Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
She sucks in her breath and looks at me like I just took a peek into her life. I can’t help but wonder where this man is who allowed her to so casually throw away her love for him. It must not mean a lot to him.
“He’s a goddamn prick,” she says. “And I’m so fucking done with him.”
Tears well up in her eyes, but she’s strong enough to keep them at bay.
I smile. “I like that attitude. If a man doesn’t see your value, he means as much as the pearls you just threw away. Because to me, judging from this one second since we’ve met, your value seems priceless.”
My hand lifts to brush away the single tear that rolls down her cheek. Her chest rises and falls, her cheeks flushing with heat from the soft attention of my thumb.
“I ...” She steps back. “I have to go back.”
She takes a few more steps back, and I clear my throat.
“If you’re frightened of whoever gave you those pearls, come find me.” I take another sip of my drink.
Her lips shudder. And then she runs off, back inside, through the crowd until she disappears from my sight. But my God, did she leave an impression, just by looking at me with those gorgeous ocean eyes. Those pretty red lips practically begged to be kissed by a man who wouldn’t take her love for granted.
I sigh out loud when my phone begins to vibrate, and I pick it up. “Yeah?”
“Lucio just entered the building, two guards flanking him. Do you want me to take the shot?” Franco, my second-in-command, asks.
“No,” I reply. “You know I want him to pay. Blood isn’t going to be enough. Death is an easy way out for a fucker like this. Follow him inside, and let me know when he reaches the safe room. I’ll be there, and we will make the fucking deal.” I end the conversation, lower my phone, and march off, tucking it into my pocket again.
Everywhere around me, people are dancing, oblivious to the deal about to go down between two rival families, a deal stained by blood. I head straight for the bar to order another bourbon while I scan Club Triton, looking for Lucio. Within a minute or two, I spot him zigzagging through the crowd with his two henchmen by his side, headed straight toward the room we agreed to meet in. But his henchmen are carrying guns. That wasn’t the agreement we had.
Goddammit.
I rub my chin.
“Here you go, sir,” the bartender says.
I swiftly pick up my drink, take another sip, and march off. I fish my phone from my pocket and call my second-in-command. “Plans have changed. Bring me more guns.”
“On my way, sir.”
I close my phone again and put it back in my pocket. A few seconds later, Franco appears by my side. In the darkness, he swiftly tucks two extra guns into my belt without anyone noticing. The music and disco lights are enough of a distraction to the people around us, so they don’t know what’s going on.
“My men confirm he’s in there,” Franco says. “Are you going to do it?”
I take another gulp of my bourbon, the burn preparing me for what’s to come. “This is just a precaution.”
“Do you want me to go in there with you?”
“That won’t be necessary,” I reply. “Lucio knows what will happen if he tries anything on me.”
Franco looks me in the eyes and nods. He knows as well as I do that Lucio wouldn’t dare touch me. I’m the head of the biggest Mafia empire in this city. If there’s even so much as a scratch on my face, my men will hunt him and his guys down and destroy any semblance of their existence. He won’t risk it, and we both know it. He didn’t bring those guns to hurt me. He brought them for his own protection, because he’s afraid of what I’ll do to him.
“Are you ready?” Franco asks.
I take another sip of my bourbon, then shove the glass into his chest. “Stand guard behind the door. Don’t let anyone leave until I’m ready.”
He nods, and we both head toward the room. I don’t even knock before I barge inside. Franco positions himself at the door right behind me before it closes. My men are all around the club, watching, waiting to make a move. We’ve got this place surrounded, and Lucio isn’t going anywhere until I have what I came for.
But my eyes do a double take when I spot the same girl who just threw her expensive pearls over the edge of the balcony, sitting on the couch in the corner of the room right behind Lucio.
It’s her.
What is she doing here?
Her eyes widen when she spots me.
Well, well. This is a surprising turn. That red-lipped beauty is Lucio’s girl?