Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
But he’s still my father. In the end, I’m not as heartless as I wish I was.
“Call the doctor,” I tell Stefano. “We’ll try to save him.”
“Thank you,” Dad says, lips pale, eyes wide.
“But I’m taking this.” I reach up his shirt and pluck the recording device from where he’d taped it to his back. “Just in case you die anyway, asshole.”
Chapter 34
Charlie
Adriano Marino paces across his office. The recording of my father’s conversation with my grandfather hangs in the air. Don Marino’s face is a mask of anger, and a storm cloud is practically forming over his head.
“You can swear this is real?” He looks at Stefano, who nods once. “And did he survive?”
“Unfortunately.”
Adriano sinks down into a chair behind his desk, cursing quietly to himself in Italian. He stares at me, expression sharp and hard. “And you knew nothing about this?”
I struggle to maintain my composure. “Absolutely nothing.”
He glances at Stefano. Clearly, the don doesn’t trust me.
“She’s done nothing but try to take her family down.” He reaches out and takes my hand. “We can trust her.”
I slip my fingers through his and squeeze lightly. Thank you.
Adriano leans back, considering the pair of us. I don’t know the Don very well, but from what I’ve seen of him, he can be very fair. He’s smart and patient, but he’s also ruthless. He doesn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
“It’s good your father isn’t dead,” he says at last. “It’ll be easier this way.”
My eyebrows raise in surprise. “Why do you say that?”
“Because if you ended up as the Westbrook heir, it would look suspicious.”
I look around, not sure what he’s talking about. “Would that matter? My grandfather’s still in charge.”
“Not for long.” Adriano leans toward us, staring hard. “This level of betrayal can’t stand. Not even a man like your grandfather is above my retribution.”
A chill runs down my spine. This is the power of the Marino Famiglia.
“You want to kill him?” I ask, voice small and meek. I hate myself for that a little bit. I wish I could be stronger and taller.
“It’s not a matter of want. He has to die. There’s no other option. I can’t overlook what he’s been doing.” Adriano shakes his head, glaring hard. “He tricked you into marrying one of my important lieutenants. He tried to use you to spy on me. When that wasn’t working, he orchestrated another plan with your father. The pair of them wanted to steal my operation’s secrets. They wanted to destroy me. It cannot stand.”
I shake my head, trying to come to grips with what he’s saying. “But you want to kill my grandfather?”
“Not want,” Stefano says, squeezing my hand. “It’s what will happen, Charlie.”
I try to fathom it. Grandfather’s been a force since the day I was born. Even now, well into his eighties, he’s still sharp as a knife and deadly like a crocodile. I never thought the old man would ever actually die.
“We can’t kill him,” I blurt out, desperate and stupid. “I mean, it’s Grandfather, I just—”
“What did you think would happen?” Adriano asks, eyes narrowed at me. “When you came to me with this?”
“I figured you’d stop him. Hurt him a little bit. I don’t know. I just didn’t think you’d kill him.”
Both men stare at me. Stefano doesn’t release my hand. There’s sadness in his expression, and that’s what finally breaks me.
This is really happening.
And maybe it’s for the best. Maybe it’s what needs to happen. Still, the thought of life without Grandfather is bizarre. It’s almost impossible.
“He’s right, Charlie,” Stefano whispers softly. “We’ll do it quickly. He doesn’t need to suffer.”
“Although I wouldn’t mind if he did,” Adriano murmurs.
I take a moment to process. My heart’s beating up into my throat. I want to stand and walk around in circles just to work some of this anxiety out of my body. Except I know nothing will help.
Grandfather has to die.
I let out a long breath and lean back in my chair. “When will you do it?”
“As soon as I can.” Adriano nods at Stefano. “You’ll make the plans.”
“Done.”
“And what about my father?” I look between the men. “You said it’s better he survived?”
Adriano strokes his cheek and sighs. “As much as I’d love to cut his throat, it’ll be useful to have him at the head of the Westbrook empire. You’d be too suspicious, Charlie, and Stefano tells me you don’t even want it. But I think we can use your father. I think he’ll be very friendly toward our operation after your grandfather is out of the way.”
I feel sick, but he’s right. My dad’s a useful idiot. All he cares about is money and power, and he’ll gladly hand himself over to Adriano so long as he gets to sit at the head of the Westbrook empire.
“We’ll do it.” I lower my head and stare at the floor before turning my gaze back to my husband. He nods to me slightly, his expression strong and firm for both of us. “We’ll rip my family to pieces.”