Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Actually, he did consider that for you,” Dominic says quietly.
Angel seems to encourage him. I can always see his reluctance when speaking about his brother because, amongst Crue’s flaws, he was not opposed to killing family members if he felt wronged by them.
“Would you want a big wedding like this?” he asks.
“Fuck no.”
He looks at me as if that is answer enough. “He wanted to keep it intimate and small. Where he didn’t have to bring you back to Italy in front of the families because he knew you would blow a gasket.”
“Well…” I hesitate. “I’m pretty sure when I made it abundantly clear I don’t want to marry, it should’ve stopped there.”
“But he has to, Rya. He gave you as much time as he could.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Angel flicks another quick glance at Dominic, and he sighs. “Shit, woman, you’re really going to get me killed.”
She rolls her eyes and speaks on his behalf, “He promised not to go near you until you turned thirty. He thought that would give you enough ‘freedom’ before he imposed on your life.”
“Imposed?”
“He was always coming for you,” Angel says as she stands and approaches me. I’m gobsmacked. I hate the knowledge that this was all contracted and planned without my consent.
“Here.” She hands Alessia to me.
“Oh no… I’m not good with kids.”
She huffs and plops the most fragile parcel in my arms. “Just because your mother wasn’t and probably still isn’t a good mother doesn’t mean the same for you, Rya.”
A twist forms in my stomach. I had never even imagined myself as a mother. I’m not like Honey or her mother. I didn’t have that maternal instinct inside of me. But looking down at Alessia, as her godmother, I know I would do anything for this beautiful child. I pull back a corner of her blanket, marveling at how tiny she is. How fragile she seems.
I can feel Angel judging me before she says, “Do you think this is all because you’re running away from what you think marriage and kids look like?”
I scoff. “I’m running away because he is a mafia boss who kills for sport. Or am I the only one who keeps remembering that part of his life?”
“You knew that before you slept with him… and during… and even now. Yet here we are, still talking about him.”
“Because he is trying to marry my sister,” I remind her.
Her expression turns sad. Pitying even.
“What is that look for?” I ask.
“I just wonder if you’ll spend your entire life running.”
“Excuse me?”
“Whether it’s running away from Crue or some other man. Do you want to die alone?”
“Wow,” I say, blinking rapidly. I was not expecting this type of pep talk.
“How long are you going to run? From this.” She waves around the house. “Because it’s not all bad. Sure, the work is a bit sketchy, and it can sometimes be risky. But isn’t that why you love being a lawyer? The risk. The thrill. The lines that are blurred. The freedom that it offers you in being able to do whatever you want. Being Crue’s wife, you would be one of the most recognized women both here and in New York in name alone. What are you actually after? Honey and Crue aside.”
I blanch at her. What the fuck am I supposed to say to that?
At my silence, she continues, “Think about it. Would you have let him go if you weren’t told that you had to marry Crue? Because we know he sure as hell doesn’t want to let you go. Families and contracts aside, I think Crue’s an asshole.” Dominic shifts awkwardly beside her as if she’s just spoken some horrific form of blasphemy. “But I also think he’s as stubborn as you, and he’s honestly probably the only man in the world who can handle your shit.”
“My shit?” I ask, wounded.
“You eat men alive in the courtroom,” she states. “You might lie to everyone else, but you can’t lie to yourself forever. Maybe Crue is the only man who has ever been able to handle you. Are you sure you’re willing to let that slip away because of some technicalities in a stupid contract?”
“He’s a criminal.”
“And you are the daughter of one. It’s not that part that upsets you. So try to use something that makes sense as an excuse next time.”
Well, fuck.
CHAPTER 63
Rya
My mind spins at Angel’s insinuations.
The car jolts beneath me as I sit in the back seat. Driving up to my family home which I haven’t visited in fourteen years feels nostalgic.
In so many ways, it hasn’t changed.
But I have.
It’s a mess. All of it. And now, I have to explain the entire situation to Honey, and my stomach drops at the thought. I hate that these circumstances are overshadowing our reunion. But I suppose I can count on Crue to fuck even this up.