Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“Oh my God. So you didn’t grow up in the mafia?”
“No. I grew up far worse. And now….”
I frowned. “Now what?”
“Now Val is married, and he’s not around all the time like he used to be. I’ve got this whole big family, but mostly I’m just…on my own.”
“You don’t hang out with your cousins or whatever?”
“Sometimes, but they have history together that I don’t have and….” He shrugged.
“I’ve got teammates I can hang out with, but I’d never talk to any of them like this. I haven’t even told them about the trouble I’m in. Sure, some of the guys in Vegas knew part of it, but not all of it. You’re the only one who does.” I shifted position so that I could look up at Vito. He lifted his hand and stroked the side of my face. “You’re not alone. I’m here for you, and I’m sure your family is too.”
“Thanks. My family is far from innocent, but they take care of each other, and believe it or not, they have a code of honor. There are things they won’t do.”
“But they will make sure they get paid back when someone borrows from them.”
“Yeah, that’s just good business.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You’ve got the family behind you now, so don’t worry, you’re safe.”
“As long as I pay you what I owe.”
“We’re going to take out the men you owe. If that happens, there’s no record of a loan to pay back.”
“What? I can’t be involved in multiple murders. I’m trying to keep a good, quiet reputation.”
“My family doesn’t do scandals. We keep all our actions quiet. The only people who know are those who need to.”
“Those who need to know so they’ll be afraid of you?”
“Yes, but you’re not one of them. You’re an ally now. I’ve given you my protection, and that means no one in my family is going to hurt you. It also means you can’t turn me away now.”
“I wasn’t going to—” I froze.
His smile said he knew exactly what I was going to say. “I knew you weren’t. Especially not after what happened earlier.” He ran his tongue over his lips. “I swear I can still taste you.”
“Fuck, Vito.” My stomach growled as he pulled me toward him, and he laughed as he kissed me.
“I guess I’ve got to feed you first.”
“Oh shit, it’s a game day. I definitely need to eat.”
“What are you supposed to have for breakfast?” he asked.
“I’ll handle it. You should get some more sleep.”
“No way. I’m wide awake now. Well, I’d be more awake if I got some coffee. Is coffee on the agenda?”
“Sure, give me a few minutes, and I’ll have coffee and breakfast ready.”
“I can help. I’m not a great cook or anything, but I’m not hopeless either.”
“No, really. I need a moment to process everything.”
“All right. Don’t stay away too long or I’ll come get you.”
When I brought Vito some oatmeal and an omelet, he was curled on his side, snoring. As soon as I took a step into the room, he sat up, gun in hand. He must’ve been sleeping with it under the pillow.
I gasped. “It’s me. Zeke.”
“Fuck, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“You don’t have to stay awake all night for me.”
He stretched and sat up. “Somebody needs to be aware of what’s going on.”
“You really think Benito would come here?”
He nodded. “I don’t doubt it for a second.”
“I know I owe them a lot of money, but how can it matter that much? Why would he follow me himself?”
“Come sit down. We need to talk.”
I narrowed my eyes. “There better not be more shit you’ve been hiding from me.”
“I was never holding anything back from you. You didn’t ask who I was. I didn’t ask if you needed money. Turns out we were useful to each other.”
“For more than fucking.”
“Obviously, but you happen to be top notch at that too.”
Heat rushed through me, but this wasn’t the time. I needed to know what he was hinting at. “Vito, tell me what’s going on.”
“So, I told you I knew Benito.”
“Yes.”
“He did some work for my family a few years ago and fucked us over. We…ran him out of town. He blustered about getting revenge on us, but we haven’t heard from him since. I didn’t know he’d ended up in Vegas, and I still don’t know the extent of his involvement there, but I suspect he’s back in Boston so he can work some revenge while extracting money from you.”
This was all too much. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“No, my family is as wrapped up in this as you are.”
17
VITO
“How’s your man?” Lonnie asked as I headed out the office door, already running later than I meant to. I was absolutely not going to miss the start of Zeke’s game.
“I don’t have a man. Don’t have a woman either. I like to keep my options open. You know that.”