Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I don’t know anything about your deal with him.”
“We both know that’s not true. You’re the brains behind the operation, aren’t you? I doubt Prime’s got enough gray matter in that head of his to dream up that delicious pipeline. No, I think you’re more important than you let on.”
“You’re so wrong.”
“I’m not.” He steps closer. “Where’s my money, Deanna?”
“I don’t know anything about it.”
“Stop lying to me.” His voice raises as he gets more agitated. “You’re fucking lying to me, and I don’t appreciate it. Where is the money?”
“Please, you’re freaking me out. Why don’t we sit down with Prime—“
“I don’t want Prime!” he shouts in my face. The barrel of the gun jams into my hip. “I want you to tell me where my fucking money is, you worthless fucking cunt!”
I grunt in pain and back away, thumping into the door. “Please, Mr. Carbone—“
“Say my real name you fucking bitch!” He hits me across the face with the gun. Pain flares in my mouth as I gasp and drop to a knee. His hand grips my hair and drags me back up. I groan, arching away. “Where is my god damn money?”
“Marco, I don’t know.” I lick my teeth and taste blood. I try not to cry but I can’t stop the tears. I’ve never been hit in the face before and it really hurt.
The door at my back opens. I turn in terror as my mother stands on the threshold, frowning at us in alarm. I start to tell her to get back inside, to lock the door, to call the cops—but Marco shoves me hard into her and we tumble together into the living room.
“There we go. That’s the welcome I wanted.” He follows inside and slams the door. He trains the gun on me as I try to help my mother to her feet.
“What’s going on? Oh god, are we being robbed?” Mom looks around in a panic, her hair disheveled. “We don’t have anything worth stealing!”
“Shut the fuck up,” Marco snarls. “Both of you, sit on the couch.”
“Please, take what you want.”
“Mom, come on.” I draw her to the side. She’s so small and thin. She’s shaking as we sit together and I do my best to be brave because that’s what she needs right now. “We’ll be okay. Just do as he says.”
“This is unacceptable. This is… it’s all wrong. I’m an old woman. Who is this man?!”
“God, you don’t know anything about your fucking daughter, do you?” Marco paces in front of us. My heart’s racing and I try to think of a way out. My phone’s in my back pocket so I doubt I could get it. Maybe I can rush him, but no, he’d overpower me and kill me in a heartbeat. But if I don’t do anything?
How desperate is he right now?
“Deanna? What’s he saying?”
“It’s okay, Mom.”
“I want my money. That’s all I want. It’s owed to me, fucking owed, per our contract, and your god damn husband isn’t living up to his end.”
Mom grips my arm. “This is the man. He was here before, wasn’t he? Deanna, who is he? And why is he talking about a husband?”
“Damn it, Marco, please stop this.”
Carbone’s eyes widen in surprise. A joyous smile spreads across his face. “My god. You didn’t tell them about Prime?”
“Stop it,” I say through my teeth. “Whatever financial problems there are, you can handle them with him, okay? I have nothing to do with it and neither do my parents.”
“Oh, fuck, this is too good.” He gestures at my mother with his gun. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your daughter is married to one of the most vicious, ruthless criminals I’ve ever met.”
Mom blinks at me. “Is he being serious?”
“We’ll talk about it later.”
“No, oh fuck no, we’ll talk about it now.” Marco waves the gun around. “She’s married! And she didn’t tell her own mother! What a nightmare you are, Deanna, you bitch. That’s right, lady, your daughter is fucking a glorified pimp every night, spreading her legs for him, moaning his name—“
“Shut the fuck up, Marco!” I jump to my feet in a rage. “Don’t talk about Prime like that!”
He howls with laughter. “Look at how she defends her man!”
I seethe, fury taking me over, and I’ve never felt so powerless before. I step toward him, but the smile fades and the gun steadies in my face. He gestures with it, backing me down, and I consider rushing him. Would he really shoot me? If he did that, he’d lose Prime’s support forever. He needs me, but accidents happen, and he doesn’t seem like he’s in the right state of mind to be careful.
I sink back down beside my mother, breathing deep to keep my head.
“Is it true, honey? Are you really married?”