Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Don’t you dare fucking speak about—”
“Now, now, Franco. You don’t want what happened to her to happen to this blond bambolina, do you?” He sneers the word for little doll in a thick, vile tone and I want to see how well he speaks with blood spurting from his throat once I slice it open.
“What do you want?” I hiss into the receiver.
“You leave the US, take your little pet with you. Go back to Sicily. I govern your American soil.” That’s ridiculous. I’ll never let that happen. My father worked hard for what he built and I won’t let some asshole take that away.
“And you can guarantee the girls aren’t hurt?” My tone is steel, no emotion, no fear.
“They’re safe… for now.” His threat hangs between us like a lead weight. It’s about to drop because when I walk in there, I’m going to make sure he pays for everything he’s done.
“Give me forty-eight hours.” My request has Matteo glaring at me in shock. He shakes his head, but I need to buy time for Carlos to get what I need here, and for us to round up the clan. There’s no telling what Cristiano is planning, even though I know what he’s capable of.
“Forty-eight and counting, mio amico.” He chuckles.
“I’m no friend of yours, Russo. Do you agree to the time, because if you don’t and something happens—”
“Relax, I’ll give you your time, but not a minute later. Tick tock, Moretti.”
And with that, he hangs up, leaving me more frustrated. “I should have asked to speak to the girls. Just to hear if they’re okay.”
“He wouldn’t have allowed you the courtesy.” Gio’s voice from the doorway has both me and Matteo staring at him. “He’s an asshole. He’ll play this to the end.”
I nod. He will. But he doesn’t know I can play this game better than anyone.
“Let’s make sure the cards swing in our favor then.”
“Franco Moretti, so good to see you, man.” I’m greeted the same way by all the men who enter my home. They’re my familia, my clan. The people I know will have my back when this shit goes down. We’ve gathered in the conference room, a large area with a table big enough to fit a dozen people. The rest all file in, and I’m at the head of the table.
“I must be honest, when I called on all of you, I didn’t expect such a large showing.” I settle in the chair, watching them as their eyes dart around the room. “There’s something you all should know before I ask you to risk your lives walking into the Russo compound. He’s made this personal.” I steeple my fingers and take one look at each man before me. “He’s kidnapped the woman I love.” As the words fall from my mouth, I know I can’t take them back. And as much as I know I should, I don’t want to. The first time admitting you love someone is the first step to putting your heart in their hands.
It’s the step that you take, handing over something precious, entrusting them with it and hoping with all your fucking soul they don’t break it. The difference between me and Raina is that she is the one that I know will heal my heart. She’ll be the salve to my brokenness. Somehow, she’s burrowed herself into my being, into the essence of who I am, and she’s shone her light inside me.
When I opened my eyes this morning and rolled over in bed to find myself alone, I knew right then and there that she was mine. I needed to wake up to her. I spent two weeks hiding within myself, trying to stop the feelings I have for her, but there’s nothing that can stop it.
“Franco, you know we’re here for you no matter the circumstances. You’ve helped our families more times than we can count. For me this isn’t even a question of will we. The answer will be when do we leave. Let’s take this asshole down.” His accent, although from the north of Italy, is still strong even after spending most of his life in America.
“I agree with Alessandro. There’s no question. I’m in.” As we go through each man’s comments, they’re all astounding me by standing behind me with this. Granted, it’s part of the family, the Nostra, but for them to do this for a woman they’ve never met. This means more to me than I can ever explain.
“I’ve spoken to our contact in Brazil, Carlos Silva. He’s agreed to help. A shipment of the finest narcotics will arrive in the country. We need a plan to get onto the Russo compound and plant it so that when the FBI are alerted, they’ll find it. Once they do a background check on our friend, Cristiano Russo, they’ll find all they need to put him away for a very long time.”