Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“Excuse me for a minute, Mom.”
She nods and heads back to the kitchen. “Come join me for dinner when you’re ready.”
I nod back at her and then punch Raven’s number into my phone, bringing it to my ear.
“Hello?” Her voice shakes a little.
Maybe it’s just my imagination.
“Raven, it’s Vinnie. I just got your text.”
She clears her throat. “Oh, good. It was nice to see you today.”
“Great to see you too.”
“I was wondering… I don’t mean to be forward or anything, but would you like to come to my place for dinner Friday evening?”
My heart skips a beat. “So you canceled your date?”
“Yeah, I did. I think I’d much rather spend the evening with you.”
Her voice sounds off. I made it pretty clear that what happened between us couldn’t happen again. Of course, the tightness in my groin proves my cock didn’t get that message. But Raven got it, and she’s not an unreasonable person. Why is she asking me to dinner then?
And why do I want to go more than I want to breathe? Something’s not right here.
“Sure, Raven. I’d be happy to come.”
“Great.” Although the tone of her voice doesn’t sound like it’s great.
“What time?” I ask.
She pauses. “How about around six thirty? Do you remember the way to my place?”
Seriously? It’s seared into my memory. “Yeah, I do. I’ll see you then, Raven.”
“Great.” Again she doesn’t sound like it’s great. She clears her throat again. “See you then, Vinnie.”
I end the call and shove my phone back in my pocket. Why did she sound so strange?
I can check in with Falcon later. See if he knows anything. Otherwise, I’ll see her Friday night for our date.
I’m glad she decided to break the date with the lawyer. I have to say I’m surprised that she asked me out. She doesn’t seem the forward type that way.
Then again… I hardly know her.
As I enter my grandfather’s office the next morning, a question arises in my mind.
How many lives has he taken?
I’m sure he is responsible for the ending of many lives, but I want to know how many he personally has taken.
It’s not my place to ask.
My only place is to prove my loyalty to him and the family. And to do that, I have to get rid of Puzo.
What my grandfather doesn’t know is that I have already taken a life.
And if I found myself in the same circumstances? I would do it again.
But I can’t get used to it. The problem with things you’re not supposed to do is that once you do them, it’s easier to do them again. You continue and you continue, and if you get away with it, you feel a little less guilt with each time you do it.
How do I take a man’s life?
I’ve already determined that Puzo is hardly a pillar of society. The world will be a better place without him. Hell, the world would be a hell of a better place without my grandfather in it.
If only I could off him and get it over with.
But it’s not that simple.
There are people in this organization who are loyal to my grandfather. Not to me yet.
But I will prove myself.
And his will be the last life I take.
My grandfather clears his throat. “I’m getting tired of waiting, Vincent.”
“You want me to be careless about it? If so, I’ll get it done this afternoon.”
“You’ve been to his house twice.”
“Yeah, and he’s out of town.” I take a seat across from him. “And by the way, I don’t appreciate you watching me.”
“How else am I supposed to be sure of your loyalty? Your trust?”
“By not watching me,” I say. “I’m not a fucking kid, Grandfather. I’m no longer eighteen. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Seems you may. Puzo is still among the living.”
I open my mouth to say something, but he holds up a hand.
“I’m sick and tired of your excuses, Vinnie. You get it done today, or someone you care about may meet the same fate.”
He’s not talking about Savannah. She’s his little cricket. And he’s certainly not talking about his daughter, my mother.
He could be talking about Falcon. Or my father.
But my guess is that he’s talking about Raven Bellamy.
“I’ve got to go,” I say. “My mother and I are going to see my father in prison this morning.”
“You want to waste your time with that?”
“He’s your son-in-law. Your daughter’s husband. And he’s my father. So yes, I’m going to go see him, and I don’t consider it a waste of time.”
“You’ve got until midnight tomorrow night, Vinnie.” He stands slowly, leering over the desk. “I want Puzo’s head on a platter by then, or you will be sorry.”
His words send a chill through me.
I don’t doubt their veracity. My grandfather is evil incarnate. Fucking Lucifer himself.
And he doesn’t make threats idly.