Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 48585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
“Agreed, but I still don’t think we’re just going to walk right in. He won’t let us anywhere near the event where Valentina is being held. He knows better.”
Vincent shrugs as he drives up to the guards and rolls down his window. “I’m not so sure about that. Money talks, and I’ve got lots of it. We’re about to see whether it buys us entry.”
“Good evening, Mr. Moretti,” the guard greets us, already aware of who we are.
“Good evening,” Vincent says smoothly. “We’re here to enjoy the auction.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. The two of you aren’t on the guest list, and tonight’s auction is a closed event—invitation only.”
“Oh, come on,” Vincent says with a chuckle. “My money spends as well as anyone else’s. Besides, I’m in the mood to spend quite a lot on the right item.”
The guard’s expression tightens as he has to repeat himself, and I notice his hand set subtly on the gun at his waist.
“My apologies,” he says. “But Mr. Conti strictly instructed that only specifically invited guests can attend tonight’s event. You two weren’t invited. I’m going to need you to turn your car around and leave.”
Vincent notices the hand tighten around the gun at the guard’s waist too, and realizes this way inside is impossible.
“That’s a shame,” Vincent says, shaking his head as he pretends to concede. “Ah, well, there are always other places to spend my money.”
He rolls up his window and turns the car around to leave. I watch through the mirrors at the guards, who stare at us until the car is out of sight.
“Now what?” I ask increasingly anxious about reaching Valentina.
“We’ll try another way,” he says as he pulls the car off the road and parks it under the darkness of some trees. “We have to get to her before she’s purchased. If another Don buys her, then that just means our adversaries continue to stack up even further. I don’t want to fight off a third man who’s pissed about us stealing his “goods”.”
I bristle at Valentina being referred to as an object, but it’s the cold, hard truth of the situation that she’s currently in. Vincent is right. Time is of the essence.
After getting out of the car, I draw my gun and grip it in my hand while we walk back toward Leonardo’s estate. We stick to the trees and the side of the property and steer clear of the long driveway where the car headlights of more cars coming to the event are flashing. When we reach the estate’s perimeter, we look for a way in.
“This gate looks like it stretches around the entire property,” Vincent says in frustration after we’ve walked for quite a ways along the side of the wrought iron. “There can’t just be one opening, though. From a security perspective, it makes little sense to have only one way in or out in the event of an emergency. Besides, Leonardo doesn’t seem like the man who wants his service staff mingling with the guests at a single entry point.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I say as I spot something up ahead. “Look there!”
A few yards away from us, there is a small door in the gate. It must be a staff entrance to the property. When we reach it, we find the door locked as expected, but a large keypad replaces the lock.
“We could be here all night trying to guess a number combination,” Vincent sighs in frustration.
“Yes, we could,” I nod. “Or we could take a chance on someone having a soul in this godforsaken estate.”
Before Vincent can do anything to stop me, I let out a small whistle at the old woman standing just outside the side door to the building. It looks like she’s just about to take out the trash with the bag still held in her hand. She looks vaguely familiar to me.
She looks over at me and instantly turns to run back inside, likely to alert the guards of our presence here. Beside me, I can hear Vincent curse at the mistake I’ve just made, but I’m not done with this risky endeavor yet.
“Wait, please!” I call out to her in an urgent, quiet voice. “We’re here to help Valentina.”
For a second, it looks like my plea falls on deaf ears. But then, after a second of hesitation at the door, the old woman turns, looks quickly to either side, and rushes silently toward us.
“What are you doing?” she scolds quietly as she stands on the other side of the locked iron door. “You shouldn’t be here. You’re both going to get yourselves killed!”
“Please,” I plead with her. “I’m here to save Valentina. Surely you know that she’s going to be sold to the highest bidder tonight, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. The entire place is abuzz with chatter over tonight’s auction. If you want to have her, then you should just come inside and buy her yourself,” she says. “Unless—”