Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
“That will depend on you getting your ass moving.” He laughs. It’s full and has me doing the same thing in return, not realizing just how much I needed that.
FIVE
Nico
I didn’t want to leave Journey, even if I was able to spend more than a few hours with her like our usual time together. Today was an unlikely occurrence, getting more twelve hours with her, any way I could have her. I can still taste her on my tongue. My hands still feel her body in mine. It didn’t matter that I went home, showered, brushed my teeth, did all the things I needed to for appearances purposes to be where I am right now.
“Boss,” Enzo states after I walk through the door in the back of the kitchen where our meetings take place with the men. Some will leave here to work on collecting fees, others to work their streets, making their presence known in the eyes of Petrov and his men.
“Enzo.” We shake hands and hug, much like I did to the rest of the men who are standing, not taking their seat until I do, as a sign of respect. A lot of these men watched me grow up, knowing I’d eventually take the seat I’m in now. My father, much like me, is an only son. What most didn’t expect was for me to become boss at the young age of thirty-nine while my father was still living. Dad was well into his fifties when he took over from my grandfather, and that was only because Nonno had a massive heart attack, passing away before he made it to the hospital.
“Boss,” he replies. I nod my head at Enzo then at the rest of the men, taking my seat. The first time I took my place here, with my father standing beside me, hand on my shoulder, telling his soldiers that I was now the boss, nerves wracked my body. But I held my own. There was no way I’d have shown what I felt on the inside. I straightened my shoulders, did what I was born and raised to do, and now here I am.
“Alright, let’s get things in order. I want Petrov out of here, nowhere near any side of The Strip. I’d be happy if the fucker were buried alive in the desert, head out of the ground, letting the vultures peck his eyeballs out.” Vulgar it may be, but it’s the truth. I take it one step farther. “Continue with your job, but if you come across Petrov, he’s to be delivered to me, alive.” I look at my men, seeing them nod in agreement. When Petrov moves in on me, he’s also moving in on them, taking a portion from the top of their own territories. It’s a no-fucking-win situation, which is why we need this shit taken care of, pronto. The one thing I’m keeping to myself is the selfish part of why I want Petrov put in the ground. None of the men would say anything; they know what a wild card the Russian fuck is and what could potentially go wrong.
The men start to get rowdy at the thought of shedding blood. I raise my hand, silently telling them to tone it down before I go on. Enzo’s head slowly turns towards me, getting my attention without speaking. The nod we exchange lets me know he agrees with this, not that I’d do anything different, but with him being my right-hand man, it’s better we work with one another than against.
“Silence.” They listen; their murmurs quiet down instantly. “The reward will be worth it. For incentive purpose, it’ll come at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.” I stand up and move to the small bar we keep in the meeting room, needing a beer to calm the storm brewing inside of me. You see, Enzo met me at my place after I left Journey’s, him being the only one in my outfit who knows where and with whom I spend my time with. It wasn’t easy to digest that Petrov left a message with one of our businesses that we offer protection to. The ballsy motherfucker walked into the bar and gave a verbal message to a bartender. To watch our back along with our women and children. In a perfect world, I could go to my father and ask for advice, but that’s not the case. I’ll probably hear about that later, too; he’s the one who took Mom out of town, visiting family at the Amalfi Coast. They’d come home with no problem, but with them over there, my sister and her clan following behind them, it’s for the better the don’t. My sole focus will be on making things right for everyone, but most of all for Journey and me.