Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“You’re being sloppy,” the voice says.
I can’t place it exactly. I know it’s one of Dominic’s frequent visitors. Not Rafe, I know his voice well enough by now, but I’m struggling to remember who.
“I know what I’m doing,” Dominic shoots back.
I’m just about to back away from the door when I hear my name.
“Sofia is like your kryptonite,” the man says.
My blood runs cold. I really shouldn’t be listening to this, but I can’t make my legs move. I need to hear what they’re saying.
“Ever since she started working for you, it’s like your head is in the clouds,” the man continues. “It’s stupid for you to employ people who have debts associated to the Calderones. How do you know he hasn’t gotten to her yet?”
“Because I do,” Dominic answers harshly. “And you won’t speak her name ever again.”
His voice gets quieter, but I can still sort of make out his words.
“Sofia is not your concern. If you, or anyone else in this family forget that, you’re going to answer to me.”
Dominic’s voice is like ice. It sends another chill through me. I rush back to my desk, heart pounding, and try to pretend I didn’t overhear any of it. Not even a minute later, the door opens, and Dominic’s cousin, Tomasso, storms out. As usual, he doesn’t even look at me.
16
DOMINIC
Rafe and I stare at each other for the better part of ten seconds before he finally asks, “Should we just start without him?”
I shake my head.
“We’re not starting without Tomasso. We’re only having this meeting because he wanted it. Where the hell is he?”
As if summoned, Tomasso appears in the doorway. He doesn’t apologize for being late. He just strolls in, jacket open, phone still in his hand, like whatever he was dealing with mattered more than showing up to this meeting he asked for.
“Where are we with the Marble Ridge issue?” he asks, sinking into one of the chairs like it’s his office. I bristle in mine.
“Right here,” Rafe says, handing him the file he’s been tapping his pen against for the ten minutes we’ve been waiting.
“My concern is that it was missed,” he says.
“Your concern is that my assistant caught it,” I correct him.
It’s been eating him up since he found out, and he clearly has some kind of vendetta against Sofia that I absolutely will not tolerate. He’s been making snide comments about her ever since we got back from Vegas.
“Everyone is concerned that it got missed,” Rafe cuts in, always trying to be the voice of reason between us.
“Well, what are we doing about it?” Tomasso asks, even testier than usual. “It’s been almost a month since Vegas. Surely we have a plan by now.”
“I’m taking the easy approach,” I tell him calmly. “They attacked us for paying off a debt—”
“Which you shouldn’t have done,” Tomasso cuts in.
“And we’re letting them think they got away with it,” I continue. “It’s our best move for now. We want them to underestimate us. It’ll make it that much sweeter when we finally make our move.”
“You’re making a mistake,” Tomasso says, and I’m getting tired of people telling me that. Rafe about Sofia. Tomasso about the Calderones. I need one goddamn person in my life to trust that I know what the hell I’m doing. This isn’t our first bit of bad blood with another syndicate.
“It’s my mistake to make,” I remind him, hoping the insult cuts exactly as I intend.
“We’re getting off track.” Rafe sighs, just as the lights cut out.
It’s abrupt and unsettling. The three of us are plunged into sudden darkness, though light from the neighboring building filters through my windows. Not a blackout, then. A second later the emergency lights kick on, a red glow washing over the office until we all look covered in blood.
Rafe is already standing. Tomasso curses under his breath and reaches inside his jacket. I find my gun under the desk and pull it out, ready for a fight.
Then the alarm goes off, sharp enough to make my teeth clench. My phone buzzes on the desk the same moment Rafe’s and Tomasso’s do. An automated voice comes through the ceiling speakers.
“Security breach detected. Lockdown protocol active. Elevators disabled. Remain in a secure location.”
My first thought is gratitude that it’s late enough that most of my employees are gone. My very next thought goes to the one employee I know for a fact isn’t. She stays for every meeting, no matter how late it runs.
“I need eyes on Sofia,” I call out. “Right fucking now.”
I move before either of them says a word.
“Where are you going?” Tomasso demands.
I ignore him and cross to the door. The outer office glows red too. Nina is still here, clutching her cell phone like a lifeline. When she sees me, I motion for her to get under her desk. I don’t know what the hell is going on, but if it’s tripped the alarm system, I’m not gambling with anyone’s life.