Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 69759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Riggs nods. “Her family, her truth. Tell us what you found.”
“Giorgio is wrapped up in some pretty big shit. You were right in looking into Sian. Her family is powerful. Her father owns half the businesses in this town. Went into business with Giorgio about five years ago and somethin’ went down between the two of them. Basically, from what I understand, Sian’s father has enough on Giorgio that if he doesn’t marry his daughter, he’ll have him put into prison.”
I blink. Surely not.
“What could Giorgio have done that would have enough power for something like that?”
“Fraud, big time fraud. Your brother was swindling money through the business and Sian’s father, Frank, found out. He threatened to have him arrested and locked away but Sian had her eye on him and so an agreement was made. He marries her, supports her, and keeps working for the company or he goes to prison for a very long fuckin’ time. Your brother made his choice.”
This doesn’t seem right.
It can’t be true.
If Hank found something like that out so easily, what has stopped anyone else from finding out?
“How did you come across this information so easily?” I ask.
“Know people who know people who got word. Don’t matter how I found it out. All that matters is that it’s true.”
I shake my head. Giorgio wouldn’t be so stupid, would he? To steal off someone so powerful. Why would he do that? For what purpose? I never knew he was working for Sian’s father. I knew he started with a business, and we figured that’s where he met Sian, but I never knew it was related. Come to think of it, it was only a few years ago he started becoming this bitter person he is now. He lost his fun, enjoyment, and became a shell of himself.
Could this be why?
Why didn’t he ask for help?
Because Frank is so powerful nobody has the means to stop him?
God.
This is messed up.
“I just didn’t think my brother would be so stupid,” I say softly. “But it does make sense. All of it.”
“Someone as powerful as Frank, yeah, it makes sense,” Hank nods. “He’s well known for having contacts everywhere, and your brother wouldn’t have anyone powerful enough to stop him. Fraud of that nature would ensure at least ten years in prison, maybe longer.”
“Better than ten years with that woman,” I mutter. “Or a lifetime.”
“Yeah, I know what I would have picked.” Riggs nods. “But for some men, men with a great public appearance and name like your brother, prison would be their worst nightmare. It would destroy him. It would destroy your family name. He’s doing it to protect the family, not just himself.”
I feel bad now.
My brother is a lot of things, but I don’t want him living that kind of life. He deserves to be happy, not to be forced to do something he doesn’t want. I’m going to talk to him about this, once the air has cleared. There has to be a way to help him. There just has to be.
“I don’t want him to live like that,” I say, more to myself than anyone else. “It’s not fair.”
“We’ll sort out Stefano, and when that’s done, we’ll see what we can do for your brother, yeah?” Riggs says, glancing at me.
“Yeah, yeah, I guess.”
I hope there is something they can do.
Nobody deserves to live that kind of life forever.
Nobody.
“WHERE IS THAT BIKER?” Mom asks, looking around the café. “Why hasn’t he come for dinner yet?”
“Probably because you have called him twelve times in two days and he probably thinks you’re crazy,” I point out. “Mom, you can’t call my boyfriend whenever you feel like it.”
“Yes, I can. If he’s going to marry my daughter then I should be able to talk to him whenever I want.”
Sweet Jesus. She goes from zero to a hundred. Just like that.
“First of all, nobody has mentioned anything about marriage. We only just got together.”
Mom scoffs. “Don’t be silly. You’re getting older now, Eve. You need to think about marriage and babies.”
“We had the baby conversation. We discussed the adverse effects on my vagina. I’d like a little longer to consider my options, please.”
She looks horrified. “If you go past thirty it gets harder and harder, Eve.”
“Mom, I’m twenty-five. I have time. Let me enjoy that man while I can.”
“Have you been tested?”
God.
No.
“Mother, stop.”
“He’s a good looking man, I hope you’re using protection until you’re sure he doesn’t have any STP’s.”
“Mom, it’s STD’s.”
She frowns. “It’s STP’s, Evelina.”
I bite my lip to stop from laughing. “Mom, it’s not. It’s sexually transmitted diseases.”
She scoffs, waving a hand. “It’s sexually transmitted problems. They’re not all diseases, Evelina. That makes no sense. They’re problems. A range of problems.”
Someone make her stop.
“Can we talk about something else?”
“Taking your sexual health seriously is important. You know you have to pee after sex?”