Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
I palmed my phone, shooting a text to Alan, who I’d rehired this morning. He wasn’t set to resume his protection duties until tomorrow.
Romeo Costa
Can you start early?
Alan Reece
Early when?
Romeo Costa
Early now.
Alan Reece
I’m on a flight to Potomac from New York.
I’ll land at BWI in an hour.
Thank fuck.
Cara left while I issued an alert to my estate security team, demanding them to raise the threat level to yellow and follow proper protocol.
Beside me, Senior rose, taking his place before the microphone on the podium.
“Welcome back, gentlemen.”
In the audience, Marla Whitmore’s lips pinched together. As our only female board member, my father relished in pretending she didn’t exist.
It made the fact that she refused to kiss his ass far more enjoyable.
“As we resume this meeting, I’d like to make an announcement. It’s one I’m sure you all have expected for quite some time.”
At the edge of the room, Cara waved her phone, capturing my attention again. Mine buzzed with a text seconds later.
Cara Evans
Emergency.
Romeo Costa
Can it wait?
He’ll make the announcement any minute now.
And sure enough, Senior did.
“Effective immediately, I am retiring as the CEO of Costa Industries. My last act as CEO will be to announce my nominee as successor…”
Cara Evans
I just got word that Madison Licht is on the way to your home.
Dallas is home.
I shot out of my seat, sending it flying behind me. It slammed against the wall, leg snapping.
My father chuckled into the mic.
“Easy there. I haven’t even announced your name yet, Romeo. Kids these days…” He shook his head. “So vigorous.”
Scattered laughter bounced off the walls. I strode straight toward the exit behind Senior, eliciting a frown between his sunken cheeks.
“Where are you going, Son?” His words traveled through the mic to every speaker in the room.
I didn’t answer him.
He gestured for security to block my way. Four suits surrounded me, fanned out in a semicircle.
I could take them. I had ample experience fighting and panicked urgency fueling my cells.
But in the interest of time, I turned to Senior. “Madison Licht is out on bail and headed toward my home. Toward my wife.”
“Alert your security.”
“I did.”
Around us, whispers from the shareholders gained volume.
Bruce poked his head from the pastry tray he’d taken his emotions out on, seeing the sun peek past the clouds for the first time since my father informed him of his decision.
Senior cleared his throat, unused to having his authority questioned in such a public manner. “There’s nothing more you can do. The annual shareholders meeting only comes once a year. Sit down.”
I pivoted to his lackeys, ignoring my father. “One million dollars to each of you if you step aside.”
They glanced at each other, trying to gauge whether I’d follow through on the promise.
“The offer reduces by a hundred K with each passing second. One—”
They scattered out the door.
From the podium, Senior still hadn’t gotten the hint that destroying Costa Industries meant jack shit compared to Dallas.
“Sit down, Romeo Costa Jr., or so help me, you will never step foot in this room again, let alone as CEO of Costa Industries.”
I bolted out the door and never looked back.
The Maybach stalled at the curb by the time I escaped the building. Cara must’ve alerted Jared.
I hustled into the back seat, producing my phone from my pocket.
“Where to, Boss?” Jared examined me from the rearview mirror, tipping his hat down.
Dallas once pestered me about relieving him of his uniform. Claimed he must have felt like a circus monkey in it.
Dallas.
Next time she made a suggestion, even if it was donating both my kidneys to science, I would fulfill it without delay.
If there was a next time.
“Home.” I managed not to shout. “As fast as you can.”
Jared offered me a curt nod and fished a bottled water from the mini fridge next to him, handing it over to me, as he always did.
I didn’t have any goddamn time for his routine.
Tucking it under my arm, I shot a text to Zach and Oliver.
Romeo Costa
@ZachSun How fast can you track Madison Licht’s location?
Ollie vB
County jail? FBI holding facility?
Or, if there is a god, a CIA black site?
I sipped the water, trying my hardest not to lose my composure as I waited for a real response.
I’d get there in time.
I had to.
Romeo Costa
He’s out on bail.
Ollie vB
Shit.
Zach Sun
If he has his phone on him, a minute.
Hold.
Romeo Costa
@ZachSun, you done? It’s been a fucking minu
A chill bolted through my skin, hiking up every hair on my body. As if I’d been electrocuted.
Must be static friction.
But I couldn’t finish typing out my sentence.
A roll of nausea crashed into my gut like a fist. A guttural growl escaped my lips. I raised the water bottle, intending to sip again, and noticed my hands shaking.
My hands never shook.
I inventoried my symptoms.
Trembling hands. Sluggish breaths. Hazy vision.
My entire body twisted inside out like snakes slithered within it.