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“Through here is a state-of-the-art kitchen: all European appliances, stone countertops…”
I don’t listen to whatever else he rambles on about. I’m stunned by the beauty that is this kitchen. The windows overlook the gardens and a huge resort-style swimming pool. As I stare outside, I can picture kids running around, swimming, having fun. To my left, there’s an eat-in dining area that would be perfect for family meals.
As we walk through the rest of the lower floor, which seems never-ending, I get more and more attached to the idea of raising a family with Theo. Is this house too much? Absolutely, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t my dream come true. There’s a library—a huge freaking library. A game room, two offices, three living rooms, and a formal dining room with enough space for at least forty people.
“Take your time on the upper floors. I’ll be down here if you have any questions,” Mark says.
“Thank you.” I wait until we’re upstairs and out of earshot before I speak. “This house is insane. It’s obviously way too much. But still, a girl can dream, right?” I laugh.
“Why is it too much?” Neo questions. When I turn to look at him, he’s staring at me with genuine confusion.
“Ah, because a house like this must cost a few million, right?”
Neo laughs, like full-on belly laughs. “You’re cute,” he says. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and walks in the opposite direction, firing off a text message.
I navigate the winding halls. A scream escapes me as I’m grabbed from behind, and a hand covers my mouth. I attempt to throw my elbows back, stomp my foot, all the things my brother-in-law once tried to teach me. But none of it works. And then I smell him. Theo. I bite down on his hand. Hard. “Ow, fuck! Dolcezza, calm down. It’s me,” he hisses, shaking his arm out and turning me around.
“I know,” I growl at him.
“Then why the fuck did you bite me?”
“Because you scared the shit out of me, T.”
“I scared you? Well, how do you think I felt waking up to a cold fucking bed this morning with my wife gone?”
“Not nearly as bad as I felt watching a building blow up, thinking my husband was inside?” I throw back at him. “How do you think I felt when I thought you were freaking dead for three days?”
He looks stricken with guilt. Good, he should be. “I’m sorry. Dolcezza, I’m sorry. But you can’t just leave the house like that, not telling me, not taking any security with you. It’s not safe. There are dangerous men in my world, Holly.”
My blood boils. I can feel my hands physically shaking as I recall just how dangerous the men in his world are. “Don’t you think I know that? Don’t you think I’ve experienced that enough?” I yell at him, tears streaming down my face as I swipe angrily at them.
“Fuck, Holly. I’m sorry. Of course you know. I’m sorry,” he says again, wrapping his arms around me.
“You know you’re saying that a lot lately. I don’t need you to be sorry, Theo. I need you to stop fucking up. You are my rock, my foundation, and lately that foundation feels like it’s cracking.”
“I will be whatever you need me to be. I will do whatever you need me to do. I’ve never had to do this before, dolcezza. Am I likely to fuck up again? Yes. But I promise you are my priority. Youaremy number one. I just… I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.”
“I need you to be my husband. That’s all. I need you to be the guy I fell for, within a matter of hours. I need you to be that man. That’s all.”
He smirks down at me. “A matter of hours, huh? Well, shit, Holly, you had me inseconds.”
I smile. “Hallmark line.” That’s the Theo I fell in love with, the one who would deliver cheesy lines at the drop of a hat, the one who seemed like he had everything under control and nothing could penetrate his cool. I feel a little guilty expecting him to be that, considering what he’s been through lately. No one could lose a parent, take over the family business (especially his kind of family business), find out your dad isn’t your biological father, and remain unaffected. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I just need… I don’t know what I need.”
T looks around the bedroom we’re in. “Well, it appears you need a house, and that’s something I can actually give you.”
“I want ahome, not a house, T. I want somewhere we can start a family, somewhere we’ll be safe, somewhere that’s sacred to just us.”
“Okay, well, what do you think of this one?”
“I love this house, but it’s too much. And it’s a long way from the city.”
“I’m not sure if you noticed, but we have cars, dolcezza, plenty of them. The distance to the city is nothing but a drive. If you like this house, consider it yours.”
“Ours,” I correct him.
“Ours… I like that. Let’s go talk to the realtor.” He takes my hand in his and leads me back downstairs.
I didn’t even get to explore all that the upper levels have to offer, but I don’t need to. This house is freaking amazing. When we get back to the main living area, Mark is sitting on a sofa, looking rather uncomfortable with five of Theo’s soldiers standing around the edges of the room.
