Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Marone, word is tonight isn’t about Rico. Well, it is, but it’s not. He’s giving the kid his flowers, but the real celebration is about his daughters. He’s bringing them back home.”
“Don’t you mean daughter? He only has the one.”
“Yeah, yeah, one by blood, but word is getting around fast about the other one.”
I knit my brows. Emilia is my uncle’s only daughter. These two must have had too much to drink. However, I lock in and listen.
“Other one?”
“Marone, you really don’t pay attention, do you? You better get your head on straight. Gallo isn’t fucking around about her. Word is, he’ll blow your brains out himself over her.”
“Who is she?”
“In the old country, they say she’s more ruthless all on her own than the trinity put together.”
I try not to scoff. He’s referring to Uncle Emilio, my father, and me. This guy is talking shit. Ain’t no fucking way.
“You’re shitting me.”
“Nope, not shitting you at all. My cousin back home says he had a run-in with her. One of his guys fucked something up and she handled him. Let’s just say I’m happy to be on this side.”
“You still haven’t told me who she is.”
“She’s the one who took that bullet for the don’s princess. Things are changing around here for sure. We’re to bow down to a mulignan.”
“If what you’re saying is true, you better watch that shit. I’ve seen the Don bury men for less.”
My head is buzzing as I stand in confusion. Oni took a bullet for Emilia, but she’s dead. How … motherfucker.
I play that day in the hospital back in my head. My Uncle chose his words carefully. I was also too distraught to follow if he was lying to me or not. In hindsight, he gave all the tells that he was.
His wording was off, he wouldn’t look at me, he tried to console me. If I wasn’t so fucking destroyed, I would have picked up on all of it that day.
I storm out of the stall as rage rushes through my blood. This has my uncle written all over it. I never saw a body. I was in a jail cell before I could confirm a word he said.
“Hey, baby. Congratulations,” Alyissa says as she appears in front of me.
“Not now,” I bite out.
I move forward blindly. I need answers. So much is starting to make sense.
I haven’t talked to Pop in three years, not for lack of trying. I figured he was pissed at me about Oni. I thought he blamed me for her death.
The two had become close. However, if she’s alive. Fuck.
He knows. The old country. She’s been right under my nose in Italy. That’s where Pop has been.
Everything shifts in the ballroom. Everyone’s attention turns to the door. I move to the empty dance floor and stand there, staring at the entrance.
In walks my father. He looks a little older, but still sharp. A smile comes to his face when his gaze lands on me.
He opens his arms and waves me to him. I go to embrace him, but I freeze when Uncle Emilio walks in with Emilia on one arm and none other than Oni on the other.
“Fuck outta here,” I breathe.
She looks beautiful as she stands there, looking like she owns the room. There’s something different about her. I swallow hard as I take her in.
She’s a little taller, but not by much. It could be the red patent leather pointed-toe heels on her feet. Heels that are making her silky-looking legs look long and shapely.
She has cut all her hair off. The sides are short, but she still has full bangs that fall into her eyes. She’s dressed in a black dress that’s fitted with a sheer layer over top that bunches and angles in different places, bringing a sophistication and elegance to the look.
All that innocence is gone from her gorgeous face. Her eyes look sharper. There is also something about her presence that’s more powerful than it once was.
Her lips are painted a bright red to match her shoes, making her full lips pop. Her gaze moves over the room as if she’s searching for someone. When her eyes land on me, a huge smile comes to her lips.
I’m in motion before I can think of what I’m doing. My father forgotten, I move past him and straight for the love of my life. I wrap her in my embrace, cupping her head to my chest as I hold her tightly.
“Rico, we should talk,” my uncle says.
“Fuck you.”
“You best remember yourself.”
“You lied to me. You told me she was dead. I have nothing to say to you.”
I close my eyes and inhale deeply. Her scent does everything to calm me down. I begin to sway with her in my hold. She’s real.
I can feel her heart beating against my chest. She’s fucking alive. I tighten my hold.