Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 84219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Angelo shakes his head. “Surely the fuckers know if he comes after you, he’ll have to deal with all of us?”
“Maybe he’s not aware of how close we are,” Renzo mutters.
“We’ve been underestimated before,” Damiano grumbles. His eyes lock with mine. “We have to show a united front. We’ll send men to guard your companies so the Slovakian fucker sees he has to go through all of us to get to you.”
Nodding, I let out a sigh. “Thanks. I appreciate the help.” I shake my head. “I just wish Vargo would stop moving around so I can kill him.”
“His brother, Miro, is still in Miami,” Dario mentions. “Damiano is back, so I suggest we kidnap him.”
Damiano’s eyebrow lifts. “I can’t leave New York right now, but we can assemble a team to kidnap Miro.”
“That’s a good idea. I’d hate to leave Vittoria,” Angelo adds his two cents.
“I’m in,” Renzo agrees.
“Then it’s settled,” Damiano says. “Get the team together to bring Miro to our territory. Once Ivan surfaces, we take out the fucker and call it a day.”
“Does anyone else have something to discuss?” Angelo asks.
“I just became the proud owner of a ballet company,” Dario says with a grin on his face. “La Rosa Opera Ballet.”
“Ah…congrats,” Renzo chuckles. “But why?”
Dario gives him an incredulous look. “You clearly haven’t seen ballerinas. God’s masterpieces.”
“Ballerinas or a specific ballerina?” Angelo asks.
Darios’s grin widens. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Fucker,” Angelo mutters before turning his attention to me. “I hear you’re finally taken.” A mischievous smile curves his mouth. “Mystery man.”
My eyes flick to Renzo, and I slap him upside the head. “You fucking told them?”
He holds up his hand in the universal sign for peace. “Of course. I wasn’t going to keep that shit to myself.”
Even Damiano chuckles, which is rare. “Mystery man. Now I’ve heard it all.”
Just as Big Ricky brings Renzo’s food, I climb to my feet and mutter. “Fuck the whole lot of you.”
They all laugh at my expense, but I don’t mind. We need a bit of light-heartedness in the storm we’re facing.
“Are you going to Samantha?” Renzo asks.
I shake my head. “I have a meeting with Paulie. He’s been tracking Samantha’s ex.”
“Is the woman in trouble?” Damiano asks.
“No. I just want to kill the fucker for what he did to her in the past.”
“Let us know if you need help,” Angelo mentions.
“Thanks.” I give the men a chin lift, and leaving the office, I head out of the club to where Marcello and Milo are waiting for me.
Samantha
After work, I joined Jenny for a couple of drinks, and on my way home, I picked up an order of Chinese takeout for dinner.
Jenny is on cloud nine, planning the perfect wedding.
God, I can’t imagine having three hundred guests. She’s inviting people she’s never even spoken to just because they’re somehow related to her.
It’s insane.
My phone beeps, and I dig it out of my bag as I walk into my apartment building. Seeing a text from Mom, I smile.
Mom: Matt and Wendy had a baby boy. I was right.
Mom: He’s so beautiful!!!
I look at the photo of her holding her first grandchild and love how happy she looks.
I type out a reply and press send.
Sammie: He’s so adorable. Congratulations, Grandma. Tell Matt I’ll call him.
Placing my phone in my handbag, I dig my keys out. When I reach my apartment door, I unlock it, and as I push it open, I’m hit with the smell of flowers.
Thank God Franco stopped leaving the flowers at my window.
I place the takeout bag on the side table, and when I turn around to shut the door, I startle so badly a shriek escapes me.
A man is standing in my doorway, and it takes me a moment to recognize him.
Todd.
Where he used to have dark blonde hair, it’s now white. There’s a scar across his nose, and it looks like he’s aged ten years.
I dart forward, and grabbing hold of the door, I try to close it on him, but he uses a cane to stop me.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find you?” Todd sneers.
“Leave me alone!” I shriek.
My breaths explode over my lips, and my heart hammers in my chest as he forces his way into my apartment.
“Why did you run from me, Sam?” Todd asks, his tone that of a deranged man.
Letting go of the door, I spin around and make a run for the fire escape.
The cane wacks me against the side of my head, and I fall over the side of the couch and plow into a side table. The vase with roses falls with me, and as the glass shatters, my palm lands on it.
The broken glass stabs into my hand, and I let out a cry from the sharp pain.
“Now look what you’ve done!” he chastises me as if I’m a petulant child.