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)
What a night. Make that weekend.
Gio
“Hello,” I answer my phone as I sit in the hotel suite with a drink in hand.
“I should slap your face,” Nonno seethes into my line.
“What have I done?”
“Don’t play this game with me. Why would you not tell me tonight was the night?”
“It needed to look as authentic as possible. If I told you, you wouldn’t have reacted the way you did. Ny was shocked and impressed, by the way,” I reply.
“Humph.”
“She had it under control, Nonno. No one I didn’t mean to was going to get hurt. This move is tied to too many others for it not to go off well.”
“Humph.”
Dario couldn’t question this threat. If it wasn’t done right, he would have. I continue, trying to get him to see why this had to be done. “The dolls on the property were shooting blanks. Only the snipers had live ammo. Have your guys check the bodies. Most of the bullets came from your guys, or it was a kill shoot to the head to keep them from running too close.”
“I only forgive you because they weren’t armed. Nicely played, Michelangelo, ben giocato. Buona notte. Ti amo, mio nipote,” he says the last part with so much pride.
“Good night, Nonno. I love you too. Ciao.”
I end the call and make the call I need to place for my next move. It’s picked up on the second ring. “Hello, boss.”
“Nadine, I need Bertice back on the radar. Take her to their house. Mitch will pick up Kaling. Don’t allow her out of your sight until I send the text letting you know her executioner is on the way.”
It should take a few days for Nonno to get word to Ma. Then another few days for her to reel in her temper before she speaks to me. Then she’ll be thirsty for blood, and I’ll have it waiting. I smile to myself.
“My pleasure,” Nadine replies.
I hang up right as Ny comes storming into the suite. The anger on her face throws me. I lift a brow as I finish my drink.
“What’s wrong with you?” I ask after swallowing.
She marches up to me and shoves my shoulder. “Now that the adrenaline has worn off. I can’t fucking believe you. That was Nonno. Why would you do that?”
“Ny, that’s only the beginning of what I plan to do. You’re going to have to toughen up. Anyone is fair game for what I have to do.”
Her mouth drops open and she narrows her eyes. “Who are you? This isn’t right, G. That man is like a grandfather to me. Do you know what it would have done to me if he got hurt?”
I pull her close and wrap my arms around her. She looks away from me. I blow out a breath and place my chin on top of her head.
“I knew you had it under control. It had to look a certain way. Nonno reacted naturally, that’s what I needed. I’m always in control of the illusion. Always.”
She shakes her head. “G, I froze when I saw him. What if—”
I pinch her chin and lift her head to take her lips and cut her words off. “Jace and I never stopped training. Nonno stepped up to make sure we remained ready. I know what my grandfather is capable of,” I say against her lips as I break the kiss.
“He’s older now. Would you put my sister out there like that? Bella? Dante, Dario? Jace?”
I purse my lips and remain silent. I can’t say no. Gio wouldn’t but this guy, the guy I have to be for this to work. He’d risk them all because he knows he has control.
She tugs away. “Ugh, I can’t with you right now. Maybe I should stay here and go to the farm.”
“No, I need you with me.” She opens her mouth to say something else. “I said no.”
I turn and walk away, not in the mood to argue. I need to focus on my next move. We can have this out once back in the States.
Chapter 50
Empty Play
Riccardo
I sit with my head in my hands, trying to figure out when I lost control. I don’t want to accept what I believe has happened. Not my Franky.
“Hey, everything all right?”
I look up at Peter and my rage rises. Why couldn’t it have been him? He’s been working right under Dante’s nose this entire time.
“No, I’m not all right. Your cousin should have checked in by now. I haven’t heard from him in over a week.”
“You want me to bring Izzy in?”
“Did you not hear what I just said? What do I care about that mulignon?”
“Well, since she’s the other one’s sister. I thought you could use her for leverage to find out what happened to Franky.”
“To use something for leverage, it has to matter,” I snarl at this nitwit.