Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
And now…
Everything comes back to me in a swarm of memories.
The Uber driver. The phone call to Vinnie. The burner phone with instructions—the phone I still have. Telling Vinnie about everything in my backyard. The dark drone flying above us. And then him leaving.
Fear envelops me. When Vinnie was here, I wasn’t feeling fear. I was feeling comfort, safety.
Love.
But now that he’s gone…
I’m ready to be back on my own. But not before I have a professional come to my house and make sure there’s absolutely no surveillance equipment here.
I have a state-of-the-art alarm system, too. If someone got through my father’s system, they could surely get through mine. I was right to ask Vinnie if we could speak freely. If someone is watching me—so they can be watching Vinnie—they’re the kind of people who can easily get around any alarm system.
I want to go home now.
I want to get out of this house until I know it’s safe.
But Mom and Dad’s house isn’t any safer. It’s less safe. Brick was killed there. Had his throat slit there. I shiver, trying to ease the chills by rubbing my arms.
Doesn’t work.
“All right,” I say, willing my voice not to shake. “I’m coming home, Dad. I’m coming home.”
“I don’t want you driving alone. I’m coming to get you.”
I swallow. “No, it’s okay. I’m okay.”
“You stay put. I’ll be there in ten. Do not move, Raven. Do. Not. Move.” The line clicks off.
I crawl back on my bed, clutching my knees to my chest.
Poor Brick… If only he’d gotten my text in time.
If I’d remembered to text him earlier, he wouldn’t have shown up at my house at all.
But as horrible as I feel about Brick, I’m equally ecstatic that Mom and Dad were out for the evening. What if my father was the true target? What if…
And why did Vinnie leave in the middle of the night without waking me?
I grab my phone again and dial Vinnie.
Only to get his voicemail.
I open my mouth to say something, but no words emerge.
I can’t bring myself to tell him that Brick is dead in my bed.
I can’t…
No.
Not until I see it.
I have to see it.
My mom and dad wouldn’t lie to me, but still…I have to see it.
Why didn’t Vinnie answer?
I clutch my knees again, shaking.
And feeling completely and utterly alone.
2
VINNIE
Several hours earlier…
I don’t drive home to my mother’s home. Or my grandfather’s.
Instead, I changed into the clothes I left in my rental car—dark denim jeans and a black hoodie. A black baseball cap on my head, thin cotton gloves that I’ll put on later. In the middle of the night, I drive to Houston—to the hotel where Giacomo Puzo should now be dead in his room.
The Carlton Deluxe Downtown is the most expensive hotel in Houston.
Nothing but the best for Puzo and his Colombian deals.
I walk in, my heels clicking on the marble tiles of the lobby. To the right, a grand chandelier casts a golden glow over an elegant seating area adorned with plush velvet sofas and intricately carved wooden tables. A sweeping staircase with a gilded railing spirals up to the mezzanine level. In the center of the lobby stands a magnificent floral arrangement bursting with exotic blooms and rich greenery.
The reception desk is manned only by one impeccably dressed staff member at this late hour, but he smiles as I enter and walk toward him.
I’ve never met the man, but I know him.
He matches the description of the person I’ve paid off.
I clear my throat. “Raul, I presume?”
“Yes.” He keeps his face noncommittal. “You’re Mr. Brown?”
I nod. He knows very well that my name isn’t Mr. Brown. Who I am doesn’t matter. What I’m about to do does.
He slides a key card to me. “Here you go. Room 1027, tenth floor.”
“Much obliged.” I pull out my wallet, slide the key card in, take out two crisp hundred-dollar bills, and slide them to Raul.
He nods back.
Then I walk through the ornate lobby to the elevators, slide the gloves on, and press the button.
The doors open for me right away. It’s the middle of the night, and very few people are using the elevators.
I walk inside, making sure to keep my face away from the surveillance equipment.
This isn’t my first rodeo.
I slide the key card over the reader and hit the button for the tenth floor.
In a flash, the elevator doors open, and I walk out, following the signs to room 1027.
I hover my card over the reader, and when I hear the click, I open the door.
This is Puzo’s room. He should be lying dead somewhere, and I’m here to make sure everything went off without a hitch.
I have no personal beef with the man, but he has to die. He has to die so I can regain my grandfather’s trust. Without that trust, I won’t be able to bring him down.