Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 131455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
“I've been attempting to negotiate a deal.” He draws a breath, grimacing. “With Moroni.”
“You what?” Romero makes a move for the gun I know is tucked in his waistband. A slight wave of my hand signals him to stand down, which he only does reluctantly.
My blood is simmering, and everything around me begins to go red. “I'm giving you a chance to tell me what you're playing at before you learn what happens to people who go behind my back,” I murmur, fighting for control over the rush of rage brought about by the mention of the man's name.
“It's not what you're thinking. I have a plan.”
“Really. It sounds more like you're double-crossing me.”
“If it's a double-cross, he's the one getting fucked.” His gaze bounces to Romero like he's looking for support–he might as well try to get blood from a stone. “It's not what you're thinking, I swear. I had planned on sharing this with you, although as I said, he hasn't committed. He's dragging his feet.”
“On what?” I grit out.
“I know how to hit Moroni where it will hurt a hell of a lot worse than anything you pulled last night. And when he agrees to my terms, you can have him.”
“I'm looking forward to hearing this,” Romero announces before closing the door. He's right, of course. I would rather the girls not venture by and overhear any of this. The least I can do is keep them out of it.
Sebastian merely turns to stare at him for a beat before looking my way again. “Dominic isn't Jack's only offspring.”
Consider my interest piqued. “He isn't? What, is there a love child tucked away somewhere? Some leverage we can hold over his head?”
“Not quite. They were born out of wedlock, two girls who were one and two, before Jack's wife kicked the bucket.”
“He's got two daughters?” I exchange a glance with Romero, who looks gobsmacked. “You knew nothing about this?”
“I'm not in the habit of keeping information from you,” he reminds me. To his credit, he doesn't look offended, but I can only imagine it stings to know he missed something this big.
“They're twenty years old and currently living with their mother's family upstate. He rarely ever goes to see them but provides for them financially. Word has it he wants to keep them as far away from his work as possible.”
“Sure. I bet it has nothing to do with them being girls rather than sons,” I muse. That sort of mentality is far from foreign in our world.
“What do you plan on doing with this information?” Romero questions, lifting an eyebrow.
“I know one of the girls was recently engaged to a kid from an upstanding family. They're in politics on a small scale yet have plans to step things up and have plenty of profitable business interests. They consider themselves the next Kennedy family, and she'll make a good wife for a future senator.” His smile spreads slowly. “I think she'd do better married to a man like me.”
There's a moment of silence, a long one, and I expect Sebastian to laugh. When he doesn't, I look at Romero and find hesitation in his eyes.
“What are you saying?” he finally asks.
“What does it sound like I'm saying? I'm reaching out to him, offering an alliance in exchange for an arranged marriage with his daughter.” Another long pause. Part of me wonders if he's really serious, only the expression he's giving me shows no hint of humor.
“You're serious?”
“I've already booked a room at Niagara Falls,” he snickers. “Do people still honeymoon there?”
“Why?” My anger is receding in the face of curiosity and disbelief.
“I have my reasons.”
“Not a good enough response,” Romero seethes. This time, I don't signal for him to stand down. He crosses the room and comes to a stop beside my desk so we can both glare at the kid.
Sebastian shrugs. “That's as much as I can tell you. I want her. She's going to be mine. And in return, he'll think he's getting my backing. He needs all the help he can get, especially with his warehouses mysteriously going up in flames. You might have inadvertently pushed my plans forward, come to think of it.”
“If they're sisters, why not ask for the other one instead?”
“No. That won't work. I don't need my sister-in-law marrying into a political family. If they had ties in our world, then it would be different. I could use that. But they're above that kind of thing.” He rolls his eyes. “Trust me. I've done my research.”
Something about this isn't clicking for me. It's clear from Romero's pensive expression that he's going through the same process of trying to put things together. “And you said Jack's not going for it? How long have you been working on this?” Without telling us. He leaves that part unspoken, though it's hanging over the room.