Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 142640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 475(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 475(@300wpm)
“Yes sir, I will,” Carlo replies. “You have my word.”
My eyes widen in horror…what?
Lombardi turns to the other guards in the room. “Meet your new leader.” He holds his hand out. “Carlo Bernetti. Our next generation.”
They all bow their head in a mark of respect.
What the fuck?
Carlo takes out his phone and dials a number, he waits while it rings. “It is done.”
Who’s he talking to?
“I want a team sent down.” He listens again. “Snipers.”
What?
“We are at the second location.”
Wait…what was the first?
“Enrico Ferrara is Lombardi’s kill, do you hear me? Nobody is to take that from him,” he continues.
He listens again with a cool detachment, and it all becomes crystal clear.
Carlo has already been running Lombardi Industries from afar.
For how long?
Dear God.
He listens again. “Have the chopper ready.”
Lombardi coughs, it’s loud and rumbly, deep from his chest. Carlo’s eyes rise to him and he walks over and gently hits Lombardi on the back to help him get his breath. An intimate act that depicts their closeness.
Lombardi is dying.
He keeps coughing, struggling to regain control, and Carlo takes the cigar from him and puts it down in the ashtray as he talks on the phone.
“Have a nurse on the chopper,” he says calmly, he pats Lombardi’s pockets and pulls out a bottle of pills, he takes two and passes them to Lombardi who swallows them whole.
Fuck.
Lombardi really doesn’t have long.
He has nothing to lose, that makes him more dangerous than ever.
“I’ll be going ahead with stage three.” He smiles darkly as he listens. “I will, don’t worry.” He listens again. “I’ll call you when it’s done.” He hangs up.
Stage three? What’s stage three?
I watch him, I’ve never felt so betrayed.
Anna.
Dear God, Anna.
The gorgeous man who Anna loves…is pure evil.
Carlo kisses Lombardi on both cheeks. “You are in safe hands; another team will be here soon. I’ll be back when it is done.”
“When what is done?” I ask as my eyes flick between them.
Carlo’s cold eyes meet mine and he smiles darkly. “My first task as the Lombardi leader.”
What’s that?
My eyes search his.
He walks up close, leans down, puts his mouth to my ear and whispers, “I’m going to kill your beloved Giuliano.” He grabs my face and licks it. “Now, while he trusts me.”
Oh no….
Giuliano does trust him.
I struggle in my chair to get away but I’m tied in place. “No,” I cry. “You can’t. Please. Don’t touch him.”
He gives a nod to the other men and then walks toward the door.
“What about Anna?” I cry. “She loves you. How could you do this to her?” His step falters and I know I just hit a nerve.
Maybe the only nerve of decency that he has left. Still facing the door, he says, “I’ll be back for Anna.”
His silhouette blurs.
“I look after mine,” he replies coldly before walking out the door, it slams behind him with a bang.
Giuliano
I look around the mountaintop, searching for an answer.
“What the fuck is going on?” Alex cries as he looks around in horror. “Bruno.” He drops to his knees to check for a pulse.
Our other guards walk around, guns drawn as they search.
The snow is coming down and while Valentino weeps over the body of his girl, I know I don’t have much time to work out what went on here. Falling snow is about to cover everything. My eyes skim over the surface of the mountain in search of clues.
Footprints.
There are a group, they were standing here.
I look over to where Bruno and Giovanna lie, this is where they stood when they shot them. There is a large dent in the snow with blood, as if someone was hit and knocked over. I study the size and shape of the hole in the snow.
Francesca.
From there, I can see there was a struggle, she put up a fight as she was dragged up the hill. I survey the whole area, six sets of footprints in total.
I look out over the snow-covered mountain and then follow the footsteps up and over the mountain. There I find the chopper rail marks, there is no snow on the trees around here, the chopper blades have blown it all off. I get a vision of the horror that went down here.
Francesca.
I run back to Valentino. “We have to find phone service.”
“I’m not leaving her here,” he cries. “This is all my fault.”
My heart breaks for him. “You stay with her. I’ll send someone.” I turn to the guards. “Stay here with him.”
“But you….”
“He needs you more. They’re gone. I’m safe,” I yell, I turn and begin to run down the mountain.
I slip and slide and somersault and fuck me…I hate fucking snow.
I roll my ankle and near knock myself out. I have to zigzag down the mountain, it’s too slippery to go the quickest route.
Why the fuck didn’t I go skiing with her?