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)
“You understand, don’t you, that her death automatically means yours as well as everyone you care about. It doesn’t have to be that way. All I want is a straight exchange. Her life for his.”
He laughed softly. “How I miss having you around ...”
He was enjoying this too much. My grip tightened around my phone, but I forced myself to keep my cool and kept my voice firm. “Where can I pick her up?”
“Not so fast.” He chuckled. “I haven’t decided if you get to see her again. Now that I know just how much she means to you, I need a little time to think this over.”
I couldn’t believe him. “Your son or her? Really? These are your considerations?”
“You know me,” he said.
“Yes, yes, I do. People mean absolutely nothing to you. It appears not even your own flesh and blood do.”
“You’re not going to kill my son,” he scoffed. “We both know it so quit the ridiculous tough talk. I’ll contact you when I have made up my mind on how to make the exchange.”
And with that, the call came to an end.
I got to my feet, restless and unable to remain still. It had all been fruitless. All efforts to get to her and determine her location had been fruitless and it was driving me crazy. I didn’t know what to do anymore and neither could I contain it for one more moment. I felt suffocated. I swung my arm and phone at the wall. It hit with such force that it shattered into tiny pieces. I watched the pieces fly apart, and words popped into my head.
“Not if but when everything falls to pieces, call me. If you contact me before that moment I won’t respond. Come to me only when you are ready to completely get rid of Ugo.”
I turned around to meet Giotto’s gaze. “Do you know Tommy the Blade?”
His eyes slightly widened. “One of Ugo’s underbosses.”
“I need to speak to him. Now.”
“I’ll get you his phone number, Boss,” he said and strode out of the room.
Chapter 59
Dante
“I’m going to assume you remember my stipulation about contacting me,” Tommy said.
His voice was familiar though it seemed deeper than I remembered. It was twelve years since I’d last spoken to him or seen him but still, I would never forget the man who had nearly beaten me to death after my first altercation as a recruit with the famila.
“I do. Do you still mean what you said?”
“Yes, I never say what I don’t mean.”
“You know why I’m calling, don’t you?”
“Yes, but the timing is wrong. This is the worst possible time to fight him. He is on high alert.”
“Well, that’s where I come in,” I said. “You don’t have to fight. All that I’m asking is that you get her back to me safe and sound, and I’ll take care of him for you.”
He went quiet and I waited to hear what he’d say. When he responded, I wasn’t surprised one bit by his words.
“The way I see it, I don't have to do anything at all. You’ve been at each other’s throats since you were seventeen. The way I see it neither of you will be left standing and I’ll be free anyway. Why bother getting my hands dirty?”
“Because you owe me,” I replied.
“Nah, I don’t. Owing someone comes from asking for help. I never asked for your help.”
“And yet I graciously extended my hand to you when Ugo didn’t.”
"You’re no different from him, are you? Wanting to collect your favor twelve years later.”
“Say what you want about me. The fact remains I saved your family. I heard about your situation and I took care of things for you. Meanwhile, the man you gave everything up for refused … even when you begged.”
The very real possibility of losing Zola or having her hurt was frightening to me.
“What do you need from me exactly?” Tommy asked.
I briefly shut my eyes. “I’ve told you. Keep her safe for me.”
“That’s too vague a request. No, I can’t do that.”
“Do you know where she is?”
“I could find out.”
“Please do. That’s all I need.”
Another long moment of silence ensued before he responded. “You know that he’s going to find out it was me, right?”
“Don’t worry, he won’t be alive long enough to confront you about it.”
“That better be the case,” he said and abruptly ended the call.
Chapter 60
Zola
Iwas taken to a high-end townhouse in Greenwich Village. I had expected them to take me out of state and to a place I would probably never be found, instead, they had returned me to the city.
The door was pulled open by an unsmiling woman. I was led in, wet and shivering and filthy as hell.
The woman glanced at me with a disgusted look. I didn’t need a mirror to know I looked very akin to something from a horror show. I could feel it with every fiber of my being. She communicated with the three men in rapid-fire Italian and they responded rudely and angrily. Shaking her head she walked away without a backwards glance.