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)
When the four opposing heads lie dead and their blood pools around them, silence descends on the factory for a few seconds.
“Take photos of the bodies so we can send warnings out to the other families,” Christiano orders before turning around and heading out while grumbling, “What a fucking waste of manpower.”
I look at all the bodies scattered across the office floor and feel absolutely nothing as I follow my capo out of the warehouse.
“Don’t be late for the party,” Georgi shouts for all to hear.
“It’s at nine, right?” Augusto asks with a playful tone.
“Fuck you. If you’re a minute late, I’m shooting off your big toe.”
We all laugh, and when Little Ricky and I get back in our SUV, he mutters, “That was anti-climactic.”
“What did you expect?” I raise my eyebrow at him.
“I don’t know. Maybe a little effort on their part to stay alive.”
A chuckle rumbles from me. “Let’s go home. I have to get ready for Georgi and Nina’s engagement party.”
Little Ricky laughs silently.
“What?” I bark.
“You and the word party never go together in the same sentence.”
“It’s for Georgi.”
Laurie’s very excited for tonight.
Just thinking about her has me growling, “Get us home faster.”
“What’s the hurry?” he asks.
“I miss my wife.”
“You saw her two hours ago. Careful that you don’t smother her.”
“Shut up and drive,” I mutter, then add, “I’ll smother her all I fucking want.”
He shakes his head at me but at least speeds up.
I pull my phone out and stalk my wife on the security feeds, watching as she goes through different outfits, probably trying to decide what to wear tonight.
When she holds a shimmery black dress in front of her, I bring up her number and press dial.
It rings for a while, and just as I frown, she answers, “Hi!”
“Where was your phone?”
“At the bottom of my handbag, which is like a black hole.”
“Whenever I’m away, you have to keep it close, in case there’s an emergency and you need to call me.”
“Okay.”
“Wear the black dress.”
“Huh?” She gasps. “How did you know? Are you home?”
“No, I was watching you on the security feed.”
“What?” She inhales sharply. “There’s a camera in our bedroom?! Oh my God, Adriano. We had sex in here.”
I let out a burst of laughter. “There’s a camera in every room, mia piccola farfalla. Only me and Rosie have access. And I only mention Rosie because she can hack into anything, but I know she won’t invade our privacy unless there’s an emergency, so don’t stress.”
“Oh. Where is the camera?” she asks, sounding curious.
“Ceiling. You won’t see it.”
I hear her move around our bedroom. “How’s work?”
“Done. I’m almost home.”
“Good. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
When we hang up, Little Ricky mimics me, “Miss you, too.”
I slap the back of his headrest, which makes him chuckle.
Finally, he steers the SUV up the driveway, and when we get out, I tell him, “Be ready at six.”
“Got it.”
While he heads to his apartment, I stalk toward the front door that opens, and when I see my smiling wife, my heart fills with overpowering love for her.
“Hi.”
I don’t reply but just hook my arm around her, lifting her off her feet. Laurie grabs hold of my shoulders, and I don’t even bother shutting the door as I carry her to our bedroom.
“I missed you,” I say as I head up the stairs.
“I missed you more.”
I shake my head. “Impossible.”
Stopping beside our bed, I gently set her down, with the intention of jumping in the shower, but Laurie presses her mouth to mine.
I grip the sides of her head and kiss her with all the desire that’s been building inside of me the past several days.
Dr. Milazzo said as long as we’re careful, intimacy is fine after ten days.
I tear my mouth from hers before I lose every ounce of control, then mutter, “It’s going to be the longest four days of my fucking life, waiting until I can make love to you again.”
“Yep.” With flushed cheeks, she walks to where the dress is hanging. “Let’s get ready. I don’t want to be late.”
“How are things between you, Nina, and Yuki?”
“So good!” The smile spreading over her face is stunning. “They’ve been like two mother hens, checking on me every day. Nina sent me the cutest video of her daughter. Wanna see?”
“Sure.” For Laurie, I’d watch all the damn videos in the world.
She hurries to the bedside table and picks up her phone, and when she rushes to me, I mutter, “Slow down, mia piccola farfalla. Stop with the sudden movements, it’s making me nervous. The last thing I want is that fucking artery ripping open.”
Opening her phone, she finds the video and presses play.
It shows Georgi in the kitchen, peeling shells from a boiled egg, before sitting down beside Simi.
“Thank you, Daddy,” the little girl says, making surprise ripple over my friend’s face. “I like my eggs… ahh… a lot.”