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)
The odd thought hits me hard, and I blow out air. I didn’t want to care for her. I didn’t want to have that kind of liability. But I’m not a stupid man, and it’s too late to worry about it. She’s in my heart, and that’s where she’ll stay.
Reyes crosses his arms. “Thank you for checking on my four businesses.”
“You’re welcome.” Those kills were easy. “The fifth one has been a bit of a problem. I think you should cut your losses with the restaurant.” I throw out a business type. If anyone’s listening, they won’t know what we’re talking about, but he has to understand that I won’t kill Ella.
“Oh, no. I really need that restaurant to succeed.” His bushy eyebrows rise. “It’s important to me.”
I let my gaze harden. “I understand that. I’m sure you have a lot of money invested in it,” I say. “How about I buy the place from you? I have no problem purchasing a business like that one.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Normally, I would accept such an offer, but this restaurant is personal to me.”
“I checked it out. My guess is that you have some high-enders who like to eat there. Say somebody like Sylveria Rendale?” Ella’s stepmother is my most likely suspect.
Reyes grins. “Yes. She likes to eat there often.”
Okay, so he has no problem letting me know that Sylveria has put out a hit on Ella. “They seem like a nice family. Have you met the youngest one, Ella?”
“She’s the oldest one,” Reyes responds. “And no, I haven’t. I don’t believe they’re a close family.”
I hate double talk but continue anyway. “Does Mrs. Rendale eat often at your restaurant?” Just how many murder for hire contracts has this woman taken out with Twenty-One Purple?
“Off and on. She’s a good client,” he says. “Which is why I can’t accept your offer to buy the restaurant.”
So he won’t let me buy Ella’s contract. “Do you have a lot of competition for the restaurant in the area?”
“No,” he says. “So far, I’m the only one making money on that street.”
Another good fact. So far, this is the only contract out on Ella, at least that Urbano knows about. “Are you positive that you don’t want to sell? I will give you more money than she can ever pay you, no matter how many times she calls for reservations.”
He winces. “No, it’s not just the money. It’s the reputation of the place, you know?”
“I understand.”
His shoulders relax as if we reached an agreement. “Good. I was hoping you could also do me a little favor.”
“Really. What’s that?” I ask silkily.
He stops talking in code. “My girl and daughter have disappeared.”
I keep my expression blank. “Excuse me?”
“Yeah, I don’t know what happened to them. You have a lot of resources. I’m hoping you can help me track them down.”
“In exchange for what?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I’ll owe you one.”
I can see that he thinks that’s a big deal. In other words, his entire gang will owe me a favor. That could come in handy sometime. Unfortunately, I’m the one who gave his woman the money to get out of town. I’m glad she took my advice. “You know I’m happy to help you. We’ve been pals for years,” I lie.
“I appreciate it.” He nods toward an old checker set that we played too many times to count. “You want to play checkers or chess?”
“Sure. Why not? We’re going to be here awhile.”
He cracks his neck in a sound that would drive Rosalie crazy. “They’re not going to let you out until Monday?”
“No. I’m too dangerous to keep in the local jail, apparently,” I mutter.
His laugh is booming. “They don’t know how dangerous you are.”
“That’s true. You set up the game.”
“Sure thing.” He moves toward the board on the tiny little table attached to the wall and pulls it to the center. A drawing floats out from beneath it.
I catch the sketch of Rosalie before it lands on the floor. “What’s this?”
He grins. “You. Always drawing and then destroying the paper. You forgot to destroy that one.”
I stare at my woman sitting in her cute suit in the meeting room that first day. I became so caught up in her that I actually allowed the drawing to remain in one piece? Now Reyes knows about her. About my interest in her. “She can make a man forget his own name,” I admit, ripping the drawing into several pieces.
Reyes snorts and starts setting pieces in place.
I check the security camera to note the light off. Yeah, that cost me plenty as well. I pull the handmade shiv out of my sleeve. Barely shifting my weight, I stab myself in the bullet wound I sustained the other day. Pain slashes down my arm. I bite back a groan and move toward him.