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)
“Really?” I say, smirking.
“Yes, Two of the single Bianchi boys who were planning on coming together, and Landon Black’s sons.”
“Damn, can’t imagine why,” I say, my grin growing. The hell if I want to have other men ogling my woman.
“What exactly did you tell them?”
“I’m marrying Vivian so they can go find a wife elsewhere, but they are welcome to some food and drink. Maybe a congratulations.”
“I think you’re going to need to bring your mother-in-law a wedding present instead of the other way around,” my father teases.
“I’ll think of something she’d like and let you know,” Enrico mutters before leaving my office.
Chapter Six
Matteo
I arrive in time to greet my bride-to-be, only to find she’s not downstairs yet. “Well, if it’s not the man who’s marrying my sister,” her older brother says, coming up to me with a firm handshake.
“Hello, Giovanni. How are you? Where’s Marco?” I haven’t seen her other older brother Marco yet. It’s been a week or so. He’s like his father for sure, sneaky and dangerous, but no one is as bad as my Vivian.
“Good. He’s around here somewhere. Are you sure you want to marry Vee?” he says with a wink.
“Without a doubt.”
“Awesome. She’s my sister and if anyone can handle her, it’s you.” I nod and walk away, looking around to find my woman. She’s not down after a bit, but I wait a little longer, meeting with others, including her parents who give me a warm reception. Of course, as the head of the family, I don’t catch flak from them even though I’m planning to take away their daughter. Still, as the minutes tick by, my temper grows short.
It takes all the strength I have to stand back and let her play this game with me. She’s late to come down to the party. We all know damn well it started twenty minutes ago and the guests have begun to arrive. Since there’s no need for delay, I make a point to tell every man here that she’s mine long before the event. However, the birthday party has now turned into an engagement party, and without the guest of honor, it’s pointless.
“Congratulations, and may I say—good luck,” Luca Bianchi says, smirking with his hand on his wife’s waist. He’s two years older than me and recently married.
“I’ll need it.”
“Boys, I’ll help her if you keep this up,” his wife says.
“Oh, no. I better hold my tongue. The two of them together could be dangerous.” I smile, knowing he’s not wrong, but at least there is someone out there who my wife could be allies with.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to retrieve my bride before she changes her mind.” I wink and then exit the room.
Most believe that I took my family protection to the next level, but they have no idea that I’d staked my claim on her before they had a chance. After this afternoon, she is completely mine and no one else will have a chance to come after my woman, and everyone tonight knows it.
Although there are guards nearby, I didn’t want them right outside her door after what happened today. Approaching, I ask, “Has Vivian exited?”
“No, Ms. Barone hasn’t left her room.” I knock, because even though she’ll be my wife soon, it would be too much to just storm in there.
She doesn’t answer, so I knock again. “Vivian, open the door.” Pissed, I grab the handle and it’s locked. My phone is already out of my suit jacket, and I spot her still in her room. She wants to play this game with me.
“I’ll fix that,” I mutter to myself.
“Sorry, boss. Did you say something?”
“No. Excuse me.” I pop the lock on her door and go inside, propping a chair under the handle to stop anyone from trying to come in. I hear some fiddling in her closet just as I whip it open, and I spot her trying to sneak through a tiny crawl space. She’s too slow for me, though.
With quick hands, I snatch her little ass up and drag her out. “Going somewhere, my viper?”
“Let me go, asshole,” she hisses through clenched teeth.
“Never.” She’s kicking her legs at me, but I hold them tightly before tossing her on the bed and then pinning her down with my entire weight. She tries to fight me, but I grab her wrists in one hand and hold them above her head. “I feel like we’ve been here before,” I say, breathing heavy, dick jerking against her thigh.
“Yes, but this time we have guests waiting for us,” she says.
“Exactly—that makes it even better. The idea of every man down there knowing you’re covered in my scent only gets me harder.”
“Are you an animal?” She attempts to sound offended, but her voice comes out half aroused with very little bite.