Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
I look from the hammer around which his large fist is curled to the demolition around him, a frown pulling at my forehead. “What are you doing?”
He takes me in with surprise, his chest heaving as if he’s just completed a strenuous marathon. “Why are you home so early?” Checking his smartwatch, he says, “I missed the message that you’re on your way.”
Of course, the men following me would’ve informed him. With all the noise, it’s no wonder he didn’t hear the notification.
“Are you sick?” he asks with alarm.
Dejection weighs heavily on my shoulders. “Ms. Lewis fired me.”
He drops the hammer. “She did what?”
The thud when the metal head hits the floor rattles the windowpanes.
“It was to be expected,” I say. “I omitted that I was pregnant on my application.”
Climbing over obstacles, he makes his way to me with determined strides. “That’s unfounded. They can’t discriminate against you because you’re pregnant.”
“They’re downscaling. Ms. Lewis acted within her rights.”
He stops in front of me. “We’ll take them to court. I’ll get you the best lawyer in the country.”
“I don’t want my job back if I have to force it. I’ll find something else.”
He considers that, working his jaw.
I know what’s going through his head. He’s thinking about getting rid of the people who made me unhappy, so I quickly change the subject. “What’s going on in here?” Waving at the chaos, I ask, “Are you renovating?”
He keeps my gaze, staring into my eyes as if he can see right into my soul as he says matter-of-factly, “Baby room.”
I gape at him. “Come again?”
“It was too gloomy in here for a baby with those dark panels. Once I’ve plastered the walls, I can paint them any color you want.” He motions at the hole between the rooms. “I reckoned an adjoining door to our bedroom would be necessary. That way, we have closer access to the nursery.”
Wait, what?
“Saverio,” I say, taking a step back in an instinctive reaction to put distance between us.
“What’s the matter? Do you prefer a different room?”
“No.” I lick my dry lips. “I…”
“You what, tesoro?” he asks, pinning me with a glacier blue gaze.
“I—I’m not sure I’ll still be here by then.”
A muscle ticks in his temple. “Where will you be? Living somewhere on your own with no job and no one to take care of you?”
I stretch to my full height. “I can take care of myself.”
He climbs over another panel, stopping flush against me. “That’s not the taking care I’m talking about.”
I know what he means. He’s referring to keeping me safe, but this is something entirely different. This is what he hinted at when he said he wanted to engrave a medal for my baby. He warned me, but I didn’t want to acknowledge the sinister underlying message of his words. I told myself I was wrong, that I saw too much in the statement.
Because it couldn’t mean that he intended to keep me after the murder investigation was closed and our agreement came to an end.
Because why would he?
It doesn’t make sense.
Yet he stands there motionlessly, as solid as a brick wall, the light in his shockingly blue eyes resolved as he watches me quietly.
He can’t imply what I think he does. This is moving too fast. This feels like jumping several steps and crossing a finish line, one I don’t think I’m ready for, not with a man holding me against my will and certainly not with a man who doesn’t love me.
“I’m not sure I understand what this means,” I whisper.
He cups my cheek in the tenderest of caresses while that sapphire gaze cuts through me like glass. “I think you know exactly what this means, treasure.”
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Saverio
Dante recaps an offer from a new whisky distillery in Bolivia. We take care of the import permit and red tape via Luigi’s contacts, and they get a non-exclusive contract to supply our clubs for a significant discount. To sweeten the deal, they’re throwing in a kickback for all the business they procure in our territory.
It’s an interesting proposal. I’ve long since wanted to establish a connection in South America, but my attention is not on my only friend in the world who blabbers from his perched position on the corner of my desk. I’m focused on Anya who sits silently on the sofa in the lounge area of my office.
From the vacant expression in her eyes, she’s miles away. The business talk must be boring her, but it can’t be helped. Since she got fired, I’ve been bringing her everywhere with me. After Luigi’s threat, I’m not leaving her on her own if I can prevent it. I operate better when I have her in sight, knowing I can protect her.
We’re still fucking day and night, my addiction to her only growing stronger by the day, but we haven’t spoken about the baby room after she found me in the midst of demolishing the twin bedroom next to mine, one that, by the design of the architecture, was destined for the mistress of the house.