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)
I was glad when I heard Augusto gave one of his most trusted men to Rosie. Being out there doing business with the scum of the world is not for her, and Raffaele is able to act in her stead as her underboss.
She clicks the button again and static crackles through the speakers as the recording picks up muffled voices.
‘He crossed a line when he wiped out the Castellanos,’ a man says, his words distorted by distance. ‘Every family in New York’s watching him now.’
A chair scrapes over concrete.
‘Good,’ another voice mutters. ‘Fear makes men reckless. Rizzo handed us the perfect excuse to unite the others.’
There’s the faint sound of footsteps before a third voice cuts in. ‘The Russians are already listening. Chicago’s interested. Once the smaller crews realize they’re on the losing side, they’ll fall in behind us.’
‘And when they do?’ This time I recognize the voice and my head snaps up.
“Fuck!” Dad snaps, his eyes flying to mine.
“Why does that guy sound familiar?” Remo asks.
Shoving my chair back, I shoot to my feet, and as I run from the room, I hear ‘We take the Cosa Nostra for ourselves. No more old blood running things. No more waiting our turn. We remove Rizzo, and anybody loyal to him.’
“Who is it?” Rosie asks.
“Marco!” Dad roars as he comes after me.
The fucker is with Laurie and Mom. Christ.
Impatiently, I slam the button for the metal door to lift and duck to go through under it as soon as I’m able.
When Little Ricky sees me coming, worry instantly tenses his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Marco is a fucking traitor. Home. Right now!”
Dad and Big Ricky hurry to the G-Wagon while I jump into the back seat of the SUV and Little Ricky slides in behind the steering wheel.
Tires kick up dust as we speed away, and needing to make sure Laurie is okay, I bring up the security feed of the mansion.
I see her and Mom in the main bedroom. Tiny is sitting on the ottoman, helping them pack the shoes away, and Marco is standing in front of the window, staring outside.
Searching for Paulie, I find him in the kitchen, grabbing several waters from the fridge.
The usual forty-five-minute drive is cut down to thirty, and by the time Little Ricky races through the gates of our property, I only see red.
Chapter 25
Laurie
“How the hell do you even walk in these?” Tiny asks as he passes Tori a pair of silver five-inch heels Pierre forced me into taking the last time he was here.
I don’t think I’ll ever wear them.
“Carefully,” I reply, which makes them chuckle.
Hearing hard footsteps pounding down the hallway, I glance over my shoulder.
Paulie stands up from where he’s sitting on the chaise on the other side of the bed, a frown forming on his face. “What’s wrong, boss?”
Just as I get up off the floor, Paulie pulls his gun out of the holster by his hip, his demeanor on high alert.
Suddenly Marco lunges toward me, his arm locking around my waist before he jerks me hard against his chest. Just then my eyes land on Adriano, who’s pointing his gun right at me.
A wave of intense pins and needles spread over my body, but he quickly adjusts his aim, pointing it at Marco right as the cold press of a barrel is shoved into my temple.
Shitshitshit!
My lips part, but no air comes out as it stalls in my throat while my body instantly begins to shiver from raw terror.
What is happening right now?!
Adriano’s features are cut from stone, the expression in his eyes deadly as he growls, “You fucking traitor.”
“Dammit, man,” Marco snaps with frustration. “How did you find out?”
“Does it matter?” Angelo asks as he comes to a stop beside Adriano. “Keep her covered.”
“Always,” Tiny replies. Out of the corner of my eye, I see how he keeps Tori behind his huge body, his gun trained on Marco.
When Adriano takes a step forward, putting himself closer to us, Marco shouts, “Don’t fucking move or I will spray your precious wife’s brains all over this fucking room!”
God!!!
The barrel drives harder into my skin, and I suck in a quivering breath before letting it out very slowly.
Calm down. You can’t think straight if you lose it.
Suddenly I’m dragged toward the window, and it rips a frightened gasp from me. My heart slams wildly against my ribs as I stare at Adriano, thinking today is the day I die.
At least I got to feel true love before my untimely demise.
“Think this through, Marco,” Adriano growls viciously.
“Oh, I have,” Marco lets out a harsh laugh. “I’m dying here today. The only thing that matters is how many of you I take with me.”
Adriano’s eyes touch on mine for a second, and I don’t know where the courage comes from, but before I can think things through, I stomp my heel hard on Marco’s foot and use all my strength to slam my elbow into his side.