The Wild Wolf Pup (Zoe's Rescue Zoo #9)(97)

“Wow,” I whispered, mesmerized by the beauty who was now my wife. I smiled widely, placing the bottle back in the bucket before walking toward her.

“I didn’t think it was possible but you’re even more beautiful than when you walked down the aisle.”

“I feel ridiculous,” she admitted, taking a step closer. I took her hands in mine and pulled her close.

“Why?” I asked softly, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear.

“You know why,” she whispered as I leaned over her shoulder and pressed my lips to the skin just below her ear, softly peppering kisses along her neck to the silk strap of her nightgown.

“We’ll go slow,” I promised, lifting my head from her shoulder and turning my head a fraction to stare into her brown eyes. “I knew one day I’d marry you.”

I bent my knees, lifted her into my arms and spun her around, her laughter filled the air like a soft melody.



What I wouldn’t give to hear her laugh again, hear her soft voice whisper against my ear, feel her body against mine just one more time. Instead, I relive the memories and thank God they are so clear and vivid.

Then I think of my girls.

And like their mother, they too come alive within my dreams.



“I have a date tonight,” Adrianna said, sitting across the breakfast table, nonchalantly eating her cereal.

I lowered the newspaper, folded it in half and placed it on the table, lifting my coffee mug to my lips as Grace set a plate of pancakes in front of me.

“Michael?” I questioned, drenching the pancakes in syrup as I glance across the table at my sixteen-year-old daughter.

“No, not Mike,” she said, smiling sweetly. The little vixen was up to something and one look at my wife, nervously flipping pancakes as if she was feeding all of Bensonhurst, it became clear she knew what that something was.

The doorbell rang and Nikki jumped to her feet.

“I’ll get it,” she offered.

“Are we expecting someone?” I looked between the mountain of pancakes and my daughter who decided to make her lower lip part of her breakfast.

Nikki came back into the kitchen with our visitor. Anthony Bianci, the eager enforcer looking to make a name for himself within my organization stood in my kitchen, making the oversized room seem small. Anthony had potential to go places. He was loyal to the core, dropped everything at my command and did as he was told, no questions asked. However, that was about to change.

“What are you doing here?” I questioned the man staring at my eldest daughter. Adrianna pushed her chair and stood, facing Anthony. Her smile lit up the kitchen and I watched as he tried his hardest not to be affected by it.

“I came to ask you a question,” he muttered, never taking his eyes off my daughter.

It was a strange feeling watching them together, one mixed with sorrow and relief.

“What question might that be?” I asked, reaching for my coffee mug again as they continued to ogle one another. I knew what he was going to ask. I knew they had been sneaking around behind my back for months, but what I thought was a mild crush became serious over Grace’s pancakes. Anthony Bianci wouldn’t have risked his position with my organization if he wasn’t head over heels in love with my daughter.

It was that morning; I knew that they were the real thing. It was scarier than anything I had ever experienced before, knowing the man you never saw coming was standing in front of you, next to your daughter and, that he would be the man in her life for all of eternity.



My wild child, Adrianna, the rebellious little girl who grew to be such a strong woman.

And then there was my Nicole.



“Daddy, I baked you a cake!” she exclaimed, pointing to the lopsided cake on the kitchen table.

“Did you make this all by yourself?” I asked, lifting her high on my hip as I brushed the tip of my nose across hers.

“Yep! Mommy said you love chocolate cake,” she said excitedly.

I walked her to the kitchen drawer, pulled out two forks and set her on top of the table next to the cake.

“Mommy’s right. It’s my favorite,” I smiled at her. “Should we dig in?”

“What about plates?”

“What about them?” I winked, handing her a fork before I dug into the cake with mine. Her giggle caused my heart to grow ten times in size as she followed my lead and dug into the lopsided cake.

Those days, when the girls were young, were my favorite. They were the precious moments I took for granted and if I could do it again I’d be home more, spend more time with them because those years flew by.

My memory betrayed me, pulling the beautiful memories I cherished away and replacing them with the ugly ones. I was transcended to the cafeteria, stalking my way through the riot to the G-Man, watching as he licked the chocolate pudding off his spoon and locked eyes with me.



The flicker of surprise in his eyes had my pace quickening and I realized I did what I set out to do. I saw my plan through without exception. He never suspected that this would happen. That we would meet like this and I would take his life.

He stared at me, watching as I pulled the scissors out and close the distance between us.

“It’s about time, Pastore,” he goaded, gripping the edge of the table as he slowly stood. “You took long enough to get yours. I was thinking you would let me get away with everything.”