Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“So, instead of talking to Zeke or protecting him, you ended up in jail with your brother having to bail you out.”
God, he knew how to make me feel small. “Yes, sir.”
“You said there was information I would need to know.”
“That’s right.
He waved a hand at me. “Continue.”
I glanced at Vito, and he gave me an encouraging nod. This was where things could really go off the rails. We’d avoided a scandal thus far. All I’d done was sign a contract with a client who would be able to pay, but I was about to drag us into something much bigger.
“I tracked Zeke down at a bar. There was a guy there watching him. It was Loony. I scared him off, figuring he’d been hired by the men in Vegas.”
“It’s not your business to mess around in—”
“Yes, it is. I’ve promised him my protection.”
“Jesus, son.”
“Just listen, please.”
He nodded. “Go on.”
“As we were leaving, I saw someone watching us from an alley. At first, I assumed it was Loony. But it was Benito Abati.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
Val shook his head. “He’s not. I’ve confirmed Benito’s back in the city.”
“How long have you known this?” my father asked.
“A few hours. We need to get on this,” Val said. “We need to find out why he’s here and eliminate the problem.”
I chimed in. “Zeke says Benito was there when he met with the loan sharks in Vegas. He also showed up at Zeke’s apartment there to make him understand how important it was to pay him back.”
Anger flashed in Pops’ eyes. “Is that how Balogh broke his fucking arm last year, because he was beaten by Benito?”
I nodded.
“And now that motherfucker is here.”
“Yes. I think he’s using Zeke as an excuse to come to Boston and do more damage while also having the thrill of eliminating a high-profile client, but we need to look into it. Knowing why he’s here will help us figure out the best way to kill him once and for all.”
Val nodded. “I agree, and I think he’s worked his way into some position of authority with the guys in Vegas. Otherwise, why would he have been the one to threaten Zeke initially.”
“I want to know everyone who’s working with him. None of them will be welcome in Boston again.” So far this was going much better than I’d expected. “But I need you to stay out of it.”
And there it was. He’d take any chance to sideline me. “That’s not possible.”
“You need to stay away from Balogh, away from trouble. Let me handle this my way.”
“I’m not leaving Zeke. I’m going to take care of him.”
“The guy clearly didn’t want anything to do with you. He’s not going to care if you’re not there.”
My hands clinched into fists, and I started to rise. Val laid a hand on my thigh to push me back into the chair and spoke. “Pops, do you remember how things went when you wanted me to leave Liam alone?”
My father closed his eyes, tilted his head back against his chair, and blew out a long breath. “You two have been nothing but fucking trouble ever since I brought you into the family.”
Shit. If I got my brother and me kicked out of the family, we’d really be in trouble. I’d have to insist on living at Zeke’s apartment because I wouldn’t have anywhere else to go.
“I knew Liam was meant for me from the moment we met. If Vito feels that way about Zeke, we can’t ask him to step away.”
“I can ask any fucking thing I want,” Pops said. “This family comes first, and I won’t tolerate anything that jeopardizes our safety and our position in this city.”
“I’m not walking away from Zeke.” I managed to keep my voice steady and firm even though I wanted to yell. I wanted to hit something, somebody. I wanted to tear the whole town apart. And then I wanted to drag Zeke into bed and fuck him all night long. “I want to protect this family. That’s why I came to you with the information on Benito. He’s the one who’s a threat to us.”
“I will deal with that threat, but I don’t want to have to deal with you creating a scandal with Balogh.”
“I’ve agreed not to see him publicly, if that makes a difference.”
“Really?” Val stared at me like he thought I’d lost my mind.
Pops frowned. “How did he convince you to do that?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do. He fucked up big time in Vegas, and he needs his record to be clean here. He doesn’t need a scandal any more than I do.”
“At least he has the sense to see that.”
“I see it too, but I wasn’t going to let him get beaten to death, and I refused to let him find someone else to loan him the money, someone who would exploit him, blackmail him, extort him.”