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)
“If that’s the case, you can answer him the next time he calls. I’ll give you some space. I need to pack my things anyway,” I say as I look into her eyes.
I don’t get the feeling she’s lying to me. I’m very good at reading people when they lie. I’m just getting to know her, but I have this feeling she’s being honest.
“Pack your things? You’re leaving?”
I chuckle as her face becomes crestfallen. I peck her lips and smile. “No, I’m not leaving. I’m packing to come stay at Pop’s. How can I get to know my girl when she’s so far away?”
She breaks into a huge smile. I know I’m asking for trouble by telling her I’m her boyfriend, but when she smiles like that, it’s all worth it. I plan to call her my girl as much as I can to see that smile on her face.
“I won’t be that far away,” she says shyly and it’s adorable.
“I know you won’t because I’ll be staying in my old room at Pop’s.”
“Are you sure that’s a great idea?”
“You let me worry about that. As long as we stick to the rules, we’ll be fine.”
Slowly, I brush my fingers across her cheek. I get ready to lean in and take her lips, but her phone starts to ring again. We both sigh heavily. Oni stands and goes to grab the device.
This new jealous part of me wants to sit here and ear hustle, but the part of me that wants to be rational and to give her some space to breathe forces me to get up and leave the room. I’m not about to be jealous of some snot-nosed kid all the way in New York.
After all, she did say I was her first kiss and she’s not into him like that. Besides, she’s mine now. I may need to keep that from my uncle for the time being, but I have my ways of letting everyone know she’s off-limits.
I grin to myself as I walk into my bedroom closet and grab a duffel bag. I don’t need much. My room back at Pop’s still has a ton of my shit there.
Some of the guys might be annoyed that we’ll be moving to my dad’s, but they’ll get over it. Pop has never given us shit about our partying or any of that. I just didn’t feel right fucking and partying under his roof like I used to.
I think of Oni and groan. I really want that girl, but I’ve made her a promise that I won’t touch her for at least two summers. I don’t even want to think about what she’ll look like two summers from now.
I’m really going to have to focus on business for the next two years to keep my mind off sleeping with my girl. I have every confidence in myself that I can do this. My phone rings as I step out of my closet with my duffel bag in hand.
I’m knocked right back into reality. The business I’ve been putting off today comes looking for me. I roll my eyes and answer the call from Mario.
“Ciao, tell me something good,” I say into the phone.
“I can’t. Not this time.”
“Fuck, what’s going on now?”
“I went to visit that friend of ours. Someone already sent him on that vacation. I don’t like the way this looks, boss. Something ain’t right.”
I bare my teeth as my mind begins to race. Jonny said he was working for Andy Cusumano. Andy has been jealous since Uncle Emilio gave my dad the go-ahead to give me a crew.
Andy has always bragged that he would become made before any of the rest of us. I call bullshit because his father knew he had shit for brains. This only proves my point.
He went and got himself killed. He was a dead man either way, but it looks like he found someone other than me to piss off.
“What are you thinking?” I say to Mario.
“Everyone knows you don’t tolerant disloyalty. Someone knew you would take out Jonny and Pauly. Then they finished off Andy before he could talk.
“I don’t think this was a coincidence. I think someone is trying to fuck with business.”
I nod my head as I think his words over. Mario has been my best friend since I could talk. I trust him with my life. He’s wearing that scar on his face because of me.
I know he always has my back. If he has a feeling, I trust it. The more I think about it, the more it sounds like he might be onto something.
“Yeah, I hear you. Start shaking some trees and see what falls out, but be as quiet as you can. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m losing control of my business or my crew.”