Total pages in book: 767
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
Chapter Five
Stefano
I take Corey back to the suite, checking my phone for a message from Nico. I haven’t heard from him since he called on the way to see our dad in prison, and I’m a little worried. Before we arrive, I get an urgent communication from Tony in the earpiece I’d shoved into my gym shorts pocket.
“We have a situation.”
“What is it?” I bark, adjusting the device in my ear.
“Knife wound to one of the guards. A guy stole some lady’s purse and he caught him.”
“Fanculo. Did you call 911?”
Corey shoots me a worried look as the elevator doors open. I grab her elbow and usher her to my suite.
“Emergency vehicle’s on the way.”
“Who’s the guard?” I key the door open. An entire rack of clothing for Corey has been delivered while we were gone, but she doesn’t move to look at it, she’s watching me, listening.
“Joey Spitazzi.”
“Merda. You call his wife?”
“I’m about to. I’ll get her number from HR. What do you want me to do with the bastard who did it?”
“You have him in hand?”
“Oh yeah.” There’s menace in Tony’s voice. He’s not a mean guy—doesn’t get off on inflicting pain—but he’s loyal as hell. And Joey’s part of the Family, albeit far removed. He’s a grunt, a young soldier. Someone’s cousin or other relation who wanted a job from us. Still, he’s one of our own. And we protect our own with our lives.
“No, you gotta turn him over to the cops. If an ambulance is coming, authorities will be involved. We can always handle things our own way if we’re not happy with how they come out.”
“True that. Okay, boss. You want me at the hospital after I talk to the cops?”
“You hold your position here. I’ll go to the hospital. Thanks, Tony.” I end the call and head into the bedroom to take a quick shower and change back into a suit.
Corey follows me in, standing in the bathroom door as I shuck my clothes, like we’re a married couple. “Someone’s hurt?”
“Yeah.” I climb in the shower and rub a bar of soap quickly over my body. “One of the guards got knifed by a purse-snatcher. I’m going to the hospital.”
To my surprise, Corey steps in. As much as I’d love to drill her against the tile, I don’t have time for this shit. But she doesn’t look like she’s trying to seduce me. “Want me to come along?”
I blink at her, water running down my face. Huh. “Yeah. Okay.” Why the fuck not? She might actually make things easier with dealing with the guy’s wife. Especially if Joey dies.
Then again, this could be her ploy to escape, and I definitely don’t have the bandwidth to keep a leash on her while I’m trying to deal with shit.
She holds her hand out for the bar of soap and I give it to her and step out, my mind already at the hospital, hoping to hell we don’t lose a soldier.
Fifteen minutes later, we head down to the parking lot. Corey’s wearing an ivory blouse and a pair of black jean capris with her high heels. She looks like a model showing the summer daywear line. I lead her to Nico’s black Mercedes and call Tony to find out which hospital Joey was brought to. Twenty minutes later, we enter the waiting area.
A young woman with two preschool-aged children stands up when we get there. Her face is tear-stained and pale, dark hair pulled up in a messy bun on her head. “Nico?” she asks tentatively.
“Stefano Tacone,” I say. “Nico’s brother.”
“I’m Trisha. Joey’s wife.”
I pull her into an embrace because, well, that’s how it’s done in my family. A guy takes a knife for you, you’re gonna hug his wife, even if you’ve never met her. “What’s the word on Joey?” I ask when we come apart.
Tears pop in her eyes. “He’s in surgery. I don’t know. They said even when he comes out, I can’t bring the kids back there.” Her two little girls hide behind her legs and peek out at us.
“Well, they can stay out here with me,” Corey offers. “Or do you have someone who can watch them? I could drop them somewhere.”
Relief flickers on Trisha’s face. “Yeah, my girlfriend can come when she gets off work, but if I can go see him before then, I need to.”
“Of course. I will hang with the kiddos.” Corey smiles at the little girls, who stare up at her like she’s a princess. And who could blame them? With the heels, Corey stands almost five feet ten inches, and her flame-colored hair cascades in waves down her back like she’s royalty. I have to push away the fantasy of wrapping it around my cock and jerking off to it.
“Mommy, I’m hungry,” one of the girls says, eyeing Corey, like she’s testing to see how sincere she is.