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)
“Unbelievable,” I marveled. The way Ugo treated his men never ceased to amaze me. It was almost as if he was running a cult of gullible, brainwashed followers.
“For a man so astute and with so much experience, it’s pretty astonishing that he is unable to understand the very basis of human nature. What man in his right mind dies twice for the man who betrayed him?"
I lifted my hand from underneath the table, uncocked the gun, emptied the bullets in it, and placed it on the table.
"He does understand human nature," I said. "Which is why he chose you."
Tommy's ears perked up. "What do you mean by that?"
"You came back to work for him, didn't you?"
"Of course, I did. What else was I supposed to do?"
"You haven't shown any rebellion. You've been as calm as the sea on a hot day. So he's kept you cooling your heels, knowing that you can be used again."
"But this time he got it wrong … so fucking wrong.” He smiled. "Over the years, I've cleaned up everything for him, even his shit when he was sick. As a result, I've earned many friends along the way, many who have now become his enemies, though he doesn't know it. He will never truly understand how much I've shielded him from, but he's about to."
We needed a drink. I pulled the cord by the table, and almost immediately, a waiter opened the door and came into the room. I ordered a bottle of whiskey. When one was set on the table, I poured a large measure into two glasses.
Tommy lifted his glass. “Here’s to Ugo! Let’s see how he does without a moron to act as his buffer.”
We drank and I refilled our glasses.
He looked at me with rage in his eyes. “I can’t believe him. The audacity to sign my life away over and over again and give nothing in return. You were right to leave as early as you did. I wished I’d had half the guts.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. I had nothing to lose. You had a family to take care of.”
“A family that I’ve lost. My sons are strangers to me and my daughter is ashamed of me. That's what this life does. It lures you in with all the promises of honor and brotherhood and while you’re not looking it takes away everything that means anything to you and rips it apart.” He wiped his mouth with disgust. “Anyway, this meeting has gone on long enough. What steps do we need to take now?”
“Let me talk to my lawyer and we’ll take it from there. I won’t let you down. You have my word.”
He shook his head. “I can’t believe it. In the end, I had to turn to a fucking kid for help.”
Then he rose to his feet and walked away quickly. Giotto came in as soon as he left.
“He wasn't followed, was he?” I asked.
“No, Boss.”
Chapter 75
Dante
"They’ve taken Giotto, Boss."
“What?” I shouted.
“They got him on his way here.”
My heart sank. For a few seconds, I couldn't think. Giotto! Not Giotto. Then I knew exactly what I had to do. I owed him. I picked up my phone and called Ugo.
"I’m aboard my yacht and my Captain has just opened a splendid bottle of Petrus, Pomerol. Come over. We can drink and talk," he cordially invited and ended the call.
A wise man would say walking without any protection or weapons into Ugo’s den as I was, was a death sentence. But I had a secret weapon in my bag of tricks. I had a psychopath’s burning desire, not to save his son, but not to lose to me. To lose his only son to me would rankle like a cancer forever.
I made peace with my chances and went aboard.
I was thoroughly frisked and led to the top deck. Immediately, I saw the man who had been the bane of my existence since I was a kid. He was wearing a blue shirt and white trousers and standing by the railing, staring out at the ocean. The wind teased his hair and there was nothing to suggest that evil lived inside him.
He sensed my presence and turned.
"Ah, there you are," he said.
He nodded at his men and they disappeared from sight.
"Come, come. It's been years. Let us drink."
He led the way to a pure white, curved sofa. On the white table was an open bottle of wine and two glasses. He sat down and gestured for me to join him. I could smell the fragrance of the wine as he poured it out.
He held the glass up and studied the color of the wine. “This is my favorite wine, you know. I only drink it on special occasions.”
“What’s the occasion?” I asked.
He smiled softly and turned to look at me. “You are the occasion. I’m celebrating having you here. You’ll probably laugh, but I’ve hated and loved you in equal measure. For a while, you were the son I never had.”