Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
"He's worried my actions will put a target on the rest of the family. If I go after Sal without doing it the right way, then there will be retaliation."
"I trust that you'll do it the way it needs to be done, knowing that it's important that everyone is safe," I tell him. "I also know you love this family too; I'm just a small level up." I motion with my hand going up a smidge.
Ronan reaches over, grabbing my hand and lifting it higher, as high as my arm can go. "I'd say there." I snort a laugh.
Yes, Z can be scary when pushed around on things that involve me, but it doesn't mean he doesn't care about everyone else because he does.
"We know that, Cosima," War says. "Both our father and I know what we'd do for our own wives; that's why we know what Z is capable of, but like Father said, Z has other skill sets, ones that need to be kept close, and if he went off half-cocked, he could out himself."
I raise a finger. "Dead men tell no tales. I know it's a dark thing to say, but it's the truth."
"My hope is to not have to eliminate a family if there is no need. There is no rush for answers," War adds. “We’ll take things one step at a time.”
I hear what War is saying, but I’m not so sure Z holds the same timeframe.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Z
Cosima disappears through War’s office doorway with Dario. He asked her to go have breakfast with him. Dario wants to smooth things over with her. He has always doubted her; hell, most of the family has.
As pissed as I am about the promise he made to the Amato family, I get it. I’d sell my soul to save Cosima. On that, Dario and I relate.
I did take note that there wasn’t a ton of pushback when all of the details about Cosima were fleshed out to her father. It’s almost as if he knew it was coming.
“Z?” War asks.
“I’m not going off half-cocked.” As long as my wife is tucked away safely, then I can bide a bit of time, not much. I don’t like not knowing what the Amatos are up to. That’s the only way to ensure Cosima remains out of harm's way.
She can’t stay locked up here forever. It would drive her crazy, and she’s pregnant. Sure, I could likely pay to have everything she needed brought right here, but that’s not the point. No one gets to make Cosima a prisoner.
I smirk hearing her voice in my head: No, only you could make me a prisoner. She’d roll her eyes but hide a smirk of her own.
“Should I believe you?” War pushes back, worried I might have my own agenda.
“Nope.” Ronan pops the P loudly, still fiddling with that damn phone, which now has my attention. “He’ll go off full-cocked.” He glances up at me. “Right?”
“Right,” I agree.
I don’t want to make a lot of waves if it’s not needed. Besides, Dario did have a really fucking good point when he said people wouldn’t be too happy if they knew all that I could do.
“How much history do you know about the Amato family as it connects to your father?” I ask, standing.
“They have been close but not too close. I don’t think he’s ever seen them as a threat.” War answers.
“Could he have blinders on because of them helping find Rochelle?”
“It’s a possibility.” War nods, thinking it over more himself.
“The Amato family has been stagnant for a lot of years. If they married in…” Ronan lets out a low whistle. His mind having gone where mine had.
“They’re playing the long game,” I add, making War’s brows furrow together. “Now tell me how close the Amato family was to the Lombardi family.” I already have a few theories in mind, but I need some back information to see if I’m heading down the right path. If I’m going to try to limit the amount of digging I do, then any known details are key to doing that.
“I honestly don’t know. I don’t give them any thought because that family is no more.” The Lombardi name as a whole might as well be dead. Anyone that’s left is scattered.
“And no one wondered how Tullio just happened to know who took Rochelle?” That was my first thought, and I can’t see Dario not having circled back to that when all the dust settled and he had his wife safely back home.
“There was no gain for the Amato family when the Lombardi family was washed out.”
“Except there was.” I walk toward War’s desk. “Tullio got a debt and favor with Dario.”
“Bingo,” Ronan adds before looking down at his phone again.
“Start looking into Sal sooner rather than later. If they are playing some sort of long game, then we need to know what their end goal is. Marrying Cosima was to get their foot in the door, it seems.” I let out a growl at the mere mention. “If they realize that Cosima is no longer an option, they might make another move.” War wants to make sure we are ready for whatever the Amato family has planned.