Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
I read her and grin. “You’re trying to make yourself hate me, is that it?”
She’s not in the mood for joking. She fidgets with her hair, twisting a curly strand around her forefinger, biting down as she stares at the floor.
“This is such an insane situation,” she says. “I know I’m stating the obvious, but it is. It’s confusing. A few days ago, you were a construction manager.”
“I am,” I tell her.
“But I thought that’s all you were,” she continues. “The business, though…”
“It’s real,” I say. “All of them are.”
She glances at the door, lowering her voice. “So, what does the mob do?”
“Knockoff electronics. Stock trading. Intimidation and blackmail for people who deserve it.”
“Define ‘people who deserve it.’”
She’s keen, interested, and alert in the most attractive way. It’s like she’s peeling back all the layers, not just of the business but of me, too. She’s forcing me to justify myself and to look at myself. It’s captivating in a way I don’t fully understand.
“The last man we blackmailed was a hedge fund manager who helped cause a factory malfunction that killed ten local people.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He was betting on the company failing. We’ve got contacts in that world. He deserves what we’re doing to him. We forced him to pay us a monthly fee and money to all the families he ruined. I won’t feel guilty.”
“No drugs? No sex trafficking? No gun sales?”
“No,” I say fiercely. “That’s why I’m fighting the Russians. I want to keep it that way. Look at the goddamn crime stats. This city has never been safer. The mayor laps up all the credit. I’m happy to let him. I’m no Al Capone.”
“But it’s you,” she murmurs.
“Partly. Maybe mostly, depending on the neighborhood.”
She flashes me a confusing look. It’s the same tone as every moment we share—a clash of guilt and unstoppable attraction.
“Then you should be proud,” she says after a moment. “What will Fyodor do now?”
I find it far easier to talk to her about this than I should. Discussing it with Rosa was difficult, only necessary because of the Matvei situation.
“I don’t know,” I tell her, “but it won’t be good.”
My cell phone rings. It’s Dario. As I answer, Rosa returns to the room, sitting next to my Emma, reminding me why I can’t indulge in this. It reminds me why I can’t open this door inside of me with the fire. It’ll explode.
“It was easy to get the answers we need,” Dario says. “Matvei is wanted in two states for serious shit against women, one of them a minor girl. The first case is open and shut. He used a fake name so they couldn’t find him, but I sent our fella a picture, and he confirmed it was the same guy. Saw him with his own eyes. Saw what he did to the girl. He’s on camera entering and leaving the place he took her.”
“Jesus Christ.”
I look at my daughter, sweet Rosa, the best thing that’s ever happened to me, or was before I met… I can’t think like that.
“What’s the play here, Leo?” Dario says. “Because I’ve got a few ideas.”
“Wait for my word.”
“Okay. Right, but please, don’t take too long. He would’ve done the same thing to Rosa. These people need to be stopped.”
I hang up, looking at my daughter. “That was Uncle Dario.”
“And?”
“Matvei is guilty of at least two serious crimes against women. Well, one woman, one girl. Open and shut case. He’s an evil bastard.”
“He was going to do the same to you,” Emma says fiercely.
I imagine her using the same tone when talking about our children, that same heated protection. It makes no sense thinking this. She loves Rosa, which is the exact reason we can never work.
Rosa throws her hands up, then stands and paces. She ends up at the door. “Just-just tell Uncle Dee to do whatever he decides, okay? I can’t make this decision. I’m sorry. I want to be alone.”
She leaves the room quickly. Emma stands and goes after her, looking at me over her shoulder. “Where should I go after I’ve spoken to her? The basement or here? Where am I allowed?”
Sassiness mixes with bitterness.
“You can come here,” I say gruffly.
She leaves the room. Even now, I’m an animal as I study her body, fertile curves, and the personality in each footstep.
“Brother?” Dario answers hopefully.
“It’s your choice to make,” I say. “That’s her decision.”
Dario laughs gruffly. “I’m going to do it right now. Piece of shit. Can you imagine what would’ve happened to our Rosa, Leo? Angelica’s daughter?”
His voice gets husky and fierce. I can hear his loud footsteps echoing as he walks across what sounds like a large room and then Matvei’s heavy accent, pleading.
“No, wait. He’s got it wrong. I hurt nobody. I am a good man. It is all a jo—”