Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
We had places.
We had people.
It would just take a lot of finagling and a lot of grumbling on the parts of the women and kids.
“You sure you’re alright?” I asked as her hand went to her locket, her finger slipping across it.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I’m okay for the moment. Don’t let me keep you from your… meeting.”
“Okay. Thanks for the coffee, honey. Oh, and Brio said you can keep the dog if you want.”
I managed to catch her glance toward the dog, the affection and hope, before I made my way back to the dining room.
Everyone was finishing up with their pages, and Lorenzo was talking in low tones to Emilio.
“She alright?”
“Processing, I think. She didn’t even know I was in the Family until today. It’s a lot.”
“Then we drag her in here like an interrogation,” Emilio said, looking regretful.
“She’s tough. She’ll be alright.”
“You said she was chased. Did she see the guy? Did he say anything?”
“No. He was average height and weight with a baseball cap shading his face. He grabbed her when she tripped, and she kicked him and got away. I was trying to convince myself it was random crime. But with all this, I’m not sure anymore.”
“Okay. In that case, what are your plans for her?” Lorenzo asked.
“My plans?”
“We’re all taking responsibility for our women,” he explained. “Some are heading out. Some are locking down. You need a plan for her.”
“She’s not…”
“Oh, come on,” Leo said, shaking his head.
“If you won’t take care of her, I can have her—” Zeno started.
“What? Come over and clean your place?” Leo shot back. “Nico will take care of her.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, feeling my heart swell. “I’ll take care of her.”
“Good. That’s settled. Now, it goes without saying that everyone needs to alter their schedules. Take different routes. Be places at different times. It’s also time to shore up security. Get your systems and alarms locked down tight. Make sure your weapons are accessible. And that your women know how and are willing to use them, if they’re staying. If you’ve been thinking about getting a dog, now’s the time. This is all temporary. We are going to figure out if any of this has leaked. If not, this will all be destroyed.”
There were some questions then, discussions about whose women and kids were going where.
Then, eventually, everyone was antsy to get home to get to work on their protection plans.
Zeno hung back to get some instructions from Lorenzo.
“Can you do me a favor?” I asked Leo as he made his way toward the door.
“Keep an eye on Zen?”
“Fucking read my mind. I know he is capable of taking care of shit if it comes to that. I’m just worried that he won’t follow through on security because he gets distracted. Plus, that fucking nightclub is so loud, it could hide any noises.”
“I got him. Don’t worry about it. Ready?” he asked, looking past me to where Zeno was walking out.
“You coming with me?”
“I’m gonna shore your place up while you work.”
“Oh, cool. Cool. Tell the pretty lady I want to buy some of that syrup from her,” he told me on his way out.
I made my way back to the kitchen, finding Blair sitting at the table, leaned over to pet Goya’s belly.
“Sounds like things are dying down out there.”
“Yeah, everyone wants to get going to get their security plans in place.”
“Right. Okay. Well, that’s probably smart. I’m glad I have my system in place.”
“That’s the thing.”
“What’s the thing?” she asked, sitting back.
“We can’t go back to our homes.”
“Wait… what? Why? Where are we going?”
“So far, you’re the only one in confirmed danger. And as much as your place does have good security now, that doesn’t mean someone couldn’t get in if they wanted to.”
“Oh, right. I mean, of course. Should I go stay at a hotel?”
“I was thinking of taking you to my safe house.”
“You have a safe house?”
“The Family has a lot of them, actually. But my brothers and I have one we each chipped in for, just in case. No one has needed to use it yet. But it’s there, waiting.”
“For how long?”
“Hopefully just a few days. It will depend on what Zeno uncovers.”
“Can I work from there?”
“That’s something I’ll have to ask Zen. Tracking and shit like that.”
“Okay. Can I get some things at home first?”
“Of course. Gav is gonna give us a ride and keep watch while we’re inside. Then we’re taking a cab to the safe house.”
“Okay. I should probably get Goya back to Brio.”
“Uh, Brio left.”
“He left? What do you mean?”
“Brio has a way of… giving pets to people. He has a knack for it.”
“So… he’s mine now?”
“Well, for the night for sure. But yeah, for longer, if you want him.”
“Well, we’re going to have to get you some things, huh, buddy?” she asked, making Goya’s fluffy tail swish across the floor. “We can do that, right?”