Total pages in book: 181
Estimated words: 171979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 573(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 573(@300wpm)
“Sure, I could do that for you, kid, but can’t you do that yourself?” He laughed, knowing Sal’s secret firsthand of being The Great Salvatore.
“Yes, but I don’t want Valerie ever finding out I might have persuaded them into giving her a deal.” She possessed the same skills he did, and there was no hiding anything from Valkyrie these days. “We both know her game is better than anything they’ve brought to market in recent years, anyway. I’m just hurrying them up to the inevitable.”
“Ah, I understand. I’m sure I’ll have Bubblegum Blitz bought by the end of the day.”
Sal smiled, positive that would be the case. He had learned from the best, after all. “Thank you, Terry.”
“No problem, Sal. Take care of yourself.”
“You, too,” Sal told him before ending the call, positive he would do exactly that.
Terry was living better than anyone in the world; Sal always saw to that. Giving the world to the man who had brought Dante Caruso to him was one of his greatest accomplishments in life. If it weren’t for Terry being brave enough to ever call Dante in the first place, knowing it could have cost him his life if Lucifer had ever found out, Sal’s life wouldn’t be what it was today. Hiding behind a screen could only take you so far in life; you had to also live it.
When he made it to the gift shop, Sal didn’t even have to ask, because he already saw the devastation. The only thing that was shocking was that Dante was there at the door, waiting for him.
“Sal, I’m not sure why you thought having her work here would ever be a good idea. She’ll fucking eat us out of business.”
“I’m not sure, either,” he agreed in defeat, seeing the full trash can of empty bags. “I’m sorry.”
“She might need to see a doctor.” Dante looked back at her for confirmation that she was still eating. “Or a psychiatrist.”
Sal had to admit she might have a small problem if Dante Caruso was telling her to see a shrink.
“Nadia has a few she works with for her charity; would you like her to send you some numbers?”
“That’s okay.” He waved him off, knowing all their problems would soon be solved. “So, what are you doing here?”
“Well, I was coming up to smoke a cigar in Lucca’s office”—with the story starting off with his own vice, Dante’s recommendation of seeking help sounded a bit less compelling—“when I decided to come check on Winnie. She’s been a part of Nadia’s youth outreach for a while, so I was just seeing how she was doing when I walked into this.”
Sal had to admit that the barren walls Dante motioned toward did help put his case back on track.
“The poor girl tried to hold off on calling you, thinking Valerie would eventually stop eating the inventory, but I told Winnie that if she didn’t get your ass down here soon, she might start chewing through the walls next.”
“You can have her send the numbers,” Sal finally agreed.
“I think that might be wise, son.” Dante nodded before softening his voice from his stern one. “Love her, though, truly, but wise.”
He couldn’t help but notice his father figure had softened not only with time but with Nadia’s love. In fact, all the Caruso men had softened from their woman’s love, and Sal was no different.
In that moment, Sal couldn’t help himself as he brought Dante in for a hug.
“You okay?” Dante asked, surprised by the action.
“Yes,” he assured him with a laugh, and his eyes went misty. “I just never thanked you for the day you picked me up when my mother died.”
Dante wrapped his arms tightly around his son with his own tears forming in his icy gaze. “You never had to.”
“I know,” Sal told him, believing it. Dante had never asked him anything in return for his kindness. Anything Sal did for him, including joining the family, had been of his own mind. “But thank you. Thank you for that day and every day after. I’ll never be able to repay you for the wonderful life you have given me.”
“And you’ll never have to,” Dante promised him. “Love you, son.”
Sal finally said the word he had never been able to say before. “Love you, too, Dad.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
ENGRAVED WITH THE NAME CARUSO
“Ihave a very addictive personality.”
You don’t say? he thought; better to not speak the fucking obvious out loud.
“It’s not fair that you don’t have an addiction,” she continued pitifully as she was dragged out of the gift shop. “You wouldn’t get it.”
Sal threw her his own look of pity. “Who says I don’t?”
“Yeah, right,” she huffed, giving up and letting him lead her away. “The only thing you’re addicted to is buying organic snacks.”
“Because I used to eat out of a dumpster,” he reminded her calmly.