Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
But the more I think about it, the more I realize I have no clue what’s true or not.
Everything I know about him comes from my mother, and she’s far from reliable.
“It is what we asked for,” one of the men says. He’s narrow-faced and serious-looking. “He’s got a wife. Even if we don’t love her last name, nobody can deny the girl is beautiful. She’ll make good Italian babies at least.”
There’s a murmur of agreement.
If I weren’t already stunned, I’d take offense at them talking about me like I’m some high-class breeding dog.
“We move forward,” another man says. He raps a heavy gold ring on the back of a pew. A couple of the members look distinctly unhappy, most notably that Turi asshole. “Stellan has followed our orders. We have no reason to hold him back from ascension.”
“We’ll discuss it more,” Saverino says blandly.
“Discuss it fast.” Stellan meets their eyes proudly and boldly. “The Turks are coming. I’ve made it clear that the Vural Gang wants our territory. They sense weakness. The longer you hold me from my position, the more emboldened they’ll become.”
“The Turks aren’t a problem.” Turi spits on the floor and stands. “That Santoro bitch is.”
There’s another uproar. The old men shout more curses at each other. Stellan strides forward down the aisle and the bickering instantly stops when he looms over Turi. For a moment, nothing happens, until he rears back and slaps the old man across the face.
“Speak of my wife that way again and I will kill you.” Stellan says it very simply.
Turi looks like he wants to argue—but keeps his mouth shut when he meets Stellan’s gaze. Then he quickly looks down at the floor.
Stellan walks back to my side. There’s a deep hush and I get the feeling striking a member of the council is an extremely deep taboo.
“Five days,” Stellan says. “And then I wear my crown.” He takes my arm and pulls me away.
The church is stunningly silent as we retrace our steps back into the graveyard behind the building.
The air is cold and crisp. The city’s still buzzing and alive around us. I hear a truck nearby, its brakes groaning. Stellan keeps going past the old stones toward the far gate and the waiting car.
“Hey, hold on a second.” I’m trembling. I wish I could process what just happened in there, but it’s like my head’s trapped in a loop. “Stellan, wait.”
He turns back, frowning at me. His face is stormy and preoccupied. “What’s wrong?”
“That stuff in there about my father—” I take a deep breath, trying to steady my shaking hands. “Was that all true?”
His lips quirk slightly. “Which part?”
“You knew my father. You called him… your mentor.”
“Yes, Bryan Santoro and I were close. He taught me everything he knew.”
“But… my dad…” I shake my head, refusing to accept it. Maybe just unable to see the truth. “He was just a guy.”
“No, Kira. Your father was a prominent member of the Corsetti Famiglia. He was a Capo under my father’s command.”
“That can’t be real.”
“He helped to raise me. I knew him better than you did.”
“But he died.”
“I’m ten years older than you, remember? I felt his death more than anyone did.”
“I just… how is this real? Why didn’t you tell me?!” The implications swirl around my head. “You knew from the start, didn’t you? That first night?”
He nods slowly. “I knew who you were.”
“That’s why you were there. You were… watching me.”
“Something like that.”
I move away from him, heart racing. Sticky sweat rolls down my underarms. Horror pools in my belly. “Is that why you helped me? Why you wouldn’t leave me alone? Why you blackmailed me? Did you want to… get revenge on my father? I don’t even know what this is anymore.”
“No, Kira. That’s not it at all.” He moves toward me, but I stumble away, nearly tripping over a headstone.
“Stay where you are. Don’t come closer. Why the hell didn’t you tell me, Stellan?”
“I didn’t want to explain that your father was one of the most successful gangsters I’ve ever met. You weren’t ready.”
“So you let that group of asshole old men do it for you? Why the hell do they hate me so much?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“What the hell did my father do, Stellan?!”
He stares at me, his face bleak. I’m panicking and I feel dizzy. I can barely breathe. I’m dimly aware of honking nearby.
“Your father made mistakes. None of them matter anymore. Please, Kira, we need to leave.”
“No.” I’m breathing too fast. My chest hurts. I keep seeing Stellan helping me that first night, taking down those assholes. He wasn’t just some innocent bystander. He was there for a reason. “Get away.”
“Kira—”
“Get. Away!”
I turn and run. I don’t know where I’m going. I sprint blindly through the graveyard, dodging headstones, nearly tripping over grave markers, until I reach another gate at the north end. Stellan calls out for me to wait, but I can’t be around him right now.