Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98469 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98469 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Lorenzo is on board, but because his father is still competent, even though he’s next in line, he doesn’t have the capability of making the executive decisions.
If our fathers didn’t have so much of their businesses intertwined, separating everything would be easier. But because they do, it’s like playing a deadly game of chess. One wrong move, and we could send up a red flag, alerting them to what we’re trying to do, and then it would be checkmate—and not in our favor.
When the plane lands, I don’t wait around for Peyton, not wanting to draw any attention to myself. With whatever Matteo has planned, the last thing I want is to lay any breadcrumbs on the ground that would lead to Peyton or me.
I’m out of the terminal and halfway to the exit when I hear my name being called. I turn around and find Peyton speed-walking toward me.
“Everything okay?” I ask once she reaches me.
She glances around and then grabs my wrist in her delicate hand, pulling me into a corner. “I lied,” she says softly so nobody can hear. “It’s gotten worse. Apparently, your warning messed with his ego, and now, if I don’t sleep with him, he’s threatening to lie and say I harassed him. I was wondering …” She swallows thickly, and her tear-filled eyes meet mine. “Could you tell him you were just kidding? Maybe if you take it back? I don’t even know if that will work, but—”
“Hey”—I turn her until her back is against the wall, so if anyone walks by, they’ll only make out the back of me—“I’m taking care of it, I promise. He’s never going to bother you again.”
“Okay,” she breathes. “Thank you. It’s just that my mom isn’t doing so well, and I really need this job.”
“It’s okay,” I assure her. “You don’t have to explain anything to me.” And I can’t afford to get to know you more than I already do because it’s only going to make me want you that much more, I think, but don’t voice. “You don’t know me, but I promise, I am a man of my word.”
“Thank you,” she murmurs.
“No problem.”
Her lips curve into a smile—a real one this time—and her entire face lights up. I’m about to do something stupid, like ask for her number, when my phone rings, breaking the moment.
“I need to take this,” I tell her, taking a step back. “But don’t worry. It will all work out.”
Without waiting for her to respond, I take off toward the exit to answer the call.
It’s from Matteo.
“Any news?”
“I think he killed her boyfriend.”
“Who?” I ask in confusion since our last conversation was about Peyton and she never mentioned having anything other than an ex-boyfriend.
“Brielle. I think Andrey killed her boyfriend. We searched her apartment and found pictures of her with a guy. I ran his picture through the system, and his name is … well, was Owen Levine. Senior at the same college Brielle attends. Business major. He went missing a few days ago, and this morning, my guys found a dead body that matches his description. It’s clear he was murdered. I made sure nothing could be linked back to us or Bri. Since he wasn’t killed in Harbor Point, I had to pay off a cop in the jurisdiction where we found him to call it in. We’ll know soon if it was him.”
“And Brielle? Have you found her?” I hold my breath, praying he has and she’s okay.
“No,” Matteo says. “And his phone is missing, so I can’t check it for texts or calls.”
“Dad probably has it.”
“Yeah, which could mean he’s closer to finding her.”
“Fuck, I’m coming back there.”
“There’s nothing you can do,” Matteo says. “I have all my men searching for her, and as soon as we find her, I’ll let you know. You coming home won’t change a thing. You’re a good businessman, but you don’t know the streets like we do.”
He’s right, but I hate feeling helpless.
“Besides, Andrey isn’t going to hurt her,” he points out. “She’s the only daughter he has, so she’s his only hope of completing his ludicrous plan.”
“We need to take care of him sooner rather than later.”
“We will,” he promises. “Go to the meeting. I’ll let you know if I find anything else out.”
“All right,” I say after several seconds. “If you need anything …”
“I got this. Get the deal finalized, and I’ll see you back at home.”
We hang up, and the anger that’s been building inside me finally surfaces. Before I can think about what I’m doing, my fist hits the metal beam in an attempt to release a bit of my pent-up aggression.
Fuck!
Brielle just had to hold on a little longer, but instead, she acted in haste, and now, not only did she get her boyfriend killed, but her life is at risk too. She knew better when she chose to fall for someone who wasn’t part of our world.