Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Lucca answered her. “That is one of her biggest regrets. She was at the height of her modeling career. They wanted children, but decided to wait a few years. It was too late after the accident for her to have a family. She never remarried. She asked Geno to help her stay here in the States. She didn’t want to go back to Italy.”
Salvatore took over telling the story. “In the end, she decided she wanted her own business, a little boutique with items she discovered herself from little-known designers she met in her travels but had made a huge impression on her. She went to Lucca; he’s good at proposals, and he helped her plan it all. Then she came to me, and I found this space and helped her design the interior. Then we went to Geno so she could lay it all out. She wanted it to be strictly business.”
Geno heard the pride in Salvatore’s voice. It was impossible to miss it. They felt strongly about Miranda. She wanted to succeed on her own. She might need Geno’s help to start a business, but she was determined she would stand on her own two feet. She made that clear.
“Lucca and I knew Geno would never turn her down even if her business was going to be a disaster. He’d find a way to turn it around for her, but she had the proposal, which was solid, and a good place for a store, in a high-traffic area. It was the right location for high-end merchandise like Miranda envisioned. One-of-a-kind items from artists all over the world. Miranda really has an eye for beautiful clothing, jewelry and other things. Her boutique has been very successful almost from the opening.”
“She works too hard,” Geno groused.
Salvatore and Lucca agreed with him.
“Did you manage to get everyone to leave?” he asked Salvatore and Lucca. “I’m sorry I put that on you, but I didn’t want to start a fight. I don’t want to look at Stefano until I calm down.”
There was a small silence. Geno faced his brothers. Both wore a stony expression. That wasn’t good.
“Tell me.”
“Everyone left with the exception of Stefano,” Salvatore admitted. “He refused. Nothing we said could persuade him. His bodyguards, Enzo and Emilio, remained behind as well. Stefano convinced his brothers to go when they wanted to stay and talk to you. Everyone was upset, especially Taviano. There was an argument between Taviano and Stefano in private. In the end, Taviano and Nicoletta left, but it was clear they didn’t want to go.”
“You should have made it clear to Stefano that he wasn’t welcome,” Geno said, an edge to his voice. He felt edgy. He had to go back home and face an argument with Stefano—or worse, a physical altercation. The worst of it was, there was a part of him that welcomed that physical battle with Stefano. That was how hurt he was. How angry. How far he’d retreated into himself.
“I made it clear we wanted him to leave, Geno,” Salvatore said.
“Both of us did,” Lucca added.
“If you made it so clear,” Geno pointed out, his voice low, but with a distinct growl in it, “Stefano would be gone, and I wouldn’t have to deal with him when I get home tonight.”
There was a long silence. Neither one of his brothers argued or debated with him when normally they would have.
“I might be new to the family circle,” Amaranthe ventured, “but if I get an opinion, I think there are a few things none of you have considered.”
“You don’t have a clue what’s going on, Amara.” Geno cut her off. He couldn’t listen to her, the voice of reason. She was going to leave just like everyone else in his life. She might as well do it now, before it would rip his soul out. He needed Amaranthe to want to be with him, but he couldn’t take it if he believed in her and she abandoned him the way his parents had and now Stefano. Geno’s chest hurt. He hadn’t had physical symptoms like this since his parents had abandoned him.
The temperature in the tiny little room should have been hot as hell, but it suddenly dropped dramatically, the air chilling. He’d had very little reason in his life to feel ashamed, but he was overwhelmed with the emotion. He wasn’t a fucking coward, but he was acting like it, deliberately trying to drive Amaranthe away when she didn’t deserve it. He was treating his brothers like shit as well when all they’d done was support him. They’d supported Amaranthe without really knowing much more about her than he’d chosen her as his woman.
“I’m sorry. Amaranthe, I’m very sorry. Of course you have a say. You’re part of the family and probably the only one of us who is thinking with your brain. Salvatore and Lucca, I owe you both an apology as well. I know dealing with Stefano is impossible when he makes up his mind to do something. That’s what makes him so good at being who he is. I had no right to talk to any of you that way.”