Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 193(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 193(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Unfortunately, life rarely went according to plan.
When my phone vibrated, I twisted my head to peer over at the screen, trying not to move too much so I wouldn’t disturb my angel. But it was the number for the guard shack at the front gate.
It seemed my reprieve was over, and reality was determined to intrude. Gently, I untangled myself from Vivienne and grabbed my phone as I carefully exited the bed. I took it into the bathroom so I wouldn’t wake her when I answered.
“Cosa vuoi?” I snapped, asking what they wanted rather than greeting them.
“You have a visitor,” Alec muttered.
“They’ll have to come back.”
“I’ve been telling him that for half an hour, during which he has been constantly cursing me out. I don’t think he’s going to leave. But more importantly, I doubt we want him whining to the press about how you’ve kidnapped his fiancée and won’t let him see her.”
Chanler. I should have known.
“Have Domenico and Dante escort him to my office and make sure he stays there. And for fuck’s sake, tell them to shut him up so he doesn’t wake Vivienne.”
“Will do.”
I stabbed my finger against the end button and tossed my phone onto the counter with a disgusted grunt. It pissed me off that I had to let that motherfucker step foot in Vivienne’s home. This should be her sanctuary. I’d always been very careful about who I met with in this house so that it always remained a safe space. But it was unlikely that Chet would be reasonable enough to move the location of our meeting to my office in one of the warehouses at the back of the property.
After grabbing a quick shower, I chose my clothing carefully. I donned one of my most expensive Armani suits, a Patek Philippe watch, and a pair of shiny black leather Ferragamo dress shoes. Then I retrieved my Beretta from the safe in my closet and tucked it into the back of my pants. I exuded wealth and power at a level Chet would envy and secretly hate because he knew he’d never have it.
By the time I reached my office, I’d left him waiting for at least twenty minutes, letting him know that he was not the one in charge.
“Salve, Chanler,” I greeted him formally as I strode into the room.
He whirled around from where he stood in front of one of the giant windows overlooking the east lawn and the path leading down to the stables.
“Where is my fiancée?” he shouted.
I pierced him with a steely stare as I rounded my desk and took a seat. “Keep your voice down,” I ordered. “Vivienne is no longer your fiancée, nor is she your concern.”
Chet marched over to stand in front of my desk. It was an attempt to take a power pose, standing over me to make me feel like he was in charge. However, tactics like that only worked on the weak. We both knew I held the power, and my sitting while he stood wouldn’t change that. Besides, I was at least a half foot taller than him, and with my desk between us, he couldn’t “tower” over me like he clearly wanted to.
“You have no right to keep her from me,” he snapped, taking a few steps back when he realized he couldn’t intimidate me.
“I don’t know what gave you the impression that I was preventing Vivienne from seeing you, Chanler. The choice has always been hers.”
“I want to hear it from her,” he growled.
“We can’t always have what we want, Chanler. Didn’t your mother ever teach you that? Or were you so spoiled that you expect the world to bow at your feet and let you stomp on them to make you feel better about your own insecurities?”
Chet’s eyes narrowed, and his lips pressed together as he took several deep breaths through his nose. Then he spoke through clenched teeth. “What do you want for her?”
My inscrutable exterior cracked for a moment, and my mouth shifted to form an amused smirk. “What exactly do you think you could give me, Chanler?” My eyes darted around the room, then I checked the time on my watch.
When I looked up, I caught Domenico and Dante fighting smiles. They were obviously enjoying the show, but my warning look wiped away their mirth. Chet would be embarrassed if he saw them smiling or if either of them accidentally laughed, which would put him further on the offense. That would only escalate the situation—something I was hoping to avoid. Though it was unlikely I’d succeed.
My gaze returned to Chet, my face once again impassive.
“I can get you first dibs on the newest designer drugs hitting the street.”
“Drugs don’t interest me.” We had our hands in a lot of illegal shit, but the only involvement the Family had with drugs was working to get them off the streets.