Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
I widened my eyes.
Timur winked at me and entered.
I looked at Jean-Pierre. “You see that?”
“I did.”
“He winked.”
“Winking is fine.”
“Yeah, but it was a I-fooled-you-motherfuckers-wink.”
“I believe it was a have-a-good-trip wink.”
“When the plane is up in the sky, this dude is going to sneak out of that bedroom and kill us all in the Great Eagle’s name.”
“I believe you’re being too paranoid.”
“And you’re not thinking enough.”
“Relax, Maxwell.”
“Man, I’m not flying back with you. I’ll just grab a ticket or something—”
“What?”
“I need to be like Grand Aunt Delphine and have a limited white man policy too because you all be having me caught up in hot shit—”
“Grand Aunt Delphine?”
“Is that all you got from that sentence?” I pointed at him. “Because if you think Timur is fixed, then I’m about to lose a lot of respect for you.”
“I am actually surprised that you have respect for me.”
“I did until this shit. Did you see how he winked at me?” I shook my head. “That was a Great-Eagle wink.”
Jean-Pierre laughed.
“I’m not trying to be funny. If you take him to Italy then he’s probably going to be trying to blood baptize everyone and shit will get crazy. It’s going to be Lion against Eagle against Mouse against whatever other fucking mafia animal you can think of—”
“Maxwell. Maxwell.” Jean-Pierre held his hand up. “I have this under control.”
“Just get me back to Italy, man.” I gripped my gun and checked behind me again.
The men remained standing by the door.
Jean-Pierre chuckled. “All will be fine.”
“You better hope so.” I leaned back in the chair and gripped my gun tight.
We’ll see.
Somehow, I fell asleep on the flight.
In this dream, that beautiful woman reappeared with those same large wings and stars dangling from her ears.
She floated above the ground, her white dress billowing around her in the wind. She reached out to me, her hand extended.
I took it and we both rose up in the deep blue sky. We danced on puffy white clouds. We kissed as the sun rose.
Right before we began to make love, Boris woke me up.
Yawning, I opened my eyes. “What, man?”
Boris grinned. “We’re back in Italy.”
“Thank you, Jesus.”
Epilogue
What the fuck?
I
looked out the window. Tons of French in suits, lined the tarmac.
I glanced back at Jean-Pierre. “Who are all of these men?”
“Several from Paris, Toulous, Montpellier, and Strasbourg.” Jean-Pierre rose from his seat. “The Mouse personally called me and requested help. I flew them in. Apparently, there has been some new complications here.”
My nerves frazzled. “What complications?”
“We should have the Lion and Mouse catch us up.” He stretched. “Half of these men will come with us. The other half will take Timur to Cosenza.”
“Where’s that?”
“It’s another city in this region.”
I eyed him. “You’re nervous about bringing Timur straight to Kazimir?”
“I’m taking your advice. It may be a good idea to watch my father-in-law’s progress for a few days.”
“An excellent idea. I don’t care if he’s the Lion’s God Father. Timur better not bring that Great Eagle shit around here.”
“Let us go.” Jean-Pierre headed away.
So eager to return to Em, I didn’t wash up.
When I left the plane, salty ocean air rode a cool breeze.
This time, I didn’t take out my weed case and spark a joint. Smoking would have to come later. For now, I needed the confirmation that she was emotionally, physically, and mentally okay.
So soon.
Today, a red Maserati Levante waited for us. Tons of black vans waited in a line behind it. Many of the French began to climb in.
The Butcher has brought an army. Ending this war should be simple if it’s not almost done.
Together, Jean-Pierre, Boris, and I headed to the Maserati.
It was funny, but we walked in perfect unison and I knew neither of us was trying to do it. Our feet maintained the same cadence. Our hands swung in the same direction and with the exact motion.
After all the shit we had been through, we had survived and created a newly formed bond.
How will that change us?
I doubted if Jean-Pierre would ask me to be in his wedding or anything like that. But, I knew he would have my back in the future and I would try to have his.
Then, there was Boris who had graduated to my bonafide brother-in-crime. In the past, I’d given him a hard time. From now on, he would only get my love and respect.
Boris got to my side. “We must go back to New Orleans.”
I smirked. “Dude, anywhere but New Orleans.”
The Butcher raised his eyebrows. “Did you not like our brothel, Maxwell?”
“I loved it. It was so good, I almost married one of the chicks there.”
“That’s the best review I’ve heard in a long time.” Jean-Pierre laughed. “Then, I agree with Boris. We should return to New Orleans for fun.”
“No way.” I waved my hand. “If we go back to the States, we’re heading to New York. The Big Apple. The City That Never Sleeps.”