Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 32664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Daisy and I explored each other until three in the morning, so this early-as-fuck wakeup is not appreciated, and when I see that it's an unknown number, I'm even more pissed.
"Hello?"
"Dominic." The voice is masculine but weasley. "This is Marc Cirilo."
I grit my teeth. Marc fucking Cirilo. I guess he got my message from his goon, then.
"Cirilo. You're calling very early." There is no humor in my voice. No patience, either.
"Well from the tone of your video message, time seems to be of the essence."
"Get on with it."
He huffs but continues. "I found the information about Carlo illuminating and your offer to help pay off your son's debts very generous. Normally, I would kill someone for not only racking up debt with my family but lying, too. I'm sure you understand."
I do because that's the life I used to live. And hearing him talk that way about my son, no matter how fucking pissed off I am at him, threatens to make me spiral into a rage. I have to keep reminding myself that Carlo did this, not me. This is his problem to clean up, and he's lucky that I'm willing to help at all. "I said get to the damned point, Cirilo."
"Okay, let me put it simply. If I kill Carlo, I get nothing. If I take your offer, call off the hit on Daisy Linden, and blacklist Carlo, I at least get some of the money, and I don't start a war with the Falcone family. I accept your offer. It would be stupid not to."
"Good."
"So where's the money?"
"Where are the signed contracts and the confirmation of the hit called off?"
"I don't have the cancellation confirmed yet, but—"
"You'll do that before you get a dime."
He laughs. "Trust me, I know. It'd be the same if I was in your shoes. All I was going to say is that if you give me an email address or a fax number, I can send the proof over within an hour."
I give him an email address and hang up the phone, already writing him off in my mind. Once the contracts are delivered, and it's confirmed that the hit on Daisy is called off and that, barring retaliation on his end, Carlo will be left alone, I'll have the money wired to Marc.
It's that easy. Fuck, it felt like a long road getting here, but at least it's almost over.
Daisy is safe. The relief is staggering. The only problem left is Carlo, and without any help from another crime family, he's no real threat at all. I have the leverage I need, and unless he's even more of an idiot than he's proved himself to be, he'll contact me at least once more so I can set everything up for him to go underground for a few years. He's sullied his own name, and he's going to need to start his life over from scratch. I'll help some, only because he's my son, but I don't think I can ever forgive him for putting a hit out on my woman.
My woman.
Daisy Linden.
Soon, Daisy Falcone.
With a genuine smile, I tuck the phone into my pants pocket and return to my bedroom, and the soft, willing woman waiting for me within. We have time now, and I plan to savor every second of it.
8
DAISY
One Month Later
It's been four weeks since Dominic crawled back into bed with me and whispered that I was safe against my skin over and over. I feel like I have a new lease on life. Or a new life altogether, really.
I know it seems way too fast, but I just sort of...moved in with Dominic. I never went back to my apartment, and without me saying a word, bags and boxes of my things began showing up here. Dominic moved me in silently, and I didn’t say a single thing about it.
As far as I’m concerned, this is where I belong.
I was supposed to start classes last week, but Dominic convinced me to take a gap year and just enjoy this bubble we're in. We're getting to know each other and taking our time, and it's been wonderful. School will be there when I'm ready, and something tells me Dominic is going to pay for the most prestigious college education possible for me. As long as it's online, that is. Dom has already said a few times that 'He'll never let his angel out of his sight for long.'
Oh well. Online sounds golden to me, if it means I get to spend every beautiful day and steamy night with the man I...
God, I really need to just admit it to myself and get it over with. The man I love.
Fingering the falcon charm around my neck, I make a decision. I'm going to tell him tonight, come hell or high water. I went from fearing for my life to being completely in love and pampered—who wouldn't love a man who provided that?