Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
“Did you touch her?” I lean down close. “Taste her?” These are definitely not the normal questions I ask when I have somebody by the balls.
“No, I swear,” he pleads. “Never even been alone with her!”
“Boss.” I ignore Sergio; I know what he’s asking. I believe him, but I still want to finish what I’ve started. It takes my phone going off before I release my hold on Vincent to pull it out. There’s one alert going off. It’s the one I have set for Mona and anything concerning her.
Sal sent me an alert that Emma was in my room. I grit my teeth. While I watch the footage of my little rabbit slipping out of our bedroom, Vincent keeps pleading. She says something to Sal, but he doesn’t respond. Mona scrunches her nose but steps out of the room. I watch as Sal lets her go but follows her. I keep watching until they are out of sight. I need more cameras.
I suppose there isn’t much he can do. I’ve been a dick this past week. My men have received the message to stay away from Mona unless the situation is dire.
“It’s your lucky day. Mona just saved your life, Vincent.”
I’ll let this go for now. I have other things I need to handle. Like my little rabbit hopping around my home. I trust my men, but look at me, I’ve started a war over her. I never imagined I could be such a jealous bastard. Territorial, sure, but this is different.
The drive back to the estate takes forever. “You really pissed at Emma?”
“I told her to stay out of it.” Emma gets away with more than anyone else ever would, but she never did anything beyond what I asked.
She gave me more of a tongue-lashing than anything. I took it. She was a mother figure to me growing up, but I told her this time is different. That Mona is different. I won't be questioned or pushed when it comes to her.
“You can’t keep her locked up in your room.”
“Did you forget who she is? Her little plan?” Even as I say the words, they don’t sit right with me. It made sense for Aidan O’Haire to try and get me to go to war with the Rossis. He used his sister to do it, and she went right along with it. The fucked-up part is it worked.
“Matteo,” he says as we pull through the gates.
“No, I don’t fucking care at this point.” I slam my hand down on the dashboard. “And that’s the problem.”
It goes to show how far gone I already am. I should care, but I don’t. I’m still keeping her. She’s staying with me. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure she’s my future.
The second the SUV stops, I’m out, heading straight through the front door. I have a decent idea where she’ll be. I’m almost at the entrance of the kitchen when I hear a soft giggle. I stop in my tracks and listen. Another one floats through the air, causing a mix of emotions to run through me.
I step over the kitchen threshold and see Mona at the kitchen island, preparing something with Emma. The moment Mona sees me, her smile drops. She goes utterly still.
“Rabbit.”
“Cattaneo.” She licks her lips.
“Matteo,” I correct her, making her little nose scrunch up. When she doesn't understand something, she does it. “Leave us.”
Emma is fighting a smirk. We’ll talk later. That woman is lucky I love her like a mother. “Sal.” I call him before he can go. “No eyes.”
“Got it, boss,” he says, leaving us alone.
“Ah, what are you doing here?” my little rabbit asks.
“I live here.”
“Right.” Mona worries her bottom lip between her teeth. “I guess I’ll go back—”
“You’re not going anywhere.” Her lips purse at my response.
“I know that, Cattaneo.” She practically spits out my last name. Oh, she’s really pissed. That makes two of us. It doesn't matter what Mona does, I'm always hard for her. That also pisses me off. Never have I had a problem with control when it came to that area of my life.
“Don’t think I won't turn you over that little stool and spank your ass, Mona.” She takes a tentative step back. “Running would make it oh so much worse.”
“Then do it.” That chin of hers goes up again in defiance. That’s all it takes. I’m on her in the blink of an eye. “Matteo!” She lets out a small scream. I lift her by her hips, sitting her on the island. Her fingers grip my shirt. My eyes drop to her mouth. I haven't kissed her since the first night she got here.
I sink my fingers into her hair, making her tilt her head back. Those damn green eyes of hers hit me fucking hard every time.