Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” she says, a beautiful smile stretching over her face.
Getting up from my seat, I look to the front of the plane, and catching Raffaele’s eye, I signal for him to come to the back.
I sit down again, and when he joins us, I say, “You’ve always known Riccardo would become my underboss.”
He nods, folding his hands in front of me.
I gesture at Rosie, and it has her saying, “How do you feel about becoming my second-in-charge?”
The corner of his mouth lifts as he says, “I’d be honored, Rosie.”
She lets out a breath of relief and grins at him. “Oh, thank God. Now you can do all the dirty work.”
We all chuckle while Raffaele shakes Rosie’s hand, saying, “I won’t disappoint the La Rosa family.”
“Thank you for all you’ve done for me,” I tell him.
He pats my shoulder, giving me a grateful smile before he returns to his seat.
Rosie resumes working on her tablet, and while Georgi and Adriano talk about their clubs and restaurants, Christiano stares out the oval window beside him.
My thoughts turn to Yuki Tanaka and the shit that went down at the meeting.
When I spoke to her in the bedroom under Yutaro’s watchful eye, none of my words offered her any comfort. Instead, they seem to make her fear me even more.
Seeing her tears was a crushing blow to my heart, and I know I’m in for a rough period until I manage to gain Yuki’s forgiveness and trust.
If that’s even possible.
Just as I start to doubt my decision to marry Yuki, I’m struck with flashes of what happened in the hangar.
On day two, Raffaele had to hold her up while I beat her until I was out of breath and she was unconscious.
I shake my head to rid myself of the memory, regret and a profound loss of self-respect burning in my gut.
Trying to flee from what I’ve done to Yuki, I focus on how I can make things up to her.
She’s been tortured, degraded, and God knows what else.
Maybe the best thing for her will be a peaceful environment where she can heal.
I latch onto the thought and make the decision to prepare my house for her arrival. I’ll import everything Asian to make her feel more at home.
One step at a time will win the race.
Even if it takes me years.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I begin to search for Asian décor and food.
“Oooh are you shopping?” Rosie asks, leaning into me.
“I want to make Yuki feel at home.” My gaze moves to her. “Want to help?”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” She begins to type on her tablet, and for the next few hours, Rosie and I buy every beautiful piece of pottery and artwork we can find. We also import bamboo and find a landscape architect who will be able to convert my garden into a Zen-like paradise.
“I think this is really nice of you, Augusto,” Rosie says.
“I just want to give her a peaceful home.” My eyes meet Rosie’s. “I have a lot to make up for where Yuki is concerned. Especially if I want to make this marriage work.”
Keeping her voice soft, she asks, “Why did you agree?”
I let out a sigh. “I hope it will give me the chance to repent for the unforgivable sin I committed against Yuki.”
“Oh, Augusto.” Rosie does her best to hug me while remaining in her seat. “You didn’t know she was a woman.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I shake my head. “Yuki has been traumatized by my actions.” I swallow hard on the ever-present guilt. “She’s fucking terrified of me, and the only way I can help her heal is by showing her I’m not the monster she thinks I am.”
“You can do it, Augusto. You’re an amazing person.”
Leaning closer, I press a kiss to Rosie’s temple. “Thanks, princess.”
She rests her head against my shoulder and pats my forearm.
While Rosie uses me for a pillow and gets some sleep, I keep thinking about my terrified fiancée, wondering what else she’ll endure while I make arrangements for the wedding.
A month is a long time if you’re being abused on a daily basis, and from what I saw today, I’m dead sure Kano and Tanaka treat her like shit every chance they get.
Looking at Christiano, I say, “Tell Tanaka the wedding will be held in a week. I think the sooner we seal the deal, the better. A lot can go wrong in a month.”
He nods, and pulling out his phone, he sends the head of the Yakuza the message.
Chapter 10
Yuki
Yutaro slams a rubber shaft that resembles a man’s private part down in front of me, and another little piece of my soul dies.
“Today you will use this dildo to learn how to please a man,” my father’s vile guard dog barks. “With the wedding happening sooner, you have a lot to learn in five days.”