Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
“I’ll handle that,” I say. “You need to focus on burying your wife and taking care of Bella.”
I watch as Dante stumbles to take a seat. If I didn’t know I could fix this, I’d feel bad for him. Yet, I do know I can fix it and I know he’ll be better off for it.
At the start of this, I resigned myself, accepting that I was going to cause a lot of pain before I handed over all the happiness. Luckily, I have the stomach for myself and my methods. I know how far I’m willing to go.
“What am I supposed to do? Bella has already been craving female attention. This will be devastating for her.”
“Will it?” I seriously doubt it, but this shows me the delusion he’s allowed himself to live in.
“I don’t know. Lately, she’s seemed to be more and more afraid of Bethany. Thank God for Lizzy. Bella seems to smile the most when she’s around.”
Enough of this bullshit. It’s time I pull him back into reality. I need to show him all the shit surrounding him that he’s choosing to ignore.
“And there’s your answer. Hire Lizzy as your live-in PA. Promote her. She’s been running your life like your office wife for three years now, whether you realize it or not.”
“That’s a complicated relationship. I don’t want to confuse Bella. There’s already so much on her little shoulders.”
“You mean you want to fuck Lizzy,” Dario says smugly.
“Is your dick still leaking for your best friend? Don’t judge me until you’ve finally gotten that nut out of the way.”
Nice one. If the situation wasn’t so serious, I’d laugh. These two can go at it for hours.
However, I home in on Dario’s body language. I pull a face and nod to myself. Interesting.
“Again, it’s only complicated because you want to fuck her. I said what I said, asshole.”
“About time,” I croon and slap him on the back, trying to force answers out of him while he’s in his emotions. “You two deserve to be together.”
“I didn’t say we’re together. I leave for Italy after the New Year. Nothing has changed.”
Christ. Why are they making this shit so hard for me? This has to be my karma for Ny.
The smile falls from my face. I look at Jace. Note to self: there’s no way he knows about the baby. From the look in Jace’s eyes, he’s come to the same conclusion.
I turn back to Dante and catch him staring at me. While Dario is the curious one, Dante is observant when he wants to be. I narrow my eyes. We’re not going to ignore the main issue at hand.
“Promote Lizzy. It will work out in the end. Bella is attached. Lizzy cares about her. You can trust her. I promise you that. Lizzy will always protect Bella with her life. It’s who she is.”
I’m over this conversation. I have somewhere else to be. There are other balls I need to throw into the air. Dante starts to list the reasons Lizzy won’t work out, but I’m not having it.
“It’s already done, Dante. Promote her, or I will.”
“This is my daughter, my life, Gio. I have to think about her feelings and what’s best for her. Lizzy already told me her business is more important to her. She won’t want the job.” He stands and shouts.
He has to be fucking kidding me. First, who the fuck is he talking to? Second, these are all his issues, not Bella’s or Lizzy’s. Granted, he doesn’t know I’ve planted Lizzy in his life for such a time as this.
That last one is the only reason I don’t snap. Although, I do move to get in his face and look him in the eyes. My chest heaves with my repressed anger. I crack my knuckles at my sides.
“When have I ever led you wrong? When have I ever not been ten steps ahead in life? I see what you all don’t. My niece is my top priority. Get over your bullshit. This is the right thing to do. I have you covered. Lizzy’s life will work out to fit yours. It’s already done.”
With that, I turn and walk out. I feel Jace on my heels, it takes everything in me not to turn and punch him right in the face. Public Lewdness. You don’t get a ticket for tonguing someone down in the middle of the street.
It might just be time I removed myself from all of this. Trust is all I ask for. If I don’t have that, I’m gone.
“G, I can hear you thinking,” Jace says as we walk out the front door.
“If you can, then you know to shut the fuck up before I put a bullet in your lying mouth.”
He places a hand on my shoulder as I reach for the SUV door handle and go to open it. I grab his hand and spin to toss him up against the SUV by his collar. I’m vibrating with rage.