Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
“Time to go,” Jace says at my side.
I nod and place a hand on Ny’s back. We move out in unison. In this moment, I know I can take on the world.
“I love that you remember the little things Mom did for us,” Ny says as we all climb back into the SUV.
“She was a huge part of my life too.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Jace turns to hand me a business card. I look on the back to find the information I asked him for. The location of this Alderman Toni is looking for. I pocket the card and settle in my seat.
It’s time I get in the zone. I have a lot that needs to get done. Today marks the day it all officially begins. There’s no turning back now.
By the time we pull up to Anima Mias I’m fully focused. Jace and Ny move like the soldiers they are as we step out of the car. Something settles within. I have all the confidence in the world I can pull this all off.
As we stroll into the restaurant, Toni, Car, and Blake come into view. We head straight for their table. Toni looks up from her plate and smiles.
“Gio.”
“How you doing, gorgeous?” I say as I dig in my pocket and palm the card with the information she wants. I move to kiss each of her cheeks as I smoothly place the card into her palm.
“I’m going to need one more favor. Come see me,” I whisper before backing away.
I then turn and go to kiss Carleen’s forehead and cheek. She’s already glowing. My thoughts go to Ny glowing with my child.
However, I shake the thought off and focus on the task at hand. I move to sit in the chair Jace brings over. I want to sit and talk to Blake for a bit, get a feel for her, as well as allowing Ny to get a feel for her. No more dolls she doesn’t want. I only need two more and they have to fit the system.
Carleen makes introductions as I home in on Blake. To anyone other than Ny and Jace, I’m not paying Blake much attention, but she has all my focus. From the nervous looks around as if someone outside could be watching her to the fidgeting and flinching as the staff moves around silverware and glasses.
“How have you been, Blake?” I say after Car’s introduction while looking down at my tie and smoothing a hand down it.
That’s when Toni pipes in. “Actually, Gio. Maybe you can help Blake.”
“Toni,” Blake bites out.
Toni continues anyway, piquing my interest as she blurts out Blake’s business. It’s just as I thought. I knew I read that cocksucker right. However, I’m still pretty sure he’s hitting her on top of everything else.
“Toni,” Blake hisses low.
I lift my gaze to Blake and look her over. She won’t look at me though. I turn to Jace, she’s ready for us.
As if reading my thoughts, he nods ever so slightly. I then turn to Nyla, letting her know with my eyes this is the doll I was speaking of this morning. I already know she knows what to do. She collected her six.
Nyla
I stand and round the table to lean in and whisper in the pretty woman’s ear as I hand her a card with my number on the back.
“I want to offer you two options,” I start. “You give me a call. We’ll get you out of whatever is going on. And I do mean whatever. We’ll make it all go away and we’ll teach you a whole new world to keep this from ever happening again. Or option two, you can stay with that bum who I’m quite sure is beating your ass and allow him to ruin the rest of what he’s sure to make your short life.
“It’s simple. Learn something new and live or stick to what you know and die. Oh, and option one green-lights his ass whooping, by the way. You decide.”
I slip the card in her hand and straighten. I already know we’re done here. She’s what Gio wanted after settling the favor with the federal prosecutor.
We move out as smoothly as we came in, as if we didn’t just offer to train a woman to be a lethal assassin. Ah, I’m starting to love my life.
“Where to?” Jace asks as we get into the car.
“Home, let’s celebrate.”
Chapter 36
Uncle G
Gio
I walk into the bathroom to relieve myself and brush my teeth. Jace is already brushing his teeth at the triple sinks, a feature I had added to customize the space. We lock eyes in the mirror, and I lift my chin, not ready to interact with anyone.
If I had it my way, the only person I’d be engaging with is lying naked in my bed. I wouldn’t say this to her face, but Ny has put on weight in all the right places since she’s been away.