Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
He crossed the main road and went into a section of units on the other side. I continued to follow him. Fortunately, there was no one else around at this hour. Finally, he stopped in front of a unit and bent down to undo the lock. When he pushed the door up, the lights from the parking lot illuminated enough of the unit for me to see a mattress on the floor and a few boxes scattered around it.
He was staying here, not with a friend, not in a different apartment. He didn’t want me to know he’d lost his apartment, and he was keeping his car hidden so no one connected it with this unit.
He’s here because your family is demanding all of his money.
I knew he was still working at Benny’s Bar, but he’d had to cut his hours to dance for me. Everything he earned at the club went to me, and I was sure everything from Benny’s went to his sister, it was no wonder he couldn’t pay rent.
Liam had clearly been struggling long before he’d started spending six nights a week at Pound. I couldn’t let him keep living here. If I helped him, Dom would eventually figure it out, but I’d just have to deal with the consequences. I’d have to bet on my father not actually killing me. He’d punish me some way, I knew that, but as long as I survived it would be okay. Vito would help me take care of Liam if I was out of commission.
I walked back to the Corvette and drove it as close to Liam’s unit as I could. I was about to approach the door when my phone rang. I glanced at it, expecting it to be Vito letting me know that the clean-up was done. It was my father.
I considered not answering, but he’d call again. He was nothing if not persistent. “Hello.”
“That’s two deaths this week. Both your fault. We can cover things up, but you’re making it very difficult. I’m considering taking the club from you.”
I’d honestly expected worse, but I couldn’t stop myself from stating my case. “They were both necessary to protect one of the dancers.”
“So your brother tells me. That same dancer owes us money. That’s why he’s working there right?”
“Yes, sir.” I wiped sweat from the back of my neck. How much did he know?
“And now he’s causing us more trouble?”
“No, sir. We’ve just had a run of bad customers.”
“As fun as it might be, we can’t slaughter all the bad customers. It’s not good for business, and it’s not good for the family. I don’t want to have to call in any more favors because you’ve decided to become someone’s personal protector.”
I squeezed my hand into a fist, wishing I could punch something or someone. I wanted to tell Dom that nothing was more important than Liam, but he wasn’t going to listen to that.
“Stay away from the club for the next few weeks. If the death rate goes down, I’ll consider letting you go back.”
I wanted to assure him I could stay there and things would calm down, but as long as Liam was there, and there was a chance of any man even looking at him wrong, I couldn’t make that kind of a promise. I could either do as ordered or openly challenge my father. What a great fucking choice. “Who are you putting in charge in my place?”
“I thought I’d let Vito have a try. Hopefully he won’t fuck things up even more than you.”
I could handle that. Vito would keep an eye on Liam while he was at the club. There was no one I trusted more.
“Hopefully Vito will meet your standards. I’ll take two weeks off from the club, but after that I’ll be back.” With Dom, there was a fine line between giving in and holding my ground. I was teetering on it, but I wanted him to know I wasn’t taking this lightly.
“We’ll see.”
“Good night, Father.” I ended the call and slumped back against the seat. Liam had closed the door of his unit. He’d said he wanted to shower, but clearly that wasn’t going to happen here.
I hated thinking about him covered in blood and unable to wash it off. I wanted to take him home, bathe him, give him my clothes to wear, then curl up around him and hold him for the rest of the night. The Marchesi family had given me a hell of a lot, but they’d taken a lot too.
How could I leave Liam here in a fucking storage facility? If I didn’t intervene, how long could this last anyway. Liam wasn’t good at hiding or watching out for danger. Someone would report him, then where would he go?
My bed. That was the only choice, but storming in there and taking Liam now wasn’t the smart thing to do. I needed to work out a plan, one Dom would accept.