Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 39687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“What can’t you do?”
“Live without you. I fucking love you, and there’s no way I’m ever going to leave you, or let you go.”
“You love me?”
“Yes. So fucking much it hurts.”
“I love you too.” Tears fell down her face, and she kissed him back. “I didn’t expect to love you. I mean, for the longest time I thought I hated you, but it’s not true. There is no way I could ever hate you. I love you so much.”
He kissed her hard, cupping her ass as he pulled her close.
She felt the evidence of his arousal digging into her hip, but she didn’t care. All that mattered to her was being with this man, the love of her life, for the rest of theirs.
“I love you,” he said. “And I’m going to make sure no one will ever harm you again.”
“But, what about your dad? He’s going to come back. You know he is. He doesn’t want me to have a baby girl.”
Marcus went to his knees, pressing his face against her stomach.
“He is already dead.”
“Marcus? What does this mean? Are you safe?”
“Yes, I’m safe. As safe as can be expected.”
“Will they hunt you down? What is going to happen?”
“I went to The Boss.”
She gasped. “You spoke to him? Does he know the truth?”
“He knows the truth and understood what needed to be done. I will be given the city tomorrow. He will announce me as the new capo, and I will take over the role from my father. You will always be safe, and I will take steps to ensure your safety. You will never fear for your life or our baby’s, never again. I swear to you.” He took her hands in his. “There is something I want to talk to you about.”
“What is it?”
“You. Me. This life. It’s not going to be easy. I won’t be a good guy, Laura. I will be a monster. There is no going back from this life, only forward.”
“I know what you mean. I’m not blind to what happens now.”
“I’m giving you a chance to leave.”
“What?”
“If you want a fresh life. One away from this world, and to have your own life, I will not hold it against you. I want you to be free and to be happy. But you only have this one chance.”
“So long as I’ve got you in my life, I don’t care about anything else. I love you, Marcus. I didn’t think I ever would, but I do, more than anything.” She sank to her knees, albeit rather clumsily. They both chuckled as he helped her. “I will stay by your side through thick and thin. Your father did get something right by bringing us together, and this is where I’ll stay.”
“Last chance.”
“No, I’m not going anywhere. I didn’t pick you, but we were always supposed to be together.”
“I know,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about our past. How our lives, against all odds, melded together. You were always supposed to belong to me, and now, I won’t be giving you back, Laura. You will be mine, and I want to have a family with you. To raise our children in a loving home and to give them what I never had.” He kissed her again. “When I get home, I’m going to show you just how much I love you, and worship every single part of your body.”
“Where are you going?” she asked, happier than she had ever been in her life.
“I’ve got to go and give a boss a doctor.”
Epilogue
Five years later
Being the capo of the city was one of Marcus’s dreams. He knew he would take over from his father, and finally rule the way he always wanted. Never did he anticipate killing his father or having a wife and three children as he accomplished this. He would have laughed in anyone’s face who said not only would he be capo with a wife and three children, but he’d love her more than anything in the world.
Standing in his office, he looked out of the window and watched as Laura chased after their children.
Little Liam was sitting in his chair, slapping his hands onto the small table keeping him in place, laughing.
Their daughter Emily, with her brown hair cascading around her, ran from her mother but kept stopping, giggling as Laura pretended to fall down.
Then of course there was little Lizzie, Elizabeth, who was his second child. He’d been present for all the births, and when Laura was pregnant again, he’d be with her for as many as they would have.
Watching her in pain was not something he enjoyed, but the highlight was seeing the happiness in her eyes when their babies had been handed to her. There was no greater feeling than watching the woman he loved being happy.
She stood up and looked toward him. He held his hand up, and she called to him, the dress she wore flowing around her ankles.