Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
I heard a male voice call to him from behind. “Antoine? Is everything okay?”
He turned around. “Yes, yes, wait for me in my room.” He turned back to me. “Zola, come in. What are you doing? What’s happening?”
I walked into my apartment. Whoever he had been talking to had disappeared back into the room. “Sorry for interrupting,” I said.
“What are you talking about?” he said. “I just came out for some water.”
My facial muscles moved and words came out of my mouth. “Always after thirsty work.”
He started to smile at our old joke, and then he stopped. “Zola?” he called anxiously.
I seemed to be on the verge of collapse. I gazed at him as though I had seen a ghost and he watched me in alarm. Tears began to gather in my eyes and spilled down my face.
“Zola,” he cried as he hurried over to me and took me in his arms.
Antoine bore the brunt of my crushing embrace and to my surprise, he didn’t say a word. Even though I knew him well enough to be aware he wasn’t the biggest fan of these kinds of affectionate gestures.
When I stepped away, he looked around at the cops who had brought me.
“She needs to rest,” the detective whose name I couldn’t remember said.
They were speaking to him when I turned around and walked to my room. I just didn’t care about anything beyond the comfort that was awaiting me in my room. I closed the door and sat on the bed until Antoine knocked softly and stood at the open door.
He came over and crouched down before me. “Sweetheart,” he called softly.
But I wasn’t able to look at him. I turned my face away.
“I don’t know what’s wrong, but I’m here for you. Tell me whatever you need, okay.”
I nodded.
“I’m going to leave now okay,” he said gently. “So that you can rest. If you need me just call me.”
I looked at him and nodded again, grateful for his care and concern.
I wasn’t ready to talk … at least not yet.
I lay down and pulled the covers over my head. When I closed my eyes, I saw my father. Millions of images of him that I’d accumulated through the years.
Chapter 4
Dante
The media fanfare surrounding the murder of Marco Leone was incredible.
Obviously, it was not what I wanted, but there was a silver lining to the entire farce. The breathless nightly coverage of the murder meant the authorities had to take Zola’s protection more seriously or risk a hit on their reputation should she be harmed on their watch.
My name was still out of the news as the unnamed businessman her father had been working on defending, but I knew it was only a matter of time before this would no longer be the case.
I also knew it was only a matter of time before they tried to hurt her again.
It was inevitable because of the rumors that she might be able to identify her attackers and that her father had shared valuable information to her about the case. This made her the ultimate loose end and it completely robbed me of sleep.
I also needed to talk to her but that didn’t seem to be a possibility. I ground out the cigar I’d been smoking and looked out at the picturesque nightlife skyline and considered my next steps.
The door behind me slid open but I didn’t bother turning around.
“Boss?” Luca called. “Detective Hudgens is on the line for you?”
He came into my line of vision, a cell phone in his outstretched hand. I took the phone.
“Moretti,” he said in his nasal New York accent. “Long time no speak.”
I frowned at the grating voice of the meddlesome detective. “Well, we had a chat last month at my office so I don’t think it’s been that long.”
“Oh, it has been,” he said. “After all, Leone was alive last month, wasn’t he? In fact, he was alive and well barely a week ago.”
I ignored the jibe. “How many people do you have at her apartment?”
“One or two?” he replied.
I was even more annoyed by his careless tone. “One or two?” You're not sure?”
“Moretti, you have no right to interrogate me. She’s safe. This case is only as big as it is right now because they know someone very high profile is behind it. But I guarantee you that in a few days, it’ll blow over. The media will move on to something more interesting.”
I could feel myself grow even colder at his words.
“I want to supply extra security for her, how can we make this happen?”
“You can’t,” he said and there was great satisfaction in his voice. “And neither can we. At this point, we’re doing all we can.”
I didn’t believe him.
“The media are reporting that she might be able to identify her attacker. You don’t know how serious that is? There is no way they are going to let her live.”