Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
As I sat in my luxurious plane, waiting for takeoff, I thought about whether she’d like it. Did she like to fly? I had a lot of questions for her, but they’d have to wait until I’d get to see her lovely face in person.
My phone rang, and it was Mercado. “What do you have for me?”
“There is one main player who has been running two areas, Giacomo Rossi.” My eyes widened, and I wanted to snap some necks. Most didn’t know that Joey’s last name had been changed when they came over from Italy. It used to be Rossi, but their parents had debts, so they Americanized their kids’ names. Joseph and Jack Rose or like I know them to be Giuseppe and Giacomo Rossi. Her fucking father wasn’t missing. My fists were shaking. I couldn’t resist picking her up myself. There was no way that I would allow anyone else to do it, and now I was so damn grateful I did because the lies were fucking enormous.
“Do you have any other names?”
“Yes, his second is not even Italian. He’s a Mexican by the name of Perez.” So he was intentionally keeping ties to the old country out. The fucker was going to pay, but I had to figure out if Joey and my obsession were involved.
The flight dragged on as I considered my options. One thing was for sure. Regardless of her part, Ana Maria would be my bride. I chuckled to myself. Even in all his family’s attempts to hide their ethnicity he didn’t bother when it came to his daughter’s name. When my flight landed, I couldn’t get off the plane fast enough. Marco was waiting for me.
“Elio, is everything all right?” he asked as he held the door open.
“No. She wasn’t looking for a father that is missing. The bastard is playing games. He is the head of the Houston Costa Nostra.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Does Joey know?”
“If he does, he’s a dead man. Although as I spent hours thinking about it, the likelihood of him being aware is low. I have his contact information, so I’m going to call him.”
We stayed parked off the side of the tarmac and called Rossi. He picked up on the last ring. “Rossi.”
“Greetings from Chicago. This is Elio DeSalvo.”
“It’s a pleasure to hear from you. Have you offed my brother yet?”
“Why would I do that?”
“For his betrayal. I knew it would come soon.”
“You sound a little enthusiastic about it.”
“Maybe it was about due. He has been a thorn in my side for years.”
“Why didn’t you just do it yourself?”
“Ah. The proverbial debate of killing your own sibling. The whole Cain and Abel. I can’t. It would break my mother’s heart.”
“So your daughter means nothing?”
“Oh Ana Maria can be a problem, but she’s not dead. She’s in her place.” The disgusting way he spoke of her made me sick. He was a dead man just for being a disgusting human being, but then he spoke poorly of my future bride and that was enough for me.
“Is she though?” I ended the call.
I looked at Marco. “That son of a bitch runs the entire area.”
“Wait, she was living in squalor. She was shaking and in tears when we arrived.” It didn’t make sense why he treated her like that or why Joey believed his brother was a damn drug addict. Were they playing me to get me down here? No, because they had no idea that I would have been obsessed with Ana.
“Exactly. He’s been keeping her in a state of fear for years.”
“What do we do?”
“We’re getting her out of here before they strike and then I’m going to deliver him a nice wedding present.”
“Good. When do we move her?”
“We’re booked until tomorrow, and if they’ve tracked our movements or hers, then they’ll know that. We need to sneak her out tonight. I want the plane loaded and ready to leave by morning or so they believe.” I explained to him in great detail the plan for our exit. I smiled as I considered the look on her asshole father’s face when it blew up on him. Quite literally.
“Let’s go see my bride.”
Chapter Four
Ana
Voices startled me awake and then the door opened. I let out a gasp, pulling the blanket all the way up to my face. I didn’t even remember how I got under the covers, but I must have been more tired than I expected. Still, none of that mattered because in the doorway stood a man I’d never met.
He entered slowly, closing the door behind him. He had to be the most handsome man I’d ever seen in my entire life. He was taller than the others, slender yet muscular. Even in his suit, I could see the way his biceps pressed against the material. Please tell me he’s supposed to be my husband.