Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Hurt trying to save me because of course.
“I’m fine,” he groans, rolling over. “Jesus, woman, relax.” He gives me a faint grin. “Get the damn doc to wrap me up so we don’t miss the dessert table.”
“Salvatore,” I breathe, tears blurring my vision. My throat feels clogged. I gingerly move his jacket and yank open the buttons of his shirt to find the knife has only grazed his skin. “Ugh. Men! Honest to God!”
Salvatore shakes his head. “God, Cristiano was a fucking pussy to the end.”
I laugh through tears. “That he was.”
Salvatore’s men pour into the room and take in the scene. “Get me a doc, and get rid of these bodies. These two betrayed me. I have evidence I’ll share later. The Rossis are innocent.” He repeats what he’s said as his men look on. Within minutes, everyone’s run to do his bidding. As Don, he owes no one an explanation, but if I know him, he’ll tell them everything.
I’m not surprised they have a house doctor like we do, who quickly tends Salvatore’s wounds and doesn’t even look at the dead bodies on the floor.
Federico brings him another set of clothes. I help him change.
“Rossi.”
Romeo kneels on one knee beside him.
Salvatore extends his hand. “I think it’s safe to say we’re even, brother.”
Romeo shakes his head. “I’m sorry you caught the worst of it,” he says with a sigh. “But yeah, man. Let’s call this a draw.”
I swipe at my eyes that will water despite my greatest efforts. “I love both of you crazy idiots.”
My husband’s pale and a bit shaky but he hides it well.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask him as I help him change into clean clothing.
“Of course,” he says with an eye roll. “I’ve cut myself worse shaving.”
I watch his strong, masculine fingers fastening his cuff link and reach for his hand. I kiss his palm, then each of his fingers, one by one.
“We can make this work, Salvatore. I know we can.” I close my eyes to stop myself from crying. We’ve had enough drama for one evening already.
I watch as Salvatore stills, his fingers still grazing the gilded edge of his cuff link. “C’mere,” he says in a husky voice, drawing me to him. I brace myself so I don’t press against his injured side, but it’s useless as he crushes me against him, his fingers tangled in my hair.
“You will persist in mussing up my hair and makeup, won’t you?” I tsk under my breath. “Men!”
“Oh, I could do better than that,” he whispers in my ear. “How about I present my wife to the masses with a ‘freshly fucked’ look?”
I bite my lip and pretend to think about it for a minute. “Hmm. Well… Salvatore!”
I squeal when he pinches my ass.
“Later, baby. Later. And yes, Marialena. We absolutely can and will make this work. With two stubborn-as-fuck people like me and you, we can make anything work.”
I listen to the steady beat of his heart and sigh. “I’m sorry about your mother,” I say softly. Even though she betrayed him, she was still his mother. “When my father died, I felt relief at first,” I admit. “It was the end of an era of tyranny, bullying and abuse. And yet… I don’t know. I guess I couldn’t help but mourn, not really him, but what could’ve been. What should’ve been. You know?”
“I do,” he says warmly. “I do know. And I guess eventually I’ll deal with that, but for now, we have people waiting to see us and we have a show to put on. Are you ready?”
“I will be, as soon as I can put my lipstick back on for like the twelfth time,” I mutter. “Hey!” I yelp when he cracks his hand across my ass. “You’ve been looking for a chance to do that, haven’t you?”
“Mhm.”
I mutter under my breath as I reapply my lipstick, but I’m at peace. My family waits for us outside this room. We’ve formed an alliance with them, and I no longer feel as if I have to choose sides. And after they’ve gone, I’ll take my place here, with Salvatore, and face our new life together.
“Very impressive, husband,” I tell him, looking at his reflection in the mirror. “You don’t look like you took a knife for your wife at all.”
“Dammit, don’t I? Maybe you should put a Band-Aid on my cheek or something.”
I turn and plant a kiss on his cheek. “How’s that?”
His low growl rumbles straight through me. “Get out there and get some chocolate cake before I lose my mind and ravish you right here, right now.”
“You say that like it would be a bad thing.”
I take his hand. We walk, side by side, out of our bedroom to where our guests, my family, and the rest of our lives wait for us.