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)
“Where should I meet you?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“My new casino. I’m sure you’ve heard that you’ve got a bit of competition in that venue by now,” he taunts.
I don’t even acknowledge him because I know now, thanks to Madame Durant, that his casino is simply a rouse. Angelo’s single club isn’t any threat to my business. But it sure sounds like his sex-trafficking operation is soon to be under threat by a bunch of women who are sick of his shit—namely, Celeste, along with his very own wife.
“Be here in an hour,” he instructs. “I want two million in cash and one city block of territory to do my business dealings in. Oh, and I’ll take that crown jewel casino club of yours as well, just as a cherry on top.”
Luc and Alonzo wait for me to argue over the terms, both of them knowing that I would never hand over my prized flagship casino. But this is why I’m the boss. I can see past all of this transactional bullshit and have a deeper plan in place.
“I’ll be there,” I say as I hang up the call.
When I head straight for the door, Marco is right behind me.
“I’ve got this,” I say as I turn and tell him to stay behind.
He looks shocked. “What? No, I can’t let you go into that hornet’s nest alone.”
“He’s right,” Luc says. “We’ll all go.”
“I need to do this alone,” I say. “If we all show up there, then we won’t make it past the men Angelo has standing guard. He’ll know we’re there to fight. If it’s just me, he will think I’ve come to make the deal I just agreed to on the phone in exchange for Isla.”
“You’re going to get yourself killed, Vincent,” Luc argues.
“It’s not up for debate, Luciano.” My mind is made up, and my men will respect my orders.
Luc and Alonzo stand down because they know it’s their job to follow my orders. But Marco is young still, and he has a conflicted look on his face about whether he can morally let me walk into danger alone.
I put my hand on his shoulder and give him a quick pat as I walk out. “You’re a good man, Marco. One day, you’ll make a fine capo.”
Before he can protest further, I leave.
I have no intention of bringing Angelo anything that he wants. The only thing he’s going to get from me is a loaded gun in his face. When I arrive at his not-yet-opened casino, he has men there to meet me.
“You’re expected,” one of them says as he looks over my shoulder. “You bring anyone with you?”
“No, I came alone.”
“Brave,” he chuckles. “Or maybe stupid.”
“I guess we’ll see which,” I say. “Take me to Angelo.”
“Did you bring what he asked for?” his thug asks.
“Yeah, and I’m not showing you anything. No offense, but I don’t deal with lackeys. Take me to Angelo now.”
The Barone thug turns and motions for me to follow. We walk through the empty club with scant gambling machines tucked into corners. The place isn’t even trying that hard to look like a proper club. Angelo has a long way to go before he opens anything that even comes close to my casino empire. His forte lies in other pursuits, which I have no desire to dabble in.
I follow the goon down a staircase at the back of the building that leads down into the basement. The footsteps of the other men follow close behind me. When we reach the basement, several of Angelo’s men and I stand in the narrow hallway lined with doors. I’m guessing that this is where Angelo keeps some of the women that he traffics, stored before they get shipped off. Isla is in one of these rooms.
“Where’s Angelo?” I demand to know before taking a step further.
“He had some business to attend to,” the guard in front of me says. “He asked us to take your payment in his absence in exchange for the woman.”
Like hell he did. Their intentions are clear—take whatever of value they think I’ve brought with me, rough me up or kill me, and then sweep Isla off into a life of forced prostitution. They thought they’d get the jump on me, but they were wrong.
I pull two fully loaded guns out of my jacket with each hand and open fire. They must think very little of me because they didn’t even bother to search me. They must have thought that because I’m the Don, I don’t need to know how to shoot. One thing that I learned from a very young age was how to have impeccable aim so that I never miss. I’ve dropped them all before any of them could get a shot in. Have I started a war with the Barone’s crew? Probably. I don’t give a fuck. All I need is proof of life, to get Isla back in my arms and get her out of here, and then I’m going to take whatever I want.