Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
There’s another sting across my back before we plow into the floor, with Damiano cushioning my fall.
My arm swings through the air as I spin around, ready for action, but the last man goes down from Big Ricky’s bullet.
Slumping back on the carpet, I stare up at the ceiling as I suck in desperate breaths. “Christ.”
Still lying beside me, Damiano lifts his hand and holds his thumb and pointer finger an inch apart. “You came this close to kneeing me in the balls, fucker.”
I let out a burst of laughter. “I’m pretty sure I took a bullet for you.”
“What?” He sits up and starts checking me for wounds.
“Flesh wound on my back.”
He shoves at me before climbing to his feet. “That’s not taking a fucking bullet.” He glances around the area then asks, “Everyone okay?”
“Yeah, just need to visit the clinic,” Vincenzo mutters. “I took a bullet in the leg.”
Fabrizio moves closer to his friend to help him down the stairs.
“Let’s go,” Damiano orders.
“Someone going to give me a hand?” I ask.
My boss pauses, then grabs hold of my hand and hauls me to my feet.
I glance at Miguel’s body but know his death won’t stop the drugs from coming into New York. It’s a war we’ll fight until our dying day.
As soon as we land, I head home to swap the R8 for my SUV before driving toward Brownsville with the bag of cocaine in my pocket.
I’m fucking tired and just want to get into bed with my woman, but first, I have to take care of her mother.
I dial Frankie’s number when I reach the neighborhood.
“I’m starting to feel special,” he answers.
I let out a chuckle, then ask, “Do you know where Eden’s mother hangs out?”
“A bar up the road from the apartment building Eden stayed in.”
I need to check whether Eden and Tyrone have given up their leases for the apartments.
“Meet me at the bar.”
I end the call and drive to the apartment. Passing by Eden’s old building, I see a group of homeless people gathering around a fire they’ve made in a trashcan.
When I reach a bar, I park the SUV and get out, glancing around for Frankie’s sedan.
I don’t have to wait long until he comes driving up the road, and as soon as the car stops, he climbs out of the passenger seat.
“What’s up?”
“Find Mandy. I need to talk to her.”
“Let me check inside.”
I watch as he jogs across the road and goes into the bar. Not even a minute later, he hauls a woman out onto the sidewalk, and gripping her arm tightly, he drags her to where I’m standing.
“Thanks, Frankie. You can go,” I say as my eyes drift over her.
She looks like she’s in her sixties, skinny as fuck, and drunk.
Giving me a smile, she slurs, “Ten bucks for a blow.”
I suck in a deep breath before exhaling it slowly, and wanting to give her a chance to save herself, I say, “I’m here to give you a choice. Come with me, and I’ll take you to rehab right now. Once you’re clean, I’ll help you get a job so you can get off the streets.”
She lets out a bitter chuckle. “Nah, man, that sounds like too much work. You want a blowie or not?”
Taking the bag of cocaine out of my pocket, I hold it out to her. “Or you can take this.”
“What’s the catch?” she asks, her eyes latching onto the bag as if it’s the holy grail.
“No catch. I just want to give you something for the holidays.”
“Thanks.” Taking the bag, she doesn’t even check for traffic before she crosses the road and disappears down an alley.
Freezing my ass off, I climb back into the SUV to wait for thirty minutes because I need to make sure Mandy won’t be a problem for Eden in the future.
My phone vibrates, and I check the message that just came through.
Eden: Just checking if you’re okay.
I quickly take off my gloves and type a response.
Dario: Almost done. I’ll be home in an hour.
Eden: Can’t wait. I have something exciting to share with you.
She probably wants to tell me she’s starting to work with Skylar in January.
Putting the gloves on again, my arm and back sting, and I know Eden’s going to lose her shit when she sees I’ve been grazed by bullets.
I keep an eye on the time, and when thirty minutes is up, I get out of the SUV and walk to the alley, where I pass empty crates and boxes.
When I see a pair of feet sticking out behind a dumpster, my pace slows. Mandy comes into view, the open bag of cocaine clutched in her hand, her eyes frozen in death while the blood from her nose dries.
It could’ve been a very different story had she taken the other option.