Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
When she laughs, I touch her face softly.
She reaches up, clasps my hand. Savors the moment. Then, pushes me away.
“Okay, work time.”
“Don’t go wandering,” I tell her. “Stay where people can see you.”
“I’ll be surrounded by people all day.” She swallows. “Do you think I’m in danger or something?”
“We don’t know who did this or why. Better safe than sorry. And call me if you need anything.” I reach into my pocket, take out my cell, and hand it to her. “Enter your number and then text me so I have yours.”
She does so, then hands me my phone. “Thanks, Dario.”
“Don’t mention it.”
She leaves my hut with a bag over her shoulder, a notebook, and her cell inside. I watch her go, hoping she’ll take my advice and call me if something’s up. Once she’s gone, I walk down the pier and knock on Uncle Eddy’s door.
No answer.
I head to the restaurant, and he isn’t there either.
Finally, I find him at the base of the ridge where we took the photos, looking up at it.
“Studying your handiwork, uncle?”
He turns, scowling. “What did you just say to me?”
“You heard me,” I growl, walking up to him and staring at him without flinching. “A lot has been going wrong, too much for it to be a coincidence or just dumb luck.”
“I’m not sure I like your tone, nephew.”
“Do you have an alibi for this morning, between nine and ten?”
“A what?”
“An alibi,” I grunt. “Don’t make me ask you again. Who can vouch for your whereabouts?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he snarls. “This has to be a joke.”
“Why won’t you answer the question?”
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
I grab him by the front of his shirt. “I know that you’ve been skimming off the top of my father’s gambling business.” His eyes become saucers. “That’s right–I’ve known about it for months. But I figured, well, maybe Uncle Eddy has some debts, and he’s too proud to let my father know. As long as he doesn’t push it too far, I can let it go. But it showed me something… you’re not the man you pretend to be.”
“Let me go. Now.”
I release him, but don’t take a step back. “Alibi–yes or no?”
“I’ve been on myself all morning,” he grunts.
“How convenient.”
“It’s the truth. Why are you even asking?”
“Like you don’t know.” I lean forward. “Whatever this is, you need to stop. If you disturbed those rocks up there—”
“What?” he almost roars.
“Those rocks weren’t loose, then suddenl—”
“You’re out of your mind. You’re accusing me of trying to murder my sister-in-law and my brother.”
“Your men aren’t as loyal as you think, Uncle. There have been whispers about you wanting to be the Don, about you regretting your decision to turn down the consigliere position.”
Eddy’s face turns red.
“Go on–tell me it’s a lie.”
He stares at the ground. “It’s not what you think. Sometimes I drink too much. I say things I shouldn’t. But if you think I’d ever betray the Family, you’re dead wrong.”
“And if you even think about playing any more tricks, you’re dead.”
“I held you when you were this big.” He gestures with his hands. “We’re blood, Dario.”
“My loyalty is to my mother, father, and the Family. Have I made myself clear?”
“We’re on the same side.”
“You’ve been stealing and talking openly about taking the Don position. Now, everything is going wrong. If this trip goes badly, it makes my father look like he can’t handle a simple vow renewal. A political man could use that to instill doubt, to advance his own position. I’m seriously warning you here, back off.”
“You’ve painted me as the perfect villain,” Eddy says. “The perfect scapegoat.”
“Scapegoat?” I snarl. “For who?”
He nods at me.
“That’s weak, thinking I’d ever betray my own father.”
“Not as weak as thinking I’d be to betray my brother.”
“You’ve been warned, Uncle. If things get worse, if it comes to blows, or blood, don’t forget that… you’ve been fucking warned.”
I walk away, my hands clenched into fists.
If he physically hurts Siena, he won’t get a warning.
CHAPTER 15
SIENA
It’s midafternoon, time for my meeting with Veronica. She lies in her bed, her blankets swallowing her, her face red and her eyes glassy. As I give her a rundown of what I’ve been doing, she looks almost annoyed, as if she resents me for doing a good job.
A paranoid thought strikes me. What if Veronica trashed my room? What if she’s been sabotaging me? It makes no sense, though. If I look bad, Evermore Events looks bad… which reflects terribly on her.
“It sounds like you’ve got everything handled,” Veronica says.
“I’m doing my best,” I reply. “I just want to make sure I stay on top of everything. Putting out fires seems to be my main job at the moment.”
Veronica sniffles. “Putting out fires is always part of the job, but so far, no one has complained?”