Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
This time I shake my head hard. “No, Adriano. You can’t kill them. That would be taking it a bit too far.” When I can see he’s going to argue, I give him the most serious look I can conjure on my face. “They aren’t a part of your… our world,” I quickly correct myself. “They were just mean people, and you scaring the crap out of them is enough punishment for me. Trust me. If you did that to me, I’d sleep with one eye open for the rest of my life. Let them live with the fear.”
He lets out a heavy breath. “Fine, but only because it’s what you want.”
“It is.” I place my left hand against the side of his neck. “Thank you for my wedding gift.”
Just as he leans in and kisses me, we hear, “Laurie!”
When Yuki and Nina rush into the room, I’m so surprised, I just stare at them.
Adriano quickly gets up, then Yuki gives me a tight hug before Nina embraces me as well.
They came.
My nose tingles as happy tears threaten to fall, but I fight them back.
“You came,” I voice my thoughts out loud.
“I’ll go get your phone. Do you need me to bring anything else from home?” Adriano asks.
When I shake my head, he gives me a quick kiss before leaving me with my friends.
Friends. Plural.
A smile spreads over my face as I look at Yuki and Nina.
“Are you okay?” Nina asks.
“Yeah. They’re just keeping me prisoner for observation.”
Yuki lets out a chuckle. “I take it you don’t like hospitals?”
I shake my head. “Who does?”
“I couldn’t believe my ears when Augusto told me what happened,” Yuki says. “It’s insane. I didn’t know Marco, but it’s damn scary to think one of our own can turn on us like that.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever trust the guards,” Nina gives her two cents. A dark expression moves over her face, making me wonder if there’s a story there.
When she sees my questioning gaze, she says, “A guard almost killed Simi. Georgi saved her.”
“Jesus!” My eyes go wide as saucers, hearing her daughter was in any kind of danger.
Nina showed me photos of Simi at the barbecue. I can’t believe anyone would hurt that adorable little girl.
“Since that day, Georgi has been Simi’s prince,” Nina says, a soft smile curving her lips.
Yuki lightly slaps Nina’s shoulder. “Tell her the good news.”
“Yes. I could do with hearing something positive,” I join in.
Nina lifts her left hand, showing me a gorgeous diamond on her ring finger. “Georgi proposed.”
Yuki shrieks as if she’s hearing the news for the first time, while I smile from ear to ear, saying, “I’m so happy for you, Nina! Tell me everything. Was it romantic?”
“It was perfect.” A dreamy expression settles on her beautiful face. “Georgi told us to meet him for a picnic in Central Park. I thought he was running late because of work, and Simi was running around with a bottle of bubble solution, blowing bubbles everywhere when men started blowing trumpets. You know, like in Disney movies?”
I’m not sure, but I nod anyway.
“Santino, our head of security, was dressed as a royal herald and shouted, ‘Hear ye. Hear ye, Prince Georgi requests the attention of Princess Simi and Princess Nina.’ Simi almost lost her mind from excitement as Georgi came along riding on a horse, prince costume and all.”
“Oh my God,” I gasp, completely engrossed.
“He then went down on one knee in front of Simi and asked if he could be her daddy. While I cried, and I mean, I sobbed, she said yes, and by the time he kneeled in front of me, I was a blubbering mess.”
“I would be too, girl,” Yuki says, rubbing Nina’s shoulder.
“He then asked if I would do him the honor of becoming his queen and marrying him, and of course, I said yes.”
“That’s so stinking romantic!” I give her left hand a squeeze, then I look at Yuki. “How did Augusto propose to you?”
“He didn’t. Ours was an arranged marriage.”
My jaw drops. “They still do that in this day and age?”
Yuki nods but grins happily. “He saved me from a very bad situation.” Shrugging, she adds, “We love each other so it all worked out for the best.”
Since the hospital belongs to the Cosa Nostra, they visit with me for a while until my mother-in-law walks into the room.
“Laurie, are you okay?” she asks, concern making her frown. “You’re so pale.”
“I’m fine, Mom. Just a little tired.”
I’m exhausted but also enjoying the visit.
“We should get going,” Nina says.
They both give me a hug, and after they leave, Mom lifts her eyebrow at me. “You’re overdoing it.” She helps adjust the bed, and when I lie back down, she sits beside me and brushes her fingers through my hair. “How do you really feel, sweetheart?”