Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Damn. The girl had it bad. Amo didn’t come across as sad. He came across as if he carried a big chip on already massive shoulders. The few times she had been around him, after Sal had made it clear she was taken, he’d sported a grouchy face and had the personality of an eighty-year old, crotchety old man.
“You don’t think he figured out why you mentioned a girlfriend, do you?” Winnie asked, taking the pack of Skittles from her before she could open it.
Valerie snatched the candy right back before ripping open the package without remorse, knowing Sal could pay the tab. This love stuff was just taxing on her soul. “Of course not. How could he? I was smooth as silk.”
He was beginning to think his prayer was working, but then his phone lit up with a call from Winnie.
Fuck. He answered it only to say that he’d be right there. He’d wait until he was there to find out what she had done in person.
He made his own call on the way to the gift shop, as he had officially given up trying to work until Valerie sold her game. Once she did, she’d begin working on her new game, and then his life could go back to somewhat normalcy.
“I haven’t heard from you in a bit. How ya been, kid?” His old friend’s voice came over the line.
“Pretty good, but it sounds like you’re doing better than me these days.”
The happiness and carefree attitude was easily noticeable through the phone, along with the sound of the ocean.
“Oh, definitely,” his friend quickly assured him that he was currently living the life. “Cabo is great this time of year. You and Valerie should come take a trip down here.”
“Maybe soon.” At this rate, he’d be in Cabo tomorrow, and jobless. Clearing his throat, Sal prepared himself to ask his request and the reason for the phone call. “Listen, I’m wondering if you have anything on the company Game Hookup? For some reason, they’re dragging their feet on offering Valerie a deal. So, I’d like you to hurry them up, if it’s possible for you to do that from where you currently are.”
“Sure, I could do that for you, kid, but can’t you do that yourself?” He laughed, knowing Sal’s secret firsthand of being The Great Salvatore.
“Yes, but I don’t want Valerie ever finding out I might have persuaded them into giving her a deal.” She possessed the same skills he did, and there was no hiding anything from Valkyrie these days. “We both know her game is better than anything they’ve brought to market in recent years, anyway. I’m just hurrying them up to the inevitable.”
“Ah, I understand. I’m sure I’ll have Bubblegum Blitz bought by the end of the day.”
Sal smiled, positive that would be the case. He had learned from the best, after all. “Thank you, Terry.”
“No problem, Sal. Take care of yourself.”
“You, too,” Sal told him before ending the call, positive he would do exactly that.
Terry was living better than anyone in the world; Sal always saw to that. Giving the world to the man who had brought Dante Caruso to him was one of his greatest accomplishments in life. If it weren’t for Terry being brave enough to ever call Dante in the first place, knowing it could have cost him his life if Lucifer had ever found out, Sal’s life wouldn’t be what it was today. Hiding behind a screen could only take you so far in life; you had to also live it.
When he made it to the gift shop, Sal didn’t even have to ask, because he already saw the devastation. The only thing that was shocking was that Dante was there at the door, waiting for him.
“Sal, I’m not sure why you thought having her work here would ever be a good idea. She’ll fucking eat us out of business.”
“I’m not sure, either,” he agreed in defeat, seeing the full trash can of empty bags. “I’m sorry.”
“She might need to see a doctor.” Dante looked back at her for confirmation that she was still eating. “Or a psychiatrist.”
Sal had to admit she might have a small problem if Dante Caruso was telling her to see a shrink.
“Nadia has a few she works with for her charity; would you like her to send you some numbers?”
“That’s okay.” He waved him off, knowing all their problems would soon be solved. “So, what are you doing here?”
“Well, I was coming up to smoke a cigar in Lucca’s office”—with the story starting off with his own vice, Dante’s recommendation of seeking help sounded a bit less compelling—“when I decided to come check on Winnie. She’s been a part of Nadia’s youth outreach for a while, so I was just seeing how she was doing when I walked into this.”