Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
The words hurt, but Misty reminded herself that this had happened before. It didn’t mean Domenico didn’t care for her. It only meant he was hurt. She went after him even though every step made her feel like a slut.
“Domenico—-”
He spun around. “Will you stop stalking me? Or do you want me to call security?”
She froze. “I...”
“Just forget what happened between us,” Domenico said harshly. “It won’t do you any good. I’m not a good man.”
Unable to help it, Misty whispered, “You are.”
“No. I’m not. And you want to know why?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Because right now, I’m going up to fuck my brains out, which according to my father is the only thing I’m good at.” His gaze mocked hers. “Still think I’m a good man?”
Chapter Six
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Misty wished someone had invented selective earphones. That way, she could hear everything but that.
More! God! More!
Yes. Oooooh God, yes.
Aaaah, Domenico, your cock...more. I want your coooooooock—-
She was not new to heartbreak. This wasn’t even the first time Domenico had broken her heart. But even so, it hurt, surprisingly so. Each time she heard a sound coming from the bedroom Domenico had locked himself in with three women – three, my God, three – she died a little.
She glanced at her watch. 20:44. She still had time left. She only had to talk to him once – had to make him see the truth, no matter how arrogant it may make her seem.
He needed her. He loved her.
“MISTY?”
She looked up, color staining her cheeks when she saw Avery, the sympathy in the other woman’s gaze evident. “H-hey.”
“The party’s over,” Avery said quietly. “I’ve been asked by Prince Danilo to clear everyone out.” The hope in Misty’s eyes made her wince. “I’m sorry, Misty, but that means everyone...except those...inside.”
“I see.” Misty glanced at her watch. 18:45. It was strange, but she couldn’t make herself panic at the way time was slipping past her. All she knew was that she needed just one chance to talk to Domenico. Just one chance, and this weird, painful hell would be over.
“I don’t want to get you in trouble...” Misty sent Avery a look of appeal. “But I really need to talk to him. I promise I won’t cause him any trouble.”
“You could always come back later—-” When Misty was about to protest, Avery said, “When Prince Domenico’s in this mood, it takes him a while to...get out of it.” She cleared her throat, wishing there was an easier way for her to break it to Misty. “He could go at it the whole night, Misty. Do you understand what I mean?”
Oh.
Misty swallowed.
Oh.
She should have expected that, shouldn’t she?
Misty mustered up a smile. “I understand. But I still want talk to him. Please, Avery?”
Avery found herself relenting reluctantly. “All right, but promise me. No hysterics. I warned you about the prince.”
17:55 HOURS LEFT.
She clicked on the side button of her watch, the display switching to show the current time.
It was one in the morning.
Inside, the women were still crying, but Misty knew it wasn’t the type that came with tears.
Lucky them.
She rubbed her eyes.
If only she could cry just like that, too, maybe this wouldn’t be so painful.
Misty closed her eyes, forcing herself to concentrate on the memories. The ones where Domenico knew her. Loved her. Was married to her. She clung hard to those memories, harder every time she heard the women crying in the way she couldn’t cry right now.
Stubborn, she reminded herself. Didn’t Domenico mention how stubborn she was? She had to be stubborn, had to remember that Domenico didn’t know how much he was hurting her right now.
DANILO MORETTI TIMED his call perfectly. His father’s routine never changed, and in the mornings he would read the papers right after breakfast. By this time, Danilo knew, Dio would have seen the headlines and would not know what to do.
“Father?”
“What is it?” Dio’s tone was brusque with suppressed emotion.
He had read it then, Domenico’s successful negotiation of the most important deal for their business empire. Right now, Dio would be feeling guilty and defensive, and in the past, this meant Dio also had a tendency to say the opposite of what he felt, all to save his stubborn pride.
Well, not again, Danilo thought. It was time the stupid feud between Domenico and their father was put to rest. They had a traitor in their midst, and even for someone as suspicious as him, that person’s betrayal had come as a surprise.
To his father, Danilo said, “You’ve read it then?”
“Yes.” The voice was curt and unyielding.
“You misjudged him clearly this time, Father. You should have allowed him to explain rather than jumping to conclusions.”
Dio snapped, “I may have been wrong now, but in the past—-”
“The past is in the past. We’re talking about now – and you were in the wrong.” He paused meaningfully. “Would it kill you to say ‘sorry’, Father? Would you really rather Domenico completely lose all love and respect for you because of your pride?”