Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“I’ll handle it. I promised you I’d take care of her, and I will,” I bite out.
He curses and mutters away from the phone. I have respect for Claude, so I hold my temper. In all honesty, I should allow him to take her back home.
I can find another driver for this job, but I want her. The fucked-up part is, when I say that, I’m not sure if I just mean for the job anymore.
“I’ll handle my uncle. Oni stays.”
“Respectfully, Rico, your family may have to just bring the smoke. I don’t know what kind of bullshit y’all are on, but Oni won’t be in the middle.”
Oni
“Thank you,” I say with a tight smile as the chef places a bowl of fruit down next to my plate.
Now, in the light of day, this place is so bright. The sun is pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap the house. Sitting here has made me nostalgic for the times when I used to sit with Daddy in our big house before everything went to shit.
I don’t know why I was so disappointed to find out Rico wants to send me back. I was taken aback by the text from Uncle Claude. I woke this morning with a plan for how to make this all work for me.
After making a call back home and asking some vague questions, I was able to figure some things out as I mapped a course of action. This doesn’t have to be all bad.
I was even a bit excited to get my new wardrobe. I can’t say I was surprised when Mario took me to the high-end shops. From the looks of Rico’s guys, they all dress to impress. Why should I be any different?
However, from his tone on the phone, I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Things are about to change again. It feels like my life has shifted at least five times since I’ve been here. Each decision, each action, changes the course of my fate.
I should be happy. I’m getting out and I’m going home. Maybe I can actually spend the summer with my uncle like I planned. All my plans have fallen apart, and I will need to figure out what I’m going to do after the summer ends, but it looks like I’m about to take a turn off this dangerous road.
At least that’s what I believe until I hear the sound of tires screeching in front of the house. After Mario and I returned from shopping with all my bags, he left me here, saying he had some business to handle for Rico. I was told to stay put.
Since then, I’ve been sitting here picking at the sandwich the chef made for me. It’s not that the food isn’t good—my stomach has just been in knots about what’s going on. The alarm announces the front door has opened, and movement starts to pick up all around me. Even the chef looks a bit nervous.
“Where is she?” Rico bellows through the house.
I jump in my seat and turn just in time to see him storm into the kitchen like a madman. I stand and wipe my sweaty palms on my new wide-legged slacks. Reaching up, I touch my braids that I pulled up into a bun.
I shift from foot to foot, thinking I should have gone with a more sophisticated top, not this crisscross crop top that bares my stomach. Rico eats me up with his eyes. That heated stare makes me both nervous and curious about what he’s thinking.
His fists are balled up at his sides, and his nostrils are flaring. He looks angrier than he was last night in that shed as he killed those two men. I can’t help wringing my hands as I stand with my mouth hanging open.
“This is why I’m about to start a war,” he mutters to himself.
“Huh?” I say.
I knit my brows in confusion. This guy makes my head spin. Even if he were attracted to me, he’s so out of my league.
“Nothing. Your uncle wants to see you and make sure you’re okay. We’re going to do this on my father’s property.”
“Okay,” I say.
“Oni, this is your chance to show me your loyalty. You’re returning here with me, no matter what; it’s your job to make sure that happens.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Your uncle is ready to go to war with my family for you. That wasn’t how this was supposed to play out. This was a friendly merger. If he pulls out now, not only do I look weak, but he’s asking for the Gallo wrath.
“That’s not what my father or I want. I want you here. I need you here, but I’m not going to tolerate the disrespect. I feel where your uncle is coming from.