Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Stepping closer, I hold the box out to him. “Try not to get emotional.”
Christiano pushes back from his desk and takes it from me like I’m handing him a damn newborn. His fingers slide over the polished wood before he opens the clasp and lifts the lid. For a second, he just stares down at the bottle resting against the black velvet lining.
“Jesus Christ.” A burst of laughter leaves him as he carefully takes the bottle out. He turns it in his hand, studying every detail, then pats my shoulder. “Thanks, brother. This means a lot to me.”
I grab a seat in one of the open chairs and say, “Devran came through.”
That gets Christiano’s full attention. He carefully sets the bottle on his desk, and sitting down again, he asks, “No issues?”
I shake my head. “None. The shipment arrived exactly when he said it would. Every crate accounted for.”
A pleased expression settles on his face. “That’s good. I had my doubts about working with the Turkish mafia.”
“Especially with the kind of shit he moves.” I stretch my legs out in front of me. “I have a good feeling about Devran.”
Christiano’s gaze drifts over the bottle while he mentions, “It will be excellent for business.” His eyes lift to mine, sharp and calculating. “This was him proving he wants long-term business.”
“Exactly.” I climb to my feet again. “We’re going to make a fuck-ton of money.”
Before I can turn around and leave, Christiano asks, “How are things otherwise? We didn’t get to talk at the last poker game.”
All the men from the five families get together for a poker game once a month, but there are so many of us that it’s easy to miss talking to someone.
I shrug as I reply, “Everything is the same as always.” To direct his focus off me, I say, “I had dinner with Remo and Valentina last night. They look very happy.”
“Yeah.” A grin spreads over his face. “Hopefully they’ll get married soon, then I can call my best friend my brother-in-law.”
“They mentioned next summer,” I tell him.
“Gives me time to pad my bank account before my sister drains it with an expensive wedding.”
“Seeing as it’s Remo’s first marriage, I’ll pay.” When it looks like Christiano is going to argue, I add, “It would be my honor.”
Reluctantly, he nods and follows me to the doorway, then asks, “Are you heading back to the club?”
“No, I’ll be at the warehouse for the rest of the day to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
“What else did Devran send that I might be interested in?”
“Seventy-five boxes of Cohiba Behikes, five cases of Yamazaki 18, twenty bottles of Louis XIII, twelve Château Margaux, and ten Pétrus. There’s enough money sitting in those crates to make customs agents cry.”
Christiano lets out a chuckle. “Save me a box of Cohiba Behikes.” He gives me a questioning look. “How much did the shipment cost?”
“Six-fifty.”
He lifts an eyebrow, looking impressed. “You’re going to make some serious profit.”
A smirk tugs at my mouth. “Of course. I don’t waste time on cheap shit.” Walking away, I add, “Enjoy the whiskey.”
“Fuck that. It’s going straight to the vault,” he calls out, which makes me chuckle.
It’s after ten when Little Ricky drives past Laurie’s work, and I’m surprised to see the lights are off.
I hope that means she’s done working so late.
“Go to her house,” I tell him.
“You’re tired. How about you skip tonight? We can stalk her tomorrow.”
I shoot him a look that says keep driving.
When Little Ricky parks the SUV across from Laurie’s place, all the lights are off.
I shove the door open and glance up and down the quiet street as I cross it. The truck is parked in the driveway, and as I move around the side of the house, everything is quiet.
I stop near the bedroom window and listen, but not hearing anything, I assume they already turned in for the night.
An itch spreads beneath my skin, and it feels dangerously like I’m going through withdrawal from not seeing Laurie for two days.
As I head back to the SUV, I seriously consider kidnapping her because I don’t have enough time to stalk her the way I’d like to.
I also hate knowing she’s living with another man.
Christ, I’m jealous, and I haven’t even spoken to the woman.
When I climb into the back of the SUV, Little Ricky asks, “You done?”
“Yeah, let’s go home.” I glare at the house, like it is responsible for keeping Laurie from me, and as we drive away, I mutter, “I think I should just kidnap Laurie.”
“Tomorrow night? Or I can get a group of men to grab her from the office?”
“Let me sleep on it.”
“Okay.” He turns on the radio and keeps the volume soft so it won’t annoy me.
During the drive to the property I share with my parents, I clear out my emails and messages.