Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
We don’t really get along, but who in this world gets along with their competition?
“Well, well, well…” Carlos’s deep voice booms in my ear. “I knew you’d come crawling once you heard the news.”
“I hardly consider it crawling,” I say flatly. “I’d just say that I’m not a huge fan of your move with the impending wedding.”
“Hmm, and why is that, Troy?”
I hear chatter in the background, but soon it falls silent, the sound of a door closing quickly following it. “You’re putting me in a bad spot.”
“Ah, yeah? Why should I care about that? You ain’t ever talked business with me. We don’t play together. I don’t give a shit what spot you’re in.”
“Well, I know you still use my father’s contacts to bring your product into the city,” I growl, anger burning in my chest. “You fucking team up against me now, and I’ll just make life that much harder for you.”
“Yeah, but see, as much as that’s true—and I believe you—I don’t think it’s gonna change the trajectory of this marriage. You know as well as I do we gotta forge family ties. That’s how we stay strong. That’s how we don’t fall by the wayside. Your family shot themselves in the foot when they chose not to link up with us. I have no ties to you. I don’t care.”
“I’ll offer you my heir,” I say, sighing. “Gerard.”
He’s silent for a moment. “Your bodyguard?”
“He’s like a son to me.”
“No. He’s not blood, Troy. It’s blood or nothing. I’d be more than happy to marry off to a Rossi, but you don’t have a Rossi to marry to.”
My shoulders fall. “Come on, Carlos. You know I don’t have kids. He’s like one. He’s right up in the ranks.”
“Yeah, and Nick? What happened to him? Last I checked, he was in jail.”
“Bad choice in an enforcer,” I mutter, running my hand along my jaw. “We’re working to get him out, but even if he makes it out…”
“Yeah, I know you’ll take care of it.”
Gerard catches my eye, leaning against the bookshelf in the corner. He gives me a look, and I shake my head.
This isn’t working in our favor.
“Listen, you bring me a legit blood heir, and we’ll talk. Otherwise, it’s just business. Gotta do what’s best for me.”
And with that, Carlos Greco hangs up on me.
Fuck.
“I take it I’m not good enough for him,” Gerard says, his teeth gritted. “I was never good enough for Romano, either.”
“You’re in a completely different place now,” I say, giving him a sympathetic look. “I know how it is to be the outcast. I was the son of a Mafia princess, but my father was a disgrace in the family’s eyes. Everyone thought it was a shame I was the one who got the boss title.”
“Yeah, guess we’re just a fuckin’ dysfunctional family.”
“Something like that,” I say, running my fingers through my hair. “I should probably go check on Liz.”
“Maybe.”
“She doesn’t understand the gravity of what she’s agreeing to.” I shake my head, frustration pumping through my veins. I want to call Henry and just tell him the truth. That would solve all the problems—well, the ones with Liz. We’d have to figure something else out for the imbalance of power between the mob families.
“I think I should just tell Henry. Talk to him man to man,” I say, turning to Gerard, whose eyes are wide.
“Uh… but what about the fact that he might murder you right then and there?”
“Ha ha,” I snap, my tone devoid of humor. “He wouldn’t murder me. I’m faster than him, but seriously, it would eliminate the option of putting Liz on the table for negotiation. You’re the only person I have to talk this over with.”
“Yeah, I get what you’re saying. I do, and I’ll back you if that’s what you want me to do.”
I nod. “I’ll tell him tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Gerard looks me dead in the eye. “I’ll back you if things go south.”
“I’m not killing my best friend,” I pat him on the shoulder. “We might work in the underworld, but we’re still best friends.”
“Crimes of passion are the worst kind,” Gerard jokes as I slip by him, heading for the stairs. I have no idea how Liz will take what I have to say, especially considering it doesn’t solve all our problems, but it’s a start.
My footsteps echo up the stairs, resounding in the silent cabin. There’s something eerie about it, and I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s the mounting tension or the confrontation that I know is coming. Regardless, I know I’ll take a full-blown war before letting Liz slip into another man’s arms unless she doesn’t want me.
That’s my only stipulation. If Liz doesn’t want to be with me, I will never force her. That’s not the kind of man I am. However, she said I have her heart, and if that’s true, I’m getting the rest of her with it.