Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“And the truth is, Hillary is a gold digger. You’re one of the easiest people to love because of how much you care. But that bitch isn’t capable of loving anyone but herself. And that doesn’t say shit about anyone but her—and most of all, not you.”
I throw my drink back and set it on the bar top a little too hard, then take a deep breath because I can feel myself getting worked up. The same way I care about Dani and my brother, I care about Lorenzo, and it pisses me off that he’s hurting over a bitch who doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as him, let alone be loved by him.
“Thank you,” Lorenzo says with a soft smile. “That means a lot to me.”
“Yeah, well, I hope you took notes or recorded it because I’m done with this heart-to-heart shit.”
Dominick chuckles and pats his hand on my shoulder. “I like this new you, bro.”
“Don’t get used to it,” I grumble. “Now, enough of this girl talk. We need to discuss finding whoever is coming after us. I’ve got a goddamn baby on the way, and some psycho bitch has all our heads on a target.”
Dominick sighs. “We’ve gone down every avenue, until he,” I quirk a brow, and he adds, “or she makes another move, we’re at a standstill. I put additional protection on Peyton and Damien, and she knows not to go out unless it’s necessary, but aside from that, I don’t know what else to do. If they wanted us dead, they would’ve done it. Whoever it is wants to fuck with us.”
“Speaking of which,” Lorenzo says, “I was down at the building department the other day, dealing with some permits, and you know the parcels in front of the expansion? The twenty acres that we haven’t been able to acquire?”
“Yeah,” Dominick says, his brows furrowed.
“They were recently sold to Morgan Enterprises.”
“Okay, have you reached out to negotiate?” Dominick asks.
“Yeah, and they won’t even return my calls, yet according to my girl at the building department, they reached out and asked to get put on the panel to request approval to build.”
“Fuck!” Dominick hisses. “What the hell do they want to build?”
I don’t know much about the waterfront expansion, except Dominick and Lorenzo have mentioned on several occasions that someone was able to outbid them on twenty or so acres that butts up against the parcels we own. They’ve been trying to locate the owner to buy them so they aren’t sold to the wrong person. Apparently, the wrong business or structure going up there could destroy the property values.
“It’s not good,” Lorenzo says. “They’re requesting an approval to build Section 8 housing rentals.”
“No fucking way.” Dominick chuckles darkly. “I refuse to believe anyone is dumb enough to buy waterfront land in one of America’s most-sought-after cities just to eat a trillion-dollar loss by getting in bed with the federal government.”
“We don’t know who’s behind Morgan Enterprises. Might be a tech billionaire, looking to atone for their sins,” Lorenzo tells him.
Dominick’s smirk melts as he realizes Lorenzo isn’t pulling his leg. “That will lower the property values significantly. It’s going to fuck everything up. People aren’t going to want to rent commercial property or purchase a multimillion-dollar condo when it’s walking distance to a common neighborhood.”
“Hey,” I say to Dominick, “your privilege is showing.”
Dominick glares. “I have nothing against Section 8 housing. But if that gets approved, it’s going to fuck up this entire project.”
Lorenzo nods in agreement. “I’ve had my attorney reach out several times, but nobody from the building department is responding, and it has me wondering if that’s on purpose. Do you remember Enrique’s mom’s last name?”
Dominick’s brow furrows. “Fuck. It was Morgan.”
“Yep,” Lorenzo says. “But since she’s dead and dead people can’t buy property or own businesses …”
“Could it be linked,” I ask, “to whoever is targeting us? She said she wants Harbor Point.”
“It would make sense,” Lorenzo says. “I asked Eddy to do a search to find out who owns Morgan Enterprises and if they’re related to Silvia Morgan or if it’s a coincidence.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Dominick hisses. “I need another fucking drink.”
A couple of hours later, when Ian lets me know that Dani has left dinner and is on her way home, I head home as well. When I arrive at the condo, it’s quiet, and when I check, she’s five minutes out.
Knowing today was a lot on her, I grab her favorite bubbles and run her a hot bath—and then I google to make sure it’s okay for her to take a bath while she’s pregnant.
While the tub is filling, I light a few candles since I’ve seen her do this several times and then grab her tablet and paperback, unsure which one she’s reading at the moment.