Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
“I’d be glad to help, sir,” the one standing the closest to me says.
He was the one that grabbed me by my hair and pulled me from the SUV. He’s been staring down at my cleavage since Oscar took my dress. I wish Renato were here to make good on his threat of removing people’s eyes if he caught them staring at me.
It doesn’t help that I’m wearing one of the cute bra and panty sets I got yesterday. They are a simple pale pink, but they have little bows on them. Payton told me that they really played into the whole sweet innocent thing, which also made it sexy. They were meant for Renato’s eyes only.
I’m just thankful I hadn’t changed my panties from this morning. Call me crazy, but smelling Renato on me still is giving me some level of peace and comfort. I stand quickly, not wanting a replay of the man dragging me around by my hair again. I take a deep breath and walk across the room to where the decanter filled with an amber liquor sits on top of the credenza. I lift the stopper off and pour a decent amount into the glass.
I almost come out of my skin when someone brushes up against me. “Let me.” Clara takes the glass from my hand. Relief unlike any I’ve ever felt fills me when I realize it’s her. She takes the glass from me and shoves a bundle of clothes into my hands.
“I’m trying to figure out what’s gotten into my wife,” Oscar bellows, standing from his desk. “One dinner at the Carloni home, and she’s forgotten her place.”
Clara carries the drink over to Oscar. No sooner does she set it on his desk than he backhands her. The slap sounds loud in the room. She stumbles backwards. I drop the clothes in my hands to make a grab for her. I snag her arm before she falls, helping her get her footing.
“Are you okay?” I ask. Clara holds her hand to her cheek, but no tears fall from her watering eyes. I hate this man.
“She’s fine.” Oscar throws back his drink. “No calls yet? He should have called by now.”
An uncontrollable laugh bubbles up from me. “Called?” Did he say Renato should have called? I almost wonder if I heard him wrong.
“Negotiations. What do you think Renato will give for his new wife?”
“Nothing,” I blurt out, another laugh bubbling out of me. Clara gives me a sideways glance. I’m sure she thinks I’m losing it.
“Stupid woman. This is why women can’t mix in men’s dealing. There will be negotiations or Renato will look weak. Like he doesn’t protect his family.” Oscar sits back down in his chair. “Put those clothes on. I’m over looking at your fat ass.”
“There will be no negotiations.” I level Oscar with a stare. An alarm starts to sound as a phone goes off. Oscar’s eyes widen when the sound of gunfire fills the air. “Only death.”
Of this I’m certain.
23
Renato
The guards at Oscar’s gate are nothing more than speedbumps beneath my tires as we burst through the wrought iron and onto his property.
Gunfire is intense and immediate as his remaining gate guards start shooting. It ends quickly as my men swarm them and bring them down.
We continue to the house. The front drive is quiet. Oscar truly is the biggest fool I’ve ever encountered. He thought I’d be content to sit back and let him keep my Maddie hostage? He didn’t put extra guards on the gate, and no one’s out front to meet us.
“This is going to be a bloodbath.” Antony grins.
“Yay,” Claudio says half-heartedly, already sounding queasy from his spot in the backseat.
“You can stay here.” I turn to him.
He shakes his head. “No. Clara’s in there. I think … I think I love her.”
“Obviously.” Antony shrugs.
“What?”
“Renato and I took bets on how long it’d take you to steal her from Oscar.” Antony glances at me. “You won.”
“I know my brother.”
Claudio sputters. “Well, if you both already knew, maybe you could’ve told me?”
“I knew you’d figure it out eventually.” I reach back and slide the safety off on his gun. “Now let’s go get our women.”
I step out of the car as my men pull up, some of them mowing down the manicured landscaping as an added ‘fuck you.’
Antony and Claudio follow close behind me as I walk to the front door. It opens, and we all dive to the side as gunfire erupts in a torrent. Yanking a grenade from my vest, I pull the pin and throw it as my men pepper the door with shot after shot.
The explosion smashes the windows and busts the door right off its hinges. More gunfire erupts from the second-story windows, but my soldiers are firing back, taking out everyone who dares step out of cover.