Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“I have to be.” She’s fighting back tears and chewing on her lip. “Dad won’t go otherwise. But if I’m there, they’ll keep the temperature low, at least long enough for Captain Kennedy to show up. This is going to work, but you have to trust me.”
I take a deep, shuddering breath—but I can’t do it. “I’m sorry.” I step away from her. “But I fell in love with you and I can’t risk losing you already.”
“And if you turn around and walk away, that’s exactly what you’ll be doing.” The sharp tone of her voice makes me pause. I don’t look at her, but I don’t keep moving, either. “I don’t want a relationship where you’re the one taking all the risks. That’s not who I am, Brody. I help people, right? I’ve been helping my family for as long as I can remember, and now I’m going to help you. It’s time for you to accept that you aren’t alone.”
“That’s exactly the problem. I’m not alone anymore, baby, and I don’t want to go back to that, either.”
“Then let me help.” She comes up behind me and wraps her arms around my middle. Her cheek presses to my back and I can feel her heart beating. “I can do this, Brody. You have to trust me.”
“Fuck.” I close my eyes. “I don’t want to. I can’t.”
“I know you don’t, but you can. This is going to work.”
My hands turn to fists. “If I lose you—”
“You won’t. I promise.”
I slowly turn and pull her into a tight hug. And I know I’m finished. Because it’s either accept this or end the plan, and it’s the closest we’ll ever get to taking down Santoro without burning the whole city to the ground. If this works, I’ll solve all my problems in one afternoon. All I have to do is trust Elena. All I have to do is step back and let her help.
I don’t want it. But I need her in ways I’m only starting to understand.
“We’ll go over every detail,” I whisper, already hating myself. “You’ll stick to the plan, and your dad will swear to make sure you don’t get hurt. Otherwise, I’m done.”
“Okay, I promise. That’s how we’ll do it.”
“I hate this.” I breathe in the smell of her hair. “I really fucking hate it.”
“I know you do, Brody, but I love you, and I promise, this is going to be okay.”
Chapter 45
Elena
Dad seems strangely serene on the drive out to our warehouse. We got the call earlier that the shipment’s all finished and waiting for the final inspection before the guns and drugs get moved out into the city. He’s not talkative, but he’s also very calm, which helps with my own nerves.
It took a lot less convincing to get Dad on board with this plan. He doesn’t like it, but I think getting Santoro thrown behind bars is better than killing the guy and he’s willing to go along with that outcome.
I’ve never done anything like this before. Even though my whole life has been spent around the Famiglia, I’ve never gone on an actual mission before. The boys prepped me—especially Brody—but suddenly all their training is gone and I can’t even remember how to use the gun tucked into my waistband. The gun I didn’t want, but my husband practically forced on me.
Even though it’s dangerous, I know it has to be me. Simon wouldn’t come out for a simple inspection, and Davide is too deadly and would scare Santoro off. Some other random Capo or lieutenant would make sense, but they’re not trustworthy enough and could ruin everything if they made the wrong move. Brody tried to argue for sending Dad alone, but I don’t trust my father, not when it comes to Santoro.
“When I was younger, your mother used to argue with me all the time,” Dad says out of nowhere. I flinch a little, surprised by his voice. The car pulls into the warehouse parking lot, but Dad doesn’t get out yet. He’s smiling out the window. “God, that woman would get so mad whenever I went out on business. She’d say that I’m the Don, I have men to handle the dangerous stuff for me, but she never understood. I won respect and power by leading from the front, not by making others do all my dirty work. She hated it though.”
“How’s she feel now?” I ask, genuinely curious. I don’t get many glimpses into their relationship.
“She’s used to it now, unfortunately. But if she knew you were here, she’d be worried.” He glances over at me. “You’ll be fine, sweetie.”
“I know that. Brody’s probably a wreck though.”
“Luciano would never hurt you.” He pushes open the door.
“Why do you think that?” I follow him out. He takes my arm and leans against me. His limp is bad, and he’s using a cane even though he probably should have arm crutches. “Santoro kidnapped Davide.”