rita keeps bringing them food and drinks.
Vittoria’s eyes flit to me as I lean over her. Pressing a kiss to her mouth, I say, “I’m just heading out for an hour. I won’t be long.”