Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
He moved back to the table, shaking his head slightly.
“I don’t like this outcome.” It killed me to walk away from it all. To accept all the consequences that would come later. How it would affect Rome and its people. “But I couldn’t live with the other choice. I chose Aurelia, and I would choose her again a thousand times. You know the Roman Republic is built on my blood, sweat, and tears. You know I would die for it. But she’s my Roman Empire—and I will defend her with everything that I have. I’m not fucking sorry for the choice I made. But I’m sorry that you’re so fucking disappointed.”
“He killed your brother, and you’re just going to let him go.”
I couldn’t believe he said those words to me. Cut me deep on purpose, called me a coward without actually saying it. I would have punched him in the face or thrown him across the table if I weren’t utterly demoralized enough as it was. “Go fuck yourself, Rocco.”
We drove to the airport, and I chartered a private plane to Taormina.
It was almost dawn by the time we left. I carried Medusa onto the plane and made her comfortable on a large dog bed. I had been able to get some pain medication for her so she could relax before I got her the care she needed in Sicily.
I knew Darius had his men tail me all the way to the airport. Knew if I overstayed my welcome, that psychopath might change his mind and break every bone in Medusa’s body and make Aurelia his new wife.
Aurelia continued to cast glances at me, her stare full of concern and worry, like she knew I was a broken vessel inside. I’d worked my whole life to earn this position, and I knew damn well I was the only one good enough to do it. It took all my strength to turn my back on it, my people, my country, and let a dictator seize it.
It would haunt me for the rest of my life.
When we arrived in Sicily, the first thing I did was take Medusa to the veterinary hospital. She’d been patient for hours, dealing with a broken leg with only the occasional whine because my girl was fucking tough.
I checked her in with the doctor, and after a couple x-rays, they realized her leg was broken in two different places. She needed surgery right away, and even though it was supposed to take a week to get her on the schedule, I paid a million euros to the surgeon to do it in the next few hours.
I wasn’t going to let my girl be in pain for a fucking week.
I was dead fucking tired and emotionally drained, but Aurelia didn’t ask me about it. She just held my hand or touched my arm or comforted me with her silence—like she knew I wasn’t ready to talk.
Hours later, we got Medusa back, her leg wrapped up and her meds in tow, and I drove us into Taormina. Returning to this special place should fill me with joy, but for the first time, it filled me with pain. We didn’t drive to the hotel where we’d met, but to my residence because the renovations had just been completed.
We pulled through the gates and around the fountain out front and then into the garage. The place was empty of security and staff because I hadn’t told anyone I was returning to the house. They were still on their paid hiatus until my return. I’d been so busy with everything that had happened that notifying them hadn’t crossed my mind at all.
I carried the bags inside, up the stairs to my bedroom, and then returned downstairs, where I’d left Medusa on the couch. She was still drowsy from the meds and clearly pain-free for the time being.
Aurelia sat beside her, gently petting the side of her cheek while she stroked her side, like a mother looking after her sick child. The compassion and concern she had for Medusa was clear as day.
I could see it written all over her face. “I’d take her upstairs, but she’ll need to go out soon.”
She kept her eyes on the dog she already loved like her own. “I’ll stay with her, Constantine. You should shower and rest. I know it’s been a hard day for you.” She lifted her chin and looked at me.
“I think your day has been worse than mine.” Cornered by Darius, with nowhere to go, she must have been utterly terrified. I’d crashed into two cars as I’d raced through the streets to get to her and didn’t even stop to see if the passengers were okay. I’d run all the red lights and sped straight to her. Abandoned all my obligations and my men for her.