Total pages in book: 260
Estimated words: 245483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1227(@200wpm)___ 982(@250wpm)___ 818(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 245483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1227(@200wpm)___ 982(@250wpm)___ 818(@300wpm)
There's no way we can really get to the Don right now though. It’s possible of course, but not the way things currently stand. This is more about buying us some extra time from the Romanos to figure shit out and to plan a solid hit.
Besides, as far as I’m concerned, the Don is already dead. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but his death is coming. I'll be the one standing over him holding a smoking gun for what he did to my princess. If Marco decides to shift the target to the Don, then that'll be killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.
“Very interesting,” Marco says.
“We can get to him,” I say, half-lying. “He goes out with protection, but he still goes out. Toni never goes fucking anywhere. If the Don goes into the open, I can take him.”
“He has guards,” my father says. “That’s a suicide mission.”
“Not for a highly skilled sniper, it isn’t,” I say, staring back at him, daring him.
I can see the rage flash on his face, but he quickly gets it under control.
“Everything okay between you two?” Marco asks casually.
“Great,” my father says, looking back to Marco. “Listen, I have a different plan.”
“No,” Marco says, interrupting him. “That’s okay. I like this. I would love to see the Don dead. Toni will have to come out of hiding to take over the Rossi familia duties if the Don is killed, and then we can take him, too.”
“That’s right,” I say, encouraging his line of thought.
“Good,” Marco says, nodding. “Very good. I’ll take this to my Don, but I know he’ll be pleased.” Marco stands and slides out of the booth. I get up next, followed by my father. “Bruno, I’ll be in contact soon.”
Marco shakes my father’s hand. “Thank you, Marco,” my father says.
Marco looks at me. “And you, good job today,” he says. He shakes my hand and holds it tight. “Enjoy the girl while you can. And don’t take too long.”
I stare back and nod, but don’t say a word. I don’t trust myself to speak.
Marco releases my hand. I follow my father back through the diner and out into the parking lot. My mind is full of anger at that Marco prick, but my father suddenly whirls on me.
“What the fuck was that?” he asks.
I don’t stop walking. “An alternative to your awful plan,” I say.
“We didn’t discuss that. You didn’t want to kill any of them, and now you’re trying to go after their Don?” I can hear the jealousy and anger in his voice.
“That’s right,” I say.
“You’re going to get yourself killed,” my father calls after me as I walk away from him.
“I doubt it,” I say softly to myself. I climb into my truck, start the engine, and pull out of the parking lot.
I’m already thinking about my princess as I hurry back home to her. Don’t take too long. Marco’s words echo in my head. I need to speed this up with her. I bang my fist on the steering wheel and curse. I hate that they have anything to do with her. But if they want to see something, I can make it happen. I have to. I can’t let them take her away from me.
Chapter 16
Grace
* * *
I’m debating on getting out of the cage. I’ve been wondering about it. Wondering what he’d do if he walked in, and I was sitting on the bed. I don’t know how he’d react.
Of course, he’d probably know I was there before he even walked in. I know he watches me. But what would he do?
He seems gentle and tender, although I know that he’s keeping a part of himself hidden from me. I stare at the white sheets on the bed. They’re perfect and crisp. Neither of us have sat on the bed since he moved it in and put the sheets on it.
I wonder what he’d think, if I was lying there, waiting for him.
My eyes snap to the door as I hear the beep, my heart thudding loudly. Usually I can hear him coming, but this time I didn’t.
My brow furrows as he rolls in a TV cart. It’s off for the moment, and encased in a large plastic box so none of the buttons can be touched.
I sit up and lean forward, my fingers wrapping around the bars.
He doesn’t address me, which is odd. He always talks to me.
My heart hurts thinking I’ve done something wrong. I don’t like that he’s acting differently.
“Gio?” I call out to him without my own conscious consent.
He stops rolling the cart and angles it so it’s facing the cage. Facing me. The black screen shows nothing.
“Yes?” he asks. His voice is a bit more hollow than usual. It lacks the side of him I’ve grown to expect. The hunger. Something’s different. Something’s changed, and I don’t know what. But I don’t like it. It makes fear rise within me.