Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
My anger burns with a refreshed need to make Angelo Barone pay for this. I know where the casino is. I just didn’t think he’d keep her there in such an easily accessible location, but a hidden basement makes sense. Unfortunately, for him, there isn’t a hidden room in the city that I can’t break into.
“I suppose you want me to return Isla to you in exchange for this information and your help in the matter,” I say. “It’s not going to happen, Celeste. She stays with me.”
“Isla is a grown woman, and although I had hoped she would dance with my troupe for her entire career, I have no intention of forcing her back. I realized the last time I saw the two of you together that she’s choosing to stay with you, Vincent. I do not know why a woman with her talent would throw it all away for a man like you, unless it’s for love. Even I can’t impede that.”
Celeste pauses and looks thoughtful before continuing.
“Did you know I had a daughter once?” she asks in a quiet voice that the other men strain to hear. “To this day, I regret not being able to protect my daughter more from the fate that she met with. But I trust you will protect Isla better than I could have ever protected her.”
“What makes you so sure that you can trust me not to hurt her?” I ask.
“My daughter, God rest her soul, knew your sister. They were quite good friends, actually. And she seemed to think that you were a good man somewhere deep within your soul. I’d like to think that’s true.”
For a second, I’m surprised and shocked by the revelation of a connection between my sister and Madame Durant’s daughter. But I don’t have time to delve into this further right now. I need to save Isla before Angelo has the chance to hurt her.
“Alright,” Marco says after Celeste takes her leave upon delivering her message. “How do you want to handle this? Do you want me to lead some men into Angelo’s casino and try to shake them down first? I’d imagine that any lower levels are heavily guarded, especially now that he has a hostage inside—a hostage of high importance.”
“I’m sure he does,” I nod. “But no, I want to try a different approach first. I don’t want to risk him executing Isla if he feels boxed in. I also don’t want her getting caught in any sort of crossfire.”
“So, what does that mean?” Luc asks. “What do you want to do?”
I take out my phone and make the rash decision to call that motherfucker up before anyone can talk me out of it.
“Hello Vincent,” Angelo’s voice booms over the speakerphone. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
I clench my fists in order to keep from losing it. I have to clench them so hard that my nails dig into the fluffy part of my palm.
“You know exactly why I’m calling Angelo,” I growl at him.
I am one wrong word away from losing control. After all these years of carefully managing relationships between the mafia families of Vegas, planning the best ways to take Angelo down without causing an uproar, that is all about to come crashing down if he doesn’t hand over what’s mine.
“Oh, yes, the dancer. I assume that you’d like her back?”
“What do you want, Angelo?” I snarl into the phone. “Money, territory? Tell me what you want to trade for her, and it’s yours.”
Alonzo opens his mouth as if he’s going to argue with me while I’m on the call, but I quickly lift my hand in the air to silence him. At least for now, he knows better than to interfere when I’m doing business and knows better than to question his boss in front of a rival.
“Well, that was a hell of a lot easier than I expected it to be,” Angelo laughs. “And here I thought I was going to have to break into your buildings and seize assets for myself. You saved me from having to squeeze any more information out of your pretty little girlfriend.”
“If you hurt one hair on her head, I swear to God, I will—”
“Don’t get upset, Vincent,” he threatens. “It’s not a good look on you. Why ruin a good deal that’s about to happen with your arrogance and foolishness? Give me what I want, and you can have the girl back.”
Part of me doesn’t believe him and thinks that he’s lying and going to keep Isla, anyway. But that’s fine. I don’t need to trust him because I’m lying, too. There’s not a chance in hell I’m going to give him anything, except an early death if I can manage it. My number one priority is extracting Isla. Everything on top of that is a bonus.