Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45614 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45614 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“Mason Savonas,” Albert said.
“Albert Delcoties, thank you for agreeing to meet with me.” He nodded at one of the chairs and shook his head.
“I will stand.”
“Can I get you a drink?”
“Whiskey.”
Albert made no other move, and he stayed perfectly still, almost tense.
Mason poured the whiskey in a fresh glass and walked over to him, keeping a distance as he offered the drink.
Albert held a stick within his grasp. One end was covered in silver and seemed to have a serpent shape to the top. The other side was pointed, and again silver. Rumor had it that many a man had lost his life by that stick. Albert was known to use it in fits of rage, where people begged for mercy, and he never granted it.
“Would you like to explain the meaning of this … meeting?” Albert asked.
“You and I both know this is about the agreement you have with my father. I know it has broken down, and now I would like to know why,” Mason said.
Albert stared at him. “You think I don’t know that you’re close with your father?”
“I’m sure you agree that you have secret meetings your son is not privy to. I know my father’s … problems, I would like to know what this means for the Savonases and Delcoties.”
Albert took a drink of his whiskey. “This is good.”
Mason mentally thanked the Dentons. They clearly knew their whiskey.
He watched as Albert finally took a seat and began talking. “I have known Paul Savonas some considerable years, and I’m aware of the rumors that circulate. There are plenty for all of us. I was convinced the rumor of his predilection for underage girls was false. I have since come to learn that when it comes to your father, that rumor is true. I know I’m not one to judge. There are rumors about me, gossip, and truths in everything, but there are also lies. I’m not a good man. I’ve done a lot of bad things. Many people would see us as crooks, but even I believe in a certain code, and that code is children are out of bounds. We do not kill them, kidnap, abuse, or rape them. No one crosses that line with me.”
“Did my dad cross that line?”
“Yes.”
Mason ran a hand over his face.
“And I am aware of your young wife. I will not associate with such … men.” With how Albert looked, Mason knew the word “men” in describing him, his brothers, and his father, was not a compliment. Far from it.
“If you believe my brothers and I are anything like our father, you are very much mistaken.”
“You have a young wife.”
“Tamsin is my wife, but if you were to ask her, she would tell you that I did right by her. I’ve treated her with honor and dignity.” He wasn’t going to outright say that he lied about the wedding night. He wasn’t a fool.
Albert looked at him with a slight frown.
“I understand you don’t want to do business with my father, however, what about doing business with me?”
“Until your father is out of the picture, I will never do business with a Savonas. Your father taints everything he touches. I see that now, and it sickens me to think that I have helped that man in any way with his … desires.” Albert’s face was scrunched up and he looked disgusted.
Mason had been there and done that. He did everything he could to keep young girls away from his father, but there were other men who only cared for the money his father offered. Paul Savonas seemed to have a massive pile of cash when it came to paying for what he wanted.
“What if I can find a way to make that happen?” Mason asked.
“Find a way to remove your father from the equation?”
If this were anyone else, Mason wouldn’t even be talking about it. Someone would tell Paul, and then Mason would be back to square one. He had a feeling Albert was the real deal. He wanted Paul out of the way.
“If that were to happen, then I would be willing to reopen negotiations, after I speak with your wife, of course.”
Mason nodded.
“You do realize the … difficulties you will face,” Albert said.
“I’m aware of the conditions my father has placed on his well-being and I know it will not be easy to deal with.”
Albert got to his feet and walked toward the door, but as he put his hand on the doorknob, he stopped and turned back to Mason.
“Are you aware that within everything we do, there are loopholes?”
Mason looked toward Albert, confused.
“Paul cannot die at the hands of his sons, or the Denton men, as you are all connected through your arrangements. No one is invincible. If your father were to do something underhanded, like intimidate your wife, and she was to strike in self-defense, there would be no ramifications.”