Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Not sure your chef would—”
“They’d be alive,” Antonio rumbles.
“Aww, damn, Boss, that’s gross. You wouldn’t do that.”
“Keep pissing me off and we’ll see.”
I chuckle under my breath. I can’t help it.
“Why are you smiling so big, Vic?” Niko asks.
“I took your advice. Well, Emilia’s.”
“My wife is damn smart. You finally lock Angelina down?”
“Yep.”
“Asshole only did it because I was winning her over,” Zane argues.
“In your dreams, dickhead. She’s mine and off limits.”
“Story of my life. You guys make it impossible to find a good woman. You snap them all up and this one isn’t only gorgeous, she cooks like an angel.”
“Angels cook?” Niko mocks.
“You laugh, but you’ve never had her homemade lemon pancakes.”
“Are lemon pancakes a thing?” Antonio asks.
“That’s what I said. Everyone knows pancakes are best with apples and caramel,” I mutter.
“I prefer blueberry,” Antonio responds.
“I bet she could make those too. You don’t understand how good her food is. I want to marry her and make an honest woman of her,” Zane grumbles.
“An honest woman? Jesus. Remind me why I hired you again?”
“Because of my sparkling personality?”
I want to kick the asshole in his dick for even thinking of marrying my woman, but I let it slide—for now.
Antonio shakes his head but the mood around us changes, and I know that the conversation is turning to weightier subjects. “Niko will be getting a team together. Vic, you will be leading them. For now, I want everything you can find out on the Levkin brothers.”
“The Russians?”
“We need to know everything about their dealings with Zervas.”
I nod. I knew this was coming. Zervas is Helena’s new boss in the states and Marco is intent on bringing him down. The man is also slimy as hell.
“But, I mean, they’re in Arizona, right?” Zane interrupts.
“So?” Niko asks.
“I’m just wondering, it’s not like we have dealings in Arizona.”
I can’t hold back anymore. I head slap him on the back of the head just like Maxwell used to do to me when I was young and stupid. “We have dealings everywhere, but specifically a huge operation now in Greece. Zervas is from Greece. His father is said to be a high roller. That’s a good enough reason to check them out. He’s also making moves on Marco’s woman and drawing her into things that could get her hurt.”
“Oh,” Zane mumbles.
“Exactly. See, Vic? This is why we want you to move up to Capo.”
I shrug with Niko’s words. I’m not sure I’m the best person for the job. It’s a big move. I also want Angelina to be comfortable with me. I don’t think she’d approve of what I do for a living. It’d be harder to keep her clueless. I can’t risk losing her, not even for the men in front of me that I owe everything to.
“Angelina is not Emilia. I’m not sure she’d like me working that position,” I answer under my breath. I need to handle Angelina gently.
“Bull. She’s got the same blood Maxwell had in him. She’d be fine. You do a disservice to her.”
“Speaking of women,” I respond, changing the subject. “Where’s Melina?”
“Morning sickness,” Antonio gripes, clearly not happy.
“Yikes,” I mumble. “Isn’t she kind of far along for that?”
A child is something I never wanted. My childhood was fucked up and my parents weren’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type. I swore I’d never bring a child into this world. It was mainly because I didn’t know what to do with a baby. I sure as hell don’t know how to be a parent to a kid. Angelina is slowly changing my mind on that. I wasn’t lying when I told her I wanted everything with her.
“The doctor said some women have it their entire pregnancy. I swear the longer this goes on, the more I’m worried my wife will sprout horns, or her head will start spinning around while she vomits pea soup.”
“Pea soup?” Zane asks.
“You’ve never watched the original Exorcist?” Niko asks.
“Um… no?”
“You should watch it. You’ll love it.”
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re lying?” Zane huffs.
I bite down a laugh and shake my head. I like Zane—even if I wish I didn’t. I might request him as part of my new staff. Damn. I’m going to accept Capo position. Well, if Angelina is on board.
“Did you warn Angelina that you’ll probably be called away again?” Antonio asks, staring at me.
“I did.”
“Good. You go in three days.”
“Fuck,” I hiss. That’s not what I wanted—not even close.
“With everything going down, we’re running short on men. I need the ones I can trust to have Marco’s back. EZ has been keeping an eye on Helena, but I swear that girl is a magnet for trouble,” Antonio mumbles. “And if any of you tell my wife I said that, I’ll cut off your balls.”
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of your wife, Boss. She’s such a petite little thing,” Zane croons. I swear, I’m starting to think the boy has a death wish.