Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“In a heartbeat.” Whatever expression’s on my face must satisfy her because she nods at the pizza box.
“There’s more if you’re hungry,” she says.
“Is that an olive branch?”
Her lips purse. “I’m not sure yet. The kidnapping is definitely against you. However, the offer to pay me handsomely, I’m still weighing.”
“Good to know.”
Her hands dance happily across three keyboards. “You have a great setup here.”
“It’s top of the line,” I say. The woman is amusing, and I can see why she’s Rosalie’s friend. “It’s the best I could find.”
She nods. “I could put a couple of things together to get more juice, but yeah, whoever your source is did a good job.”
I glance at my watch. According to Ella, Howard Fissure is at home right now. “Tell me about Fissure’s home.”
“Sure.” She gives me the lowdown, including the security. It’s not as impressive as I would’ve thought. I wait until she finishes listing problems that could arise if I break in.
It occurs to me that she could be absolutely messing with me and setting me up. But she’s not that stupid. In fact, she’s not stupid at all. She has no idea what my men will do if I don’t return. Frankly, neither do I at the moment. I can’t have Garik watching both Ella and Rosalie, so I have the best men I can on this building. At the moment, Ella seems to be enjoying using my computers, so perhaps this will work out.
“How would your stepmother put a hit out on you?” I ask.
She jolts and then turns around. “I don’t know. To be honest with you, I’m not quite sure how that works.”
“Maybe go through her attorney?”
“It’s possible.”
Any payment would be in cash, and I doubt there’s a way to trace the source. I may need to talk to Reyes myself to find out. The idea of returning to the prison fires anger through me. It’s probably not a good idea.
My phone buzzes, and I glance down to read a text from Garik.
GARIK: Men gone, deposited Rosalie off at home. She hit me—is definitely pissed.
I hide a smile.
ME: Where did she hit you?
GARIK: Right in the gut, low and hard. She’s pissed, man.
Yeah, not mad enough to leave when everybody was still there. It’s a lesson I hope she’s learned.
ME: Keep an eye on her place tonight.
GARIK: No problem
I slip the phone back into my pocket.
Ella glances over her shoulder. “Rosalie’s going to wonder where I am.”
“Rosalie knows exactly where you are,” I say calmly.
Ella’s eyes widen. “You told her?”
I shake my head. “She figured it out. She is not happy.”
The smile Ella flashes is full of warning. “You don’t know Rosalie when she’s not happy. This might actually be fun.” She turns back to the keyboard and starts rapidly typing.
I turn and stride out of the room and through the empty penthouse. I don’t have enough men I trust to be here with her, and she can’t leave anyway. My men control the elevators, and I trust my guy in the control room.
“Where are you off to?” she yells.
“Business,” I say, opening the door and then shutting it. It’s time to take care of Harold Fissure. Just as I reach the elevator, my phone buzzes and I lift it to my ear. “Sokolov.”
“Hey, it’s Percy.” The guy sounds like he’s yelling.
My breath heats. “I can hear you, Percy. You don’t need to bellow. Is Rosie okay?”
“She’s fine, but I arranged a meeting for you with Alexander Ivanov and Andre Vasiliev for tonight.”
I ride the elevator down and stride toward my motorcycle, my brain automatically calculating what I know of alliances within the organization. Those two men have the largest families and the most connections out of the entire local Bratva. “Are you setting me up, Percy?”
“Of course not. I could, but I’m not,” he says. “They know about your impromptu meeting today with lower-level members of the organization. They’re willing to meet with you and discuss coming on board.”
I straddle the bike. “Why?”
Percy coughs. “They haven’t been paid in a little while.”
I pause. “Are you kidding me?”
“I never joke about money, man,” Percy says. “They think you’ll be better at the helm so long as you stay out of prison. That’s their only hesitation.”
“I’m not returning to prison for any length of time. When do they want to meet?”
“Half an hour. Belle’s Diner, on the outskirts of San Jose.”
I glance at my watch. It’s now late enough that the diner should be closed. That makes sense.
“I have to be there,” Percy says. A door opens. “Hey, Garik,” he says.
“Percy,” Garik returns, his voice strong through the phone.
“He can’t bring you,” I say. “I need him on Rosalie.”
Percy coughs several times. Old man cough. “Don’t worry. I’ve got Rosalie covered all night.”
“Excuse me?” I murmur.
“Yeah, I have Wally who’s ex-MI6, and Kenny who’s an ex-spy for the U.S. I’m pretty sure it was the U.S. Anyway, they’re fully loaded, man. No one’s getting to Rosalie tonight, and she said goodnight a couple hours ago.”