Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Renzo said you were working from here today,” he says, nodding once at me. “We need to talk.”
“What can I do for my brother’s best friend and bag man?”
He scowls and props himself against the wall. “Don’t call me that. And you know damn well what I want to talk about.”
I work my jaw. Dante is loyal to the Rossi Famiglia and one of our best soldiers. He’s Renzo’s closest friend, and even though I’m technically his boss, since only the Don is higher than me in the organization, that doesn’t seem to matter to him. Dante thinks he can do and say whatever the fuck he wants.
“Honestly, I’m not in the mood for your bullshit today.” I move to walk past him, but he shakes his head.
“I’m not surprised. I bet it’s hard work hiding a relationship from the family.”
I go very still and resist the urge to look around. The hall’s empty and nobody’s close enough to overhear, but what Dante’s saying could land me in deep shit. I turn and stare at him.
“Why the fuck do you think I’m hiding anything?”
“You were seen.” His face is passive like he’s talking about the weather. “More than once.”
My brain works. How the hell was I spotted? I’ve been careful—taking back roads, making sure nobody was tailing me—but clearly not careful enough. Or maybe he’s bluffing and this is his way of shaking me down.
“You should reconsider where you get your information from.”
Dante grunts and shakes his head. “Don’t try to play it that way, Saul. I’m not here to blow up your spot. I don’t really give a shit who you’re fucking, but we both know why it’s a problem.”
My voice drops. He doesn’t know the extent of my relationship yet. That’s good. “I’m handling it.”
“Handle it less with your dick then.”
My jaw tightens. I want to break his fucking nose for saying that about my fiancée. “Watch your mouth.”
He sighs. “Believe it or not, I’m looking out for you right now. I’ve made excuses already and everyone’s keeping their mouths shut, but I can’t promise that’ll last forever. If you’re seen around town with an Irish girl again—”
I glare at him. “That won’t happen.”
“Good.” His expression softens. “It’ll kill Renzo. He actually feels bad about what happened to you, you know what I mean? You were supposed to marry Allegra and that fell through. He wants to find someone for you.”
The thought makes me sick. “Renzo doesn’t have to worry about me.”
“Tell him that yourself. Anyway, believe it or not, I’m here to warn you. End the relationship before you get caught sneaking around.”
I turn away from him. “I’ll do what I have to.”
“That’s not really a reply.”
I walk away, because he’s right, it’s not. I’m not ending things with Molly anytime soon, but I can’t tell him that. Dante thinks he’s helping, but he’s only making my life more complicated. Now, not only do I have to worry about building a relationship with Molly, but I have to do it while looking over my shoulder constantly. Because even if Dante’s pretending like he’s keeping my secret, no part of me believes that load of shit.
I get my coffee and retreat back to my office. Work feels worthless and empty, and I’m too amped up to get anything done. It’s barely past ten in the morning, and Molly should still be home. She’s got a diner shift starting at noon.
“Hello?” she says, answering her phone on the second ring.
“Wanted to make sure everything was okay back at the house,” I say and the excuse sounds lame as fuck.
“Well, it hasn’t burned down yet.” There’s some noise on the line. “Sorry, getting dressed.” I picture her long legs stepping into a pair of skinny jeans and my cock’s half hard thinking about it.
“You snore,” I tell her and stare down at the desk. I should really slam my face into it before I say something else stupid.
But she only laughs. “You do too.”
“We have something in common. Look at us.”
“Nana used to complain about my snoring all the time until I learned to sleep on my side. It’s better now than it used to be.”
“Can’t imagine how bad it must’ve been then.”
“My snores are adorable. They’re small and feminine.”
“Tell that to my sleep-deprived brain.”
“Please, we both know sleep isn’t what you wanted last night.”
I burst out laughing and nearly knock over my coffee mug. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I saw the way you were looking at me, hungry boy.”
“Baby, if I was hungry last night, imagine how I’m feeling now. Practically starving.”
A laugh from her end and more static like she’s pulling something over her head. “I’m just warning you now, we are having a loveless and sexless marriage.”
“Interesting, although I’ll point out that you’re the one who brought up sex.”