Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Maxwell shook his head. "You might as well give Paolo your last name and keep it moving, man."
"A traitor's son?" I leaned my head to the side. "Never. Even if I wanted to, it would be difficult to keep him safe back in Moscow."
"I see the Brotherhood is on some Draconian shit." Maxwell headed away. "You just better hope Eminita doesn't have anything to say about it!"
David quirked his brows. "Who's Eminita?"
I frowned. "Ignore him."
Chapter 23
The Phone Call
Emily
We arrived in front of our new location. The hotel had its own helicopter landing pad.
As we lowered, I scanned the space.
It was on a high cliff and provided an amazing view of the sea.
Once we landed, the helicopter’s engine shut off.
The hotel staff rushed over, dressed in impeccable white uniforms with gold buttons.
“No. No.” Sitting on Baba’s lap, Paolo opened and closed his little hands. “Mysh. Mysh.”
“Aww, Paolo.” Baba frowned. “Is our time already over?”
“Mysh, Baba.”
“Okay. But, you are hurting Baba’s feelings.” She brought him over to me. “Baba wanted to hold her little Paolo all day.”
I grabbed him. “Hey, buddy.”
Paolo wrapped those little arms around my neck. “Mysh.”
Valentina looked out the window. “Interesting, brother. I see what you did.”
“What did Kaz do?”
“We are in Sicily. Right on the edge of the Strait of Messina.” Valentina pointed to the shimmering water. “The Strait is between the eastern tip of Sicily and the western tip of Calabria in Southern Italy. It connects the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north with the Ionian Sea to the south.”
“But, should we be in Sicily?”
“The Sicilians have made no move to help the Mancuso Family. Some would see it as a sign of respect to the Russians.” She shrugged. “Although we know that the Sicilians want us to take out the Mancusos for them.”
“Yet still. . .” I frowned. “Is it a good idea to be over here? I don’t want any new enemies.”
Valentina grinned. “If the Sicilians didn’t want us over here, Kazimir would have never been able to rent out this hotel. The Sicilians know all.”
That didn’t make me feel any better.
Still holding Harlem, my guard rose, went to the door, and opened it. The hotel staff helped us climb out of the helicopters.
One man had a big white teddy bear for Paolo. Another tried to hand him a glass of pineapple juice. Surprisingly, Paolo turned away and tightened his hold on me.
I waved them away. “Maybe, he will want it later.”
Another woman hurried over with tons of champagne glasses on a silver platter.
“It is a shame Emily cannot drink with us.” Valentina grabbed two glasses and handed one to Blue. “But, you and I can still have fun.”
“I cannot.” Blue shook her head.
“Emily is safe now, Blue.” Valentina still held the glass in Blue’s direction. “Enjoy yourself for a few minutes.”
Blue got to my side. “I am fine.”
“Then, I will drink for all of us.” Valentina sipped from one glass. “My father used to say that ‘Peace lasts until the army comes, and the army lasts until peace comes.’”
I eyed her. “Meaning?”
“I took it to say that we must enjoy life while we can.”
“Not a bad assessment of an old Russian saying.” Baba took a glass. “Therefore, I will join you in drinking, Valentina.”
One man hurried to us and gestured to the building. “Welcome to Villa Lusso. I am Angelo.”
I smiled. “Nice to meet you, Angelo.”
“I will be your butler during your stay.” He guided us forward. “Villa Lusso is a stunning 16th century Italian Palazzo. We are tucked away in the center of Fiumefreddo village.”
“Interesting.”
“This is the first time we have had someone rent out the whole village.” Angelo grinned. “However, we are excited to show you—”
“Excuse me?” I kept my pace with him. “Did you just say that the whole village is rented out?”
Angelo nodded. “Yes. Your men came in earlier and found other places for everyone to live until your stay is complete.”
I blinked. “Oh.”
“However, the compensation to the villagers was a hefty enough amount for everyone to even sing as they packed their bags.”
“Taking over the village was probably my brother’s order.” Valentina chuckled. “However, I am sure the compensation idea came from King David.”
Angelo raised his eyebrows. “Well. . .Fiumefreddo is an ancient medieval village, that still preserves the characteristics of a fortified space with medieval walls.”
Kazimir probably picked the place due to the walls.
“Let us know when you want someone to take you out into the village,” Angelo continued. “We have small alleys, ruins, and towers.”
Valentina finished one glass and handed it to him. “Enough about old things in the village. What are the new things in the villa.”
Angelo cleared his throat. “Our villa features eighty-five bedrooms, a private boat dock, access to a beach beyond the walls, spa services, gourmet dining, and vast gardens.”
“Sign us up for all the spa services.” Valentina glanced at her hand. “I am in need of a serious manicure.”