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)
“Rico,” she whispers.
I pull away slightly to look down into her face. She cups my cheek and runs her finger over my facial hair. I must look so different to her.
Not able to wait a minute longer, I dip my head and press my lips to hers. I don’t deepen the kiss, and I don’t pull away, afraid she might vanish the moment I try to take too much or break the connection.
“Rico, what the fuck? Who is she?”
Reluctantly, I pull away to find Alyissa glaring at Oni. I’m hit hard with the feeling of déjà vu. I clench my jaw. I’m not about to do this shit again.
“This is my fiancée, Oni,” I say as I give Oni’s waist a squeeze.
She flips her long, waist-length, jet-black hair over her shoulder. “Your fiancée? What the fuck are you talking about?
“You were just talking to my father about proposing to me. Are you serious? What kind of game are you playing?”
“I’m not playing any games. Your father asked me to think about a merger between our families. I never committed to anything,” I reply.
“You’re going to pay for humiliating me, asshole.”
With that, she storms off. Oni moves like she’s going to go after her, but I grab her arm to stop her. She turns to me and some of the anger fades from her face as we lock eyes.
“Don’t worry about her,” I say.
“Fiancée?” she says and lifts a brow.
I wink at her and reach to brush her bangs out of her eyes. I still can’t believe I’m looking at her in the flesh. I don’t know what to feel.
“Oni?”
Turning toward the voice of Mario, I set eyes on him, Al, and Ed. However, Mario seems to be the only one surprised to see Oni. I shake my head.
He didn’t know. As I muse on that, Oni runs into Mario’s embrace. I take her in from behind.
Marone. My girl is all grown up. Her hips are more shapely, her ass is fatter, and she’s filling out that dress like an Insta model. I move behind her and tug her into my front.
Not able to hold myself back, I press my lips to the butterfly tat on the back of her neck. It looks like she has a swarm of them rising up behind her ear and right into the corner of her hairline, just above her nape.
“What’s going on?” Mario says in confusion.
“She’s been in Italy. That asshole lied.”
I can’t take my hands off her. For the first time in three years, I’m growing hard. She has to feel me stabbing into her ass.
I probably should give her space, but I can’t bring myself to. Mario’s face lights up as he comes out of his shock. I think I can understand how he feels. I still haven’t fully processed what’s before me.
“Romano will be a problem,” Uncle Emilio says in my ear as he claps me on my shoulder.
I shrug him off. I already know I’ll have to deal with Romano and Alyissa. Trust me, I’ve learned from my mistakes.
Oni
It has felt weird to be back in New York. I’ve been in my new penthouse apartment in Manhattan since I arrived. A gift from Emilio himself, for my birthday.
However, the best gift I could have asked for is wrapped tightly around me. Rico hasn’t let me out of his sight. I had planned to come home alone after the party.
This man wasn’t having that. He insisted that we needed to spend the night together and talk. I don’t think it’s settled in that I had a part in disappearing.
I’ve been holding my breath waiting for it to. Once he figures it out, I don’t know that he’s going to be so clingy anymore. I don’t want to lose him over this.
I smile as he tosses his jacket toward my couch. His gun holster is next. I guess he’s making himself at home.
He presses a kiss to the back of my neck, still not releasing me from his hold. I melt into his embrace, savoring his strong arms around me.
“Can I get you something to dri—”
My words are cut off as he grasps my neck and turns me to face him. In the next breath, his lips are on mine. It’s not like the kisses he’s been giving me all night.
This one is desperate and all-consuming. He’s practically eating my face. I moan into his mouth as I cling to his shirt.
“I want you so much,” he groans as his hands are everywhere.
“Rico, don’t you think we should talk?”
“I figured most of it out. I don’t want to talk about it. Trust me, baby, I know my uncle.
“He told you some shit that sounded good at the time to get you to leave me. Then he made you my competition and brought you back home to rub it in my face. You’re the earner who’s been crushing my earnings,” he growls as he pulls the zipper down on my dress.