Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 251(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
The new guy greeted her politely. “Good evening, Miss Costa. Your brother is finishing an interview and asks that you join him in the study. He will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you.” She guessed he hadn’t figured out the dynamics of the family and noted that she had no power or pull with Enzo. His consideration of her would evaporate when he learned how little she mattered to anyone. Alessia tilted her chin up, refusing to dwell on that sad thought.
Within the past few weeks, Enzo had replaced several dozen members of his security team. The previous guys had vanished, and suddenly an entirely new crew had shown up. The turnover made no sense to her, but then everything had gotten more tense since Nightfall opened its doors.
“Think on what I said, Alessia,” Frankie called from the car.
Alessia didn’t glance back but nodded at the guard in front of her. “I’ll follow my brother’s request.”
He waved a hand up the stairs, giving her the okay to proceed to the entrance. She sent him a small smile and a slight nod as she walked up the stairs. “Thank you.” Another guard opened the front door for her as she headed for the study to await her brother’s arrival.
She hesitated by the stairs leading to her room and quickly shucked off the Nightfall hoodie. Avoiding her brother’s ire was important. His temper was legendary. She folded the soft fabric neatly over the railing so she could pick it up on her way upstairs and dropped her stilettos.
Pushing through the large wooden doors, Alessia remembered a much happier time when her father occupied this space. The old-fashioned study still gleamed with dark wood and well-polished brass, and her feet sank into the deep carpet. The large, overstuffed leather furniture held a luxurious scent that invited whoever entered to sit back and relax in the lush environment. This room, more than any other, held the echo of her father’s presence. Her hands shook while pouring herself a small brandy from the liquor cabinet for courage. Alessia braced herself for Enzo’s arrival.
Enjoying a sip, she smiled slightly despite her nervousness. When she turned twenty-one, her father had invited her to join his customary drink-before-bed ritual. Having those special moments with her father became her favorite time of the day. Alessia took her place in one chair across from the immense desk that was the centerpiece of the room.
Her indulgence was short-lived, however, as Enzo burst into the room raging for all to hear. “As if having some mystery bar show up on my turf is not enough, now I have these jackals from the Eastside gang deciding to challenge me!” His face flushed with anger as he pulled off a pair of weighted tactical gloves, drenched in blood, and threw them on the desk.
Alessia sat frozen in place, staring at the sopping mess on the corner of the desk. She couldn’t force her mouth to form words as her brother helped himself to the bar, pouring bourbon into a crystal glass. Enzo gulped his drink and wheeled on Alessia, pointing a finger directly at her. “I hope you have something more to tell me than what I extracted from that Eastside idiot.”
Alessia sipped the brandy to reset her thoughts, tasting the sweet spiciness on her tongue as the warmth of the alcohol spread throughout her. I can do this. She gave a slight nod to reassure herself and to let Enzo think she had some news to share with him.
“The description you gave me from the last person was essentially correct, but that information doesn’t flesh out the details you’re looking for. Newcomers walk through a lobby inside the entrance. From there, they proceed into an anteroom. After some theatrics and a welcome by the owner, Alaric, they are allowed into the bar. Repeat guests don’t go through that activity.”
“So, you can lie and go directly in?” Enzo said, automatically plotting how to skip that step.
“No, that’s not possible. Everyone receives a wrist stamp.” Alessia held out her arm. “It’s blank now, but if I was close to Nightfall, a picture appears. It’s a glowing moon. I have no idea how long the symbol lasts.”
“I’ll send you to the area, and you can take a picture. I could tattoo a circle on my men to allow them to waltz inside,” Enzo said, staring off into space as he plotted.
“I’m not sure a tattoo would work. The moon actually shines.”
Enzo tossed back the rest of his drink and slammed his glass onto the table. He glowered at Alessia with such hatred she would have cringed backward, but she’d gotten used to being the target of her brother’s anger. She expected him to kill her one day. Now, with the possibility of Titus coming to save her, she refused to cower.