Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
I take a deep, calming breath. “As you know, I take the safety and well-being of our family very seriously, so it must have come as a surprise that I took out a man I trusted and considered a friend, my best friend for many years. However, Santos decided to touch what wasn’t his. He threatened to harm my future wife. I walked in on him with his hands on her throat, choking her as he promised to violate her.”
Every single man in the room became visibly angry, including her father. All eyes moved to him of course as they should. His rage was as justifiable as mine.
“Men, as you can see, that’s not something that would ever be tolerated. I won’t allow disrespect to my wife, let alone someone putting their hands on her. Even before I made it clear that Vivian is mine, she’s Enrico’s daughter and deserves respect, like everyone’s daughter does. He crossed a line that was unacceptable.”
“I should have pissed on his body,” a voice comes from the crowd.
“He deserves to rot.”
Enrico comes forward and says, “We need to have a word.” I nod.
“Thank you, men. Also, that means no one touches my wife in any manner.”
They all respond with a cacophony of “yes” and “we understand.”
I take him back to my office and we sit down. “So she didn’t tell me what the fuck happened when I asked. He didn’t just flirt with her.”
“No. He had his hands on her. Do you know what she was doing in my office? She’s never been in here unless you were here.”
“No, she was in her bedroom researching her potential suitors for the night.”
“What the fuck do you mean, ‘suitors’?” I’m ready to crush skulls.
“All the guys coming to the party.”
“That was a pointless endeavor because I sent them a message that she’s mine before I found her in my office.”
“Couldn’t wait?”
“No, just trying to stop a war before it started, but I had no idea that she’d come here. What was she looking for? She doesn’t need to research me.”
“No. In fact, she said the Conti Family men were off the table, so I’m not sure why she was here. Something changed.”
“I think that bastard tricked her into coming here,” my father says. I hadn’t considered the idea. So much has taken place today that I haven’t thought straight for more than five fucking minutes.
“Do you think so?”
“Vivian had no reason to come over here on her birthday, into my office unless she was planning on seducing me, which you know damn well she wasn’t,” I muttered.
“Does it really matter?” My father asks, wondering if it changes how I feel about her.
“No, but it’s on my mind.”
“Do you really think she wanted to meet up with him?” I tilt my head and crack my neck. That thought would never ever be acceptable to me. The image of his hands on her soft, slender body, caressing her, loving on her while Vivian enjoyed it would kill me.
“Not for a tryst, but maybe for a job. She’s always trying to prove herself,” I answer. The sight I had before me and the way she creamed in my arms proved just that. She didn’t want him sexually, so their meeting was something else.
“Yes, son, but why your office, of all places? You know damn well that she wouldn’t have come here if she was trying to go on assignment.”
It takes me a moment to think about it and then a thought hits me. “Not unless she thought I was the one summoning her here.”
“It’s possible.”
“I need to get back before the women do. I have party stuff I’m assigned to handle while she deals with Vivian. Are you sure my little girl is okay?”
“As far as the incident, I think so. When it comes to marrying me, she has her reservations, but I’ll work on her. She’s not as completely indifferent to me as I thought.”
“No, just maybe you two should talk a bit more.” I get his meaning completely. So I should keep my dick out of her when I’m talking to her, but he doesn’t know I understand my woman, love her with everything I am. It drives me nuts how intense my love is for her. No one could even fathom the depth.
“After the wedding. I want her as mine. It’s not just my men that I want to make understand she’s under my protection. We have enemies, and she’s safer as my wife than my fiancée.”
“You’re right about that.” Things have been quiet for far too long, and today’s incident just brings me to the realization that she’s not as safe as I’d like.
“We’ll double the security around the houses.”
Enrico’s phone goes off. “Son of a bitch. January’s mad.” He stares at me with a slow look of suspicion spreading over his face. “Strangely, I’ve had two cancellations for tonight.”