Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
She gives me a tight smile. “I’m sorry about that.”
I consider everything that’s going on in both of our lives. This is great news. It helps me understand her motivation and explains why she felt she had to use me to get close to my dad. I’m still a little hurt that she went as far as she did, but I can see things from her perspective.
“I did the same thing that my brother did,” Sofia continues. “I told Harlan everything I know.”
“So, you think he’ll send Andretti after you?” I surmise. “Just like he did to your brother.”
“He might if he figures out, I know the truth about my brother,” she concludes.
“All right,” I say, standing up. “Do you mind if I get a glass of water?”
“I don’t have any bottles,” she warns me.
“That’s all right,” I say. “I can drink from the tap.”
I walk over to the kitchen, more to give myself time than anything else. I need to protect her. That’s my overwhelming response. I don’t want her to die the way her brother did, and I think there might be a chance that we could reconstruct some of our earlier relationships. However, I’m not going to be able to do it alone.
I need to convince my family that Sofia is worth protecting. Only with the combined strength of the Corello family can we hope to avoid a sudden death. A few minutes ago, I was ready to nail her coffin shut myself. Now, everything has changed.
I grab a cup from the cabinet and pour myself a glass. I take only a sip before turning to face her. Because her apartment is so small, I can stand in the kitchen and easily have a conversation with her on the couch. I don’t need to shout or move around to make myself heard.
“I think we need to call my father,” I say.
“Do you think he can help?” she asks desperately.
“Yes,” I confirm. “I’m sure he can.”
But instead of my father, I find my finger hovering over Uncle Gio’s contact. I wonder why, considering that my father is the head of the family. But Uncle Gio is more the operations manager. He’s the one who actually goes out on the streets and meets with people and does things. Sure, Dad helps, but mostly what my father does is consolidate the information Gio and his capos give him. Gio is the most direct route to action and that’s what we need right now.
I call him up. “Uncle Gio?”
“Hey, Frankie,” Gio says. “Where are you?”
“Don’t flip out,” I warn him.
“Where are you?” he repeats menacingly.
“I’m at Sofia’s place,” I admit. “How fast can you get here?”
“I’m on my way,” he says before hanging up.
You gotta love Uncle Gio. There were no follow-up questions, just a clear understanding that help is needed. I turn to Sofia to fill her in. “Gio is on his way,” I report.
“Great,” she says, rubbing her hands together. I can tell she’s nervous, and I want to comfort her. I know it’s a big deal, that she’s going to have to explain herself multiple times to multiple people before getting the kind of help she needs. We set the ball in motion, but a lot of work is still to be done.
“Hey,” I say, sitting down beside her. “I’ll be right here.”
“I’ve been awful to you,” Sofia moans.
“Yes, you have,” I agree with a chuckle.
“I don’t know why I thought you could have been involved. I know you,” she says, turning wide, glossy, puppy dog eyes on me.
“It’s understandable,” I reply, because I do understand her point.
“But you had panic attacks over your bar exam,” she reminds me. “I don’t know how I thought you could ever be involved in something so devious.”
“Well,” I explain, not wanting to give her too much fuel for her guilt-ridden fire, “the panic attacks weren’t exactly because of the exam.”
“What were they about?” she asks.
“Never mind,” I shrug off the question. I’ve been forthcoming enough. She doesn’t need to know that I’m in training to replace my father.
Thankfully, we don’t have to wait long until Uncle Gio shows up. He knocks on the door, and I only have to take two steps from where I’m sitting to answer it. He nods at me, scanning the interior of the apartment as only people who need to know where all the exits are. Walking inside, his gaze falls on Sofia, his distaste clear.
“Hello,” he says in a monotone voice.
She stands up. “Hello.”
“Hear her out,” I instruct my uncle.
Gio turns to Sofia, waiting for her story.
“I’d like to apologize for any inconvenience I’ve caused your family,” Sofia begins.
Gio nods, willing to accept the polite admission.
“I thought you had killed my brother,” she continues.
Gio relaxes. This is something he can appreciate. We all know what it’s like to lose a family member, and the overwhelming emotional response it creates. Everyone in my household has a vendetta against Andretti. He’s done so much damage over the years. We all hate him. Sofia’s desire for revenge strikes a chord in his heart and makes it easier to hear the rest.