Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
There’s a spark of anger on Anton’s face, and I walk closer to say, “I was never yours, Anton. I love Georgi, and I willingly share his bed with him.”
Georgi lets out another chuckle. “I’m one lucky bastard.” He slaps his hands together. “Time to get this show on the road, motherfuckers. Our daughter is waiting at home for us, and I don’t like disappointing her. I promised to watch Tangled with her.”
He comes to press a kiss to the top of my head. “Wait in the other room, baby. I won’t be long.”
I leave the cell and hurry to the window, not wanting to miss a thing.
Georgi walks to a control panel near the door and stares at Boris and Anton. When his face settles into grim lines, they begin to shake their heads.
Georgi presses a button, then quickly steps out of the room and pulls the door shut.
I watch as the grids on the vents lift up, and rats start to wiggle to get through. As soon as the first one scurries across the floor, Boris begins to shout.
Georgi takes hold of my hand, and we link our fingers.
Suddenly, the rats pour into the cell like a tidal wave, and as one jumps up Boris’ leg, Anton kicks wildly.
The shouts and wails coming from the men seem to spur on the rats who stream up their bodies, finding all the spots where their skin has been broken.
“How do holding up?” Georgi asks me.
Feeling his eyes on me, I continue to watch, not wanting to miss a second as Boris and Anton die.
Only when their screaming stops, and their heads hang backward, do I whisper, “It’s over.” My chin begins to quiver, and my eyes tear up. “It’s finally over.”
I look up at Georgi, the man who has completely changed my life, and all I see is a wonderful future where I get to raise Simi with him.
I have the family I’ve always wanted.
Georgi
I wanted to wait until Boris and Anton were dead before telling Nina about the results of her blood work and scans.
Today is a big day.
We’re hosting our first barbecue. Besides my family, only Augusto, Yuki, and Adriano have been invited. I want to ease Nina into the Cosa Nostra.
Nina comes down the stairs, wearing a pale green dress that reaches all the way to her feet.
“You look stunning, angelche moe.”
“Thank you.” She smiles, then glances around the living room and foyer. “Where’s Simi?”
I gesture at the castle. “She’s drawing.”
I tip my head to the kitchen. “I have something to tell you.”
A curious expression forms on her face as she follows me. I lift her to sit on the island, and brace my hands on either side of her.
“Dr. Milazzo called. I got your results, but I wanted to wait until we were done with the past.”
“My results?” she asks, confusion flickering across her face.
“Your blood work and scans.”
“Oh...” Worry creeps into her eyes. “Am I okay?”
A smile curves my lips up as I nod. “You’re more than okay. There’s nothing wrong, and he says you should be able to have children.”
Gasping, her hands fly up to cover her mouth. “Really?”
“Really.” My expression turns serious as I continue, “So, I will continue using condoms. I’d like to wait a while before we even start talking about having more kids.”
“I could get birth control,” she offers softly.
“Whatever you’re comfortable with, baby. It’s your choice.”
“Georgi!” Simi calls out. “Where are you?”
“In the kitchen, malkata mi printsesa,” I reply before pressing a tender kiss to Nina’s lips. I help her back onto her feet, then turn to Simi as she comes in with a page in her hand.
“I made you this.”
Taking it, I look at the drawing. There’s a tall stick figure, the legs three times as long as the body. It kinda looks like a scarecrow, with two other stick figures sitting on its arms.
“That’s you.” Simi points at the picture. “You’re holding Mama and me.”
“It’s the most beautiful picture ever!” I scoop her up as I climb to my feet and walk to the fridge. “This is a big moment, Simi.”
“Why?”
“Because only the best pictures get stuck on the fridge door.”
“Yay!” She kicks her legs. “And it’s mine.”
“Baby, come help,” I tell Nina.
She hurries closer, a wide smile on her face. “What do I do?”
“I’m going to pin the page to the fridge, and you’re going to put the magnet over it.”
“Got it.”
“And me?” Simi asks.
I look down at her. “You made the drawing.”
She lets out a chuckle, then watches as Nina and I stick the page to the door.
“All done.”
We step back, and I pull Nina into my side as we stare at our first family portrait.
“Hello,” I hear Mom call.
With Simi in my arms, I walk out of the kitchen, feeling Nina slightly behind me.
“Hey.” I smell the aroma of the creamy potatoes coming from the dish in Mom’s hands. “That smells good.”