Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“I know what they call the two of you,” Santiago said. “I’ve heard the rumors.”
“What do they call us?” Rocco asked, opening the fridge on the other side of the store.
“Ghost Assassins.” Santiago glared at me.
“Fun,” Rocco said. “We should start a band.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t know you owned bodegas here,” I said quietly, looking around.
“I’m not surprised. It’s not your territory.” Santiago said a little forcefully. “Now leave before I call the police.”
“It’s not my territory, yet.” I walked a little closer to him.
His brows shot up. “What does that mean?”
“It means what I said.”
Rocco walked down the aisle, and it was then that Santiago seemed to really take in our attire, saw our weapons. He took a step back, eyes wide.
I put a hand up. “We’re not here for you.”
“There are innocent people back there.”
“We don’t hurt innocent people,” Rocco said, walking over. “They should call us the Grace Brothers, since we give grace.”
“There’s nothing graceful about the things you do.” Santiago’s mouth flattened.
“Maybe not, but he needs to pay for what he’s done to your daughter,” I said.
“What he’s done to . . .” Santiago’s bushy brows furrowed. “I don’t understand. We paid them back.”
“This isn’t about money, Mr. Vega. You’ve dealt with men like him before. You should know that.”
“I told Rosie to stay out of it, but she insisted. I told her not to go to that nightclub.” His eyes were welling up as he spoke. “I told her to stay away from guys like that. Guys like you.”
“Guys like her father too, then, I assume.” My jaw clenched. I didn’t like where this was going. “I didn’t come here to chit-chat, Santiago. I came to end this. You can either stay out of our way, or you can join the people in the back. Your call.”
“And you can’t call the cops if you decide to stay up front,” Rocco said, grabbing a bag of peanut M&Ms and tearing the wrapper. He reached into his pocket.
“Keep your money,” Santiago said.
“You sure?” Rocco’s brows rose.
“Positive. When you were a little shit, you stole more M&Ms than I could count; what’s one more?”
Rocco laughed.
“I never understood why you stole when you had money in your pocket.”
“I just really liked the thrill of stealing.” He shrugged, popping an M&M into his mouth. “I left an envelope with cash in your mailbox before we moved out.”
Santiago’s frown deepened. “That was you?”
“Catching up has been great and all, but we have things to do.” I looked at my watch. “Roc.”
He gave a nod and went to the back room.
“What will he do to them?” Santiago shot a worried look over his shoulder.
“There’s only four back here,” Rocco announced from the door.
“They’re regulars,” Santiago said. “Old men. They don’t want trouble.”
I kept my eyes on Rocco. “Tie them up.”
Rocco disappeared back into the room.
“Dominic,” Santiago warned.
“Do I need to tie you up?” I looked him straight in the eyes, this man who’d known me since I was a fucking child, who’d cheered for me when I finally learned to ride a two-wheel bike. Who’d taken me home after I got into a fight at the park and lied to my parents on my behalf. I had so much respect for him back then and it was that sentiment that I was trying to hold onto, because what he did to Santi and Rosie was fucked up. Maybe what happened at his house was my fault, maybe his, but the fact that his hands weren’t any cleaner than mine still stood. I sighed. “Look, those men will be fine. We just can’t risk them running and telling people what’s happening.”
“I understand.”
“I need you to look me in the eye and promise you won’t call the cops or tip Anthony off that we’re back there,” I said slowly, as if he were a child. “I need confirmation from you. Once I receive that confirmation, I’ll take your word for it and go back there. If you betray me, well, then I guess you may just find out why the fuck they gave us that cute little nickname.”
He looked terrified by the time I finished my little speech, and I realized he would make it impossible for me to date Rosie. Getting rid of Anthony was my priority right now, though.
“You have my word,” he said. “What happens after this?”
“We’ll send someone to clean everything up and from now on, one of our guys will be collecting the money.”
“Can you just do that?” he asked, sounding nervous.
I felt myself smile. “Who’s going to stop me?”
“Be careful, Dominic,” he said, suddenly looking concerned. “Costello has a lot of men who are loyal to him around here.”
“Are you one of them?”
“What? No. Hell no.” He took a step back.
“Okay then.” I started walking again.
“You’re really trusting my word?” he asked behind me. “You’re not going to tie me up?”