Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
He released me, but he kept his eyes on me as I crossed the room to grab everything I needed to get him ready for bed. The staff had bought two sets of pajamas with fire trucks and helicopters, cozy socks, several shirts, pants, and onesies. I picked the fire truck pj’s because Luciano was obsessed with the fire brigade. When I returned to him, his face slackened with relief. “Can you lie down so I can put a diaper on?”
He lay back immediately. Last time I’d seen him, he’d been in his “no” phase and always thrown a tantrum when we’d tried to change his diaper. I really hoped the kidnapping hadn’t broken his spirit. I’d rather bear his terrible twos than this silent obedience. He was sore from being in his soiled clothes, so I put some rash cream on his skin before I slipped the diaper on. “Look what I have for you.” When I showed him the pj’s, his face lit up, giving me some hope. Once he was dressed, I snuggled up against him in the bed and stroked his brown hair.
A knock sounded. Luciano stiffened and pressed himself against me with a small whimper. My chest clenched.
“It’s the food,” I said softly, then louder, “Come in!”
The door swung open, and Milly entered with a tray. She put it down on the nightstand beside me. Spaghetti carbonara piled high on two plates, and next to it, two chocolate muffins waited to be devoured. “There’s warm milk with honey in the cup for a good night’s sleep,” she said, then backed away and left.
“Look at that,” I said. Luciano scanned the food and gave a small smile.
“When was the last time you’ve eaten?”
He shrugged.
“Do you want me to feed you?”
He nodded.
“Please sit up.”
He struggled into a sitting position, and I pushed a cozy cushion into his back for support. After pressing a kiss to the top of his head, I grabbed a plate and blew on the pasta for a while. It was too hot. Luciano watched the food with big, greedy eyes. I carefully tested a bite against my lower lip, then began to feed him the spaghetti. He ate the entire portion, then looked hungrily at the muffin.
“A sweet treat?”
He bobbed his head, his eyes fixed on the muffin. I handed it to him. He ate it eagerly, leaving crumbs all over himself and the bed, something I would have admonished under normal circumstances, but I was just happy to see him hungry and well. Keeping my eyes on him, I devoured my spaghetti. I hadn’t eaten anything since I’d found out he’d been kidnapped and was starving. Soon, Luciano’s lips and his cheeks were covered in chocolate, but he looked so content that it warmed my heart. I put away my plate and nodded toward my muffin. “You can have mine too, if you like?”
He gnawed on his lower lip, considering it, then he shook his head. “Milk?”
I smiled and handed him the cup with warm milk. He sipped it while I took a wipe and carefully cleaned his fingers, then his face. When he had downed the entire cup, he lay down. I stretched out beside him and wrapped my arms around him.
“Your mommy will be here soon.” I glanced at the clock. If she landed in an hour, she could be here in ninety minutes if things went really well. Not that Luciano had a concept of time yet.
Luciano nodded, but his breathing slowed, and his tiny fingers dug into my shirt. When I peered down, his eyes were closed and his mouth slack. He had fallen asleep. I pressed a kiss to his forehead but stayed where I was. If he woke from a nightmare, I wanted to be there to console him. I’d lost count of the times I’d woken from a bad dream without someone to assure me I was safe.
My own eyes began to droop when a soft knock sounded. The door opened without a word from me, so I knew it could only be Nestore. I peered toward the door. He stood in the doorway and regarded me with a pensive expression. He had gotten rid of the bone crown and bone knife and wore clean black pants and combat boots.
“I’m leaving for the airport now,” he said quietly.
“Flavia will be upset. Don’t be too hard on her.”
Nestore’s brows snatched together. “I saved her son, and I’ll let her live in a splendid townhouse near you. She’ll be safe, and money won’t be an issue. I don’t see how that constitutes being hard on someone.”
I smiled at him. “I just mean…” I sighed. “Try to be… kind.”
Nestore raised his brows. “That’s something I’m not very good at.”
“Sometimes you are kind to me.”
He tilted his head, the tendons in his hand holding the doorknob tensed. “You are the exception to everything.”