Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“I appreciate it. And I… I haven’t been here long, but I agree. He’s been incredibly kind and selfless.”
“So, we agree. Now, let’s get down to business,” she said, grabbing her phone. “What weekly goods do I need to add to my list now that you guys are here? Any special snacks for Judah or you? Bath stuff? Monthly period stuff?”
“I don’t want to make more work for you,” I insisted.
“You’re not. I’m already going to all the stores. It’s nothing to tack on a few extra things,” she said.
In that case, I rattled off some snacks for Judah, his bath products, and the ones Aurelio had bought for me as well as preferences for feminine hygiene stuff. I wasn’t due for a while, but I’d rather have it around in case.
“Perfect. Okay. I got all of that in my notes now. And I do a sweep around the house, usually, to check supplies. I can do that in your room or bathroom if you want. Or if you think that’s invasive…”
“It’s okay,” I insisted, used to that in Warren’s home, without anyone even bothering to ask permission. “I’m not supposed to leave the house for a while, so it would be good knowing someone else can pick things up without me bothering Aurelio.”
“Not to mention most men are useless about tampons and pads,” she said, shaking her head. “My mom once asked Lucky when we were teens to pick up tampons because he was out. He came home with a box of every kind of tampons the store had. We had, like, a year’s supply of them. I’m just gonna put the rest of this stuff away,” she said, then rushed off to empty her remaining bags.
“Okay,” she said when she was done. “I have to go get to the pet store before they sell out of mealworms.”
“Mealworms?” I asked.
“I know, gross. One of my clients has a lizard. It’s a standing visit on the bug delivery day.”
“I see no lizards in our future, if that makes you feel better.”
“Thank God,” she said, grabbing her folded reusable bags, then making her way toward the doorway. “It was nice meeting you. I’ll try to keep you secret for a while. Believe me, you don’t want my mom to know Aurelio has a woman and child in his home. She can be… pushy. I’ll see you next week!” she said, then there was the steady click of her heels as she made her way out of the front door.
Alone, I went back to preparing dinner as the sun started to set outside, worrying as I got further along in the process that Aurelio might not make it home for dinner.
I stalled by preparing the apples, then making the turnovers.
But, eventually, I had to get the food cooking.
There was still no word as I pulled the steaks out of the broiler, as well as the tray of potatoes, and turned off the green beans.
“I guess we’re eating alone, buddy,” I said to Judah, who was getting whiny.
I couldn’t blame him.
I was starving too.
There was a strange noise out front, making me think it was Aurelio coming home.
“Let’s go say hi,” I said, grabbing Judah, and taking him with me to the front room, moving the curtain away from the window to look out.
Only realizing my mistake when it was too late.
CHAPTER TEN
Aurelio
The docks were busier than I think I’d ever seen them in my life.
I was sure there were times, back when Luca’s father had first secured the deal for the docks, when things were locked down tight as they started to work with all sorts of criminals they didn’t know and couldn’t trust.
But things had been so stable for so long that I guess I’d taken for granted how low we’d needed to keep security.
I mean, we always had men around. Most of Luca’s soldiers and associates, at this point, were stationed at the docks, not out trying to make money. But this was clearly his guys as well as likely his brother’s, and some borrowed guys.
“This how it is all the time now?” I asked Milo as I met him by his car. “Or is it because we’re all here together?”
“Mix, I think,” he said, nodding toward his soldier, then mine, both who’d followed us.
“Any word what we’re here for?”
“Imagine we got more information on his organization. Doubt we’re ready to make a move yet.”
Luca was a careful leader.
I couldn’t imagine the weight of his crown, given that these weren’t just all strangers in his organization. It was a shitton of actual family. Deaths brought up by impulsive decisions could make grief ricochet through everyone we loved.
So he wasn’t a boss who rushed into shit. He planned it out in exacting detail.
Did that mean it sometimes took days or weeks to get justice? Yeah. But we hadn’t lost one of our family in a long time.