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)
“What makes you think this guy’s death is connected to Ugo?”
They shared a look with each other, and then Derek responded. “The only connection he has to you is, he’s an employee in one of your companies. We had our people search into his history to check for links to the Mafia to explain why he was gunned down in front of a restaurant in a deliberately Mobster style. Which makes it a very juicy story for the media. Obviously, they don’t slander you outright, but they intentionally make the connection to you. What they haven’t mentioned though …”
He took a file folder from Jacob and handed it over to me. I accepted it and began to flip through the report.
“Is the fact that he was one hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars in debt. Money that wasn’t borrowed from the bank.”
At this, I looked up.
“We’re not completely sure what the source of the money was since the story just broke a few hours ago, but we suspect a link to Ugo.”
I listened to his theory as I flipped through photos and police reports.
“The only thing I don’t understand,” Derek said, “is why he would want to draw any attention to himself just before the trial?”
“He’s not drawing more attention to himself,” I replied. “He’s drawing more attention to me. I wond-”
Just then my phone began to ring. I would have ignored it, if not for the ID of the person that flashed onto my screen. I brought the phone up to my ear and swiveled my chair to face the window.
“It’s been a long time Hell Fire, hasn’t it?” a blast from the past asked.
The harsh face of Ugo’s second-in-command came into my mind. It was a long time since anybody had called me by my old nickname. Hell Fire. In some ways, he was crueler than Ugo and had been a bigger source of hell for me than anyone else. I’d always said I’d repay the favor to him one day, but that day hadn’t come yet. I said nothing.
“I take it you got the gift I prepared for you this evening?”
“You still doing your own wet work, Tony?” I drawled.
“Fuck you,” he spat furiously. “I don’t do my own wet work you gutless piece of shit. What a fucking disappointment you turned out to be. You were like a son to me then you fucking stabbed me in the back. You stabbed all of us in the back and you’re still fucking doing it. But you’re not going to get away with it. That idiot was just the first. There are more sweet tragedies coming your way … all linked to you.”
I chuckled. “You’re still wanking off to fantasies of catching me?”
“Very funny. Laugh while you still can. You just made a big mistake today.”
“Why? Because I snatched Leone’s daughter from under your noses this morning?” I taunted.
“No, because we lost Benjamin and Elias today,” he said. “You know how the boss has always felt about Benjamin. You’re in deep shit. He’s not going to play fair anymore.”
As if he ever did.
“The only way this is going to play out from now on is for you to return the girl. If you do not do this then …” his laugh was dry and bitter. “We’ve been given free rein to release all the contents of hell at you.”
“Thanks for the heads up,” I said. “I’ll look forward to your unimaginative idea of hell.”
I ended the call and I set the phone down.
A war had been declared and by my words, I had promised to eagerly participate. Was I truly ready to indulge in a bloodbath with those crazy psychopaths?
Yes. For Zola, I would fight to the death.
“Sir?” I heard the call from behind me. I turned around to face Derek and Jacob.
“They’re going to kill at random,” I said. “Don’t bother trying to trace which of them had any connections to the mafia. As long as they’re associated with me, they are fair game.”
The two men went completely silent with shock. I dismissed them and I sat alone in my office.
If I didn’t get this rampage under control then no one would care whether I was guilty or not. There would be too many dead, too many families devastated. All they would want was to see me gone.
I got to work.
Chapter 45
Zola
Without switching on the TV, I had no clue how my disappearance after the attack was being presented in the media. It was sure to have embarrassed Detective Hudgens, and his team must have been trying to search for every way possible to get me back to save face.
Marie came in to serve me breakfast; French toast, bacon, and some fresh juice,
“I hope I’m not stepping out of line,” she said. “But are you Mr. Leone’s daughter?”
“Yes, he was my father,” I said sadly.