Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 131455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
She keeps finding ways to crack me open and expose me to a more profound love than I've felt before. That love will never be enough to wash away my guilt, however. She deserves to know that I played a part in her mother's murder. I know I didn't pull the trigger, but I didn't have to, to know I was partially responsible for her death. I've stirred up trouble in Bianca's life for longer than I knew she existed, and I need to make things right. There needs to be a clean slate for us moving forward.
But not now. Not quite yet. I need to soak in her love a little while longer.
Her shining, dark hair smells of lavender when I lower my head to place a kiss on her temple. “I love you. No matter what happens, no matter who gets in our way. I need you to know that will never change. In my heart, this is who and where we are. The two of us, dancing like this. Forever.”
“I wish this night would never end.”
“We'll have to come back here. This can be our place. To hell with anybody who's got a reservation—they can come back another time. I want to be here with my girl.”
“Hopefully, one day soon, we won't have to hide. Everything will be safe, and there won't be any fears of Jack or his men attacking us.” I don't know that we'll ever have a day without any lingering fears of the enemy lying in wait, but I do know things will be better than they are now. Eventually.
“That day is coming. I promise.” I hold her tighter, closing my eyes and sucking in deep breaths of her scent into my nose. Savoring her warmth, her body's soft curves, and the way it moves with mine. “This is us, here, in this moment. Nothing is going to change us. I refuse to let that happen.”
I'm reminded then that there is no controlling Bianca. This is her life as well, and she deserves to have a say in what happens, so even if it kills me to lose her after my confession, I'll have no option but to let her go if that's what she wants.
“I love you.” She lifts her head to gaze up at me, blissfully unaware of my worries. “And if the baby is a boy, I hope he looks just like you.”
A son. “I hope he has your smarts, because if he has mine, we're in trouble.”
“Don't sell yourself short. You're a pretty smart guy. I mean, how would you have gotten as far as you have if you weren't?”
No comment.
It hasn't all been about intelligence. There's also a degree of ruthlessness involved, and I would rather my son not have to take the steps I did. “Smarts is only half of it. It's no secret that I've made enemies in my line of work. I don't want this for our children. They'll have options, too. Choices. They won't have to do the things I've done.”
“Our children can do whatever they want, be whoever they want to be.” Bianca beams up at me.
Knowing how happy she is, and the hope resonating in her, leaves me feeling cautiously hopeful, as well. Like nothing but good things are coming our way. A future full of happiness. That is unless she decides I'm not worth the risk when she finds out her mother didn't have to know I existed in order for me to end her life. If that's possible, what's possible for the people closest to me? I want Bianca to know she's always safe with me, yet I can't help being reminded of everything her father said. All of it was horrible, but they were all true.
I'd love more than anything to bury the secrets, but Bianca deserves to know. She deserves to know everything.
BIANCA
“What about Harvard or Yale? We should start a college fund right away.”
“Whoa, slow down. We need to do one thing at a time,” I assure as we cross the front patio of the restaurant on our way out to the car. I love his enthusiasm, but we should focus on getting through this pregnancy before choosing a school. “We don't even know if it's a boy or a girl, and you already have them attending an Ivy League school.”
“Nowadays, you have to plan far in advance. Trust me,” he insists when I snicker. “I still wake up in a cold sweat when I remember those bills I got from the bursar's office, and you girls didn't go to an Ivy League school.”
“I'm shocked. Even Mr. Torrio himself is worried about the cost of a university?”
He smirks, “Even people with money can experience sticker shock, trust me.”
“Okay, well, let's wait until we have a due date before we start the college fund, okay?” Though I can't pretend it doesn't make me excited knowing he's looking forward to raising our baby. There I was, nervous he'd be upset and think it was too soon.