Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Mom leaned over to me and touched my hand, her eyes seeking confirmation that I was okay. I gave her a smile, which seemed to convince her.
Despite things going smoother than I’d expected, I could feel myself getting overwhelmed by the situation. My mind always judged people’s expressions, wondering what they were thinking and how much they knew.
It was exhausting.
I needed a moment to myself, some peace and quiet. My nausea had become increasingly worse despite the meds I’d taken. Nervousness and lack of food definitely didn’t help.
After ten minutes of convincing my mom that I didn’t need her support, I left the ballroom and strolled through the quiet corridors. In the past, I’d often enjoyed solitude. I loved being part of a family, but I also liked being alone. It wasn’t long before I heard steps, and two guys from Paolo’s circles headed through the corridor. Their parents were Captains like Paolo’s, and Dad had decided to keep them and their families invited for that reason.
Their expressions told me they weren’t happy with me. Luca’s attempts to keep the gossip down only led to colorful rumors that made the rounds among those who didn’t get the chance to see the video. And even some people who had seen the video chose to believe that the reason I had been with Maximus in a car in the first place was because we were having an affair. My “It’s okay” in the video only confirmed their ridiculous assumption.
“Whore,” one of them hissed as he passed me by, stunning me.
The other added, “Paolo’s lucky he didn’t marry your cheating ass.”
I wasn’t sure if I’d come up with a good comeback. I wasn’t fond of confrontations, but I never got the chance to figure it out. Maximus stormed past me, grabbed the first guy by the neck, and smashed him face-first into the wall. Then he grabbed the second by the throat and thrust his fist into his mouth. Blood spurted everywhere. I froze, my belly doing a roller-coaster ride that was bound to end in disaster. Silver flashed on Maximus’s knuckle, and I realized why his punch had left the guy’s face a bloody mess: he was wearing brass knuckles. Both guys sank to the floor and remained there, moaning and clutching their bleeding faces.
Maximus’s chest heaved, and every muscle in his body was ready for more violence.
I stepped to his side and briefly touched his bicep. Even through the fabric of his shirt, I could feel his heat and steely muscle. “It’s okay.”
I’d said those words before, and the way Maximus’s eyes flashed with recognition and regret told me he thought the same thing.
“It’s not,” he growled, not looking at me but at them. His eyes burned with barely contained rage and brutality. “Our Capo gave an order. If you don’t keep your fucking mouth shut, I’ll shut you up.”
The guys exchanged a look that spoke of fear. I didn’t pay much attention to gossip, but I knew what people called the Trevisan men: Butcher.
“Leave now and don’t come back. Next time I hear you talking shit, I’ll break more than your noses.”
They scuttled away, leaving a trail of blood drops in their wake. A blood smudge also covered the wall where one of their noses had been smashed.
I swallowed down bile as the nausea in my body increased.
“I don’t like this violent side of you,” I said quietly. Maybe it was hypocritical of me, considering I’d grown up in the mafia world. Every man in my life was involved in violent crimes.
“Then you won’t find much to like,” he growled, the remnants of aggression still swirling in his amber eyes. I’d always found them astonishing. They reminded me of toffee. If only they didn’t also remind me of the past…
I swallowed. I hadn’t considered what life with Maximus would be like. We’d live under one roof. We’d have to get along, even if we didn’t live a real marriage. Was he the raging kind of man? With a horrible temper? I’d made a choice for our unborn child and my family’s honor. My own happiness hadn’t been part of my considerations.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he glanced around. We were alone. “I’m trying to redeem myself. You don’t have to fear this side of me.”
Redeem himself? By marrying me?
I didn’t get the chance to ask him what exactly he meant because my younger sister Inessa entered the corridor. She didn’t know what had happened, for which I was eternally grateful. She had Mom’s honey-blond hair but Dad’s brown eyes, and how Aunt Aria always said “Mom’s old temper.”
Maximus gave her a nod, then he left us alone. He was probably glad to cut our conversation short.
“Did you fight?” she asked with huge, curious eyes.
“No, we didn’t.”