Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 16236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 81(@200wpm)___ 65(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 81(@200wpm)___ 65(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
I glanced at Elio. He was trying to tell me something with his eyes, probably I told you so. “No, sir. I didn’t know who he was.”
“That’s your own fucking fault. I ought to hand you over to Lucien and let him—”
“No, sir. I’ll fix this.” Lucien was the scary-as-fuck head of the Marchesi family. Ultimately, we worked for them.
“You won’t do a fucking thing until I give you orders, then you’ll obey them to the letter, or you won’t be around long enough to fuck up anything else.” I wanted to argue, but I kept my mouth shut while Vinnie paced his living room for several moments. “Right now, the best thing for you to do is go home. I’ll send someone to see to your arm.” He gestured toward my makeshift bandage.
I nodded. Giving Vinnie time to cool off wasn’t a bad idea. I took Elio’s arm.
“No, he stays. I need to talk to him.”
“Elio is with me.”
“You really want to die today, don’t you?”
I refused to let him see how scared I was. “I promised him protection. I won’t go back on that promise.”
“You don’t make the rules here, I do, and you better remember that if you aren’t choosing this as your death day.”
I was in danger, but I wouldn’t leave Elio. Vinnie’s bark was worse than his bite when it came to family. “I won’t say anything while you talk to Elio, and I’ll take him home with me and keep him safe.”
Vinnie’s glare should have set me on fire. “So I’m supposed to trust you to keep him secure and to fight off anyone who comes for him?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re going to be the one thing standing between me and a war that will drag in the Marchesis. You do realize Lucien will kill us all for this, right?”
I didn’t want to think about that confrontation anymore than I wanted to think about losing Elio now that I’d found him again.
Elio took a step forward. “I could just disappear.”
“No!” Vinnie and I shouted at the same time.
He tilted his head and frowned at Vinnie. “So, which is it? Am I an asset or a liability?”
Vinnie snarled. “You’re a man who needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.”
“Take it easy on him, Vinnie. He’s been through a lot today.” Until he spoke, I’d barely registered Vinnie’s boyfriend, Tom, who’d been hanging back in the kitchen.
Vinnie turned to him, scowling. “Don’t.”
Tom held up a hand and gave him an icy look.
Vinnie’s anger seemed to deflate. “Fine.” He turned back to Elio. “Your value to us remains to be seen. For right now, you’re to do as Tony says if you want to be in good shape for a reunion with your family.”
Elio didn’t back down. I’d never seen this side of him, but I liked it. “I don’t want to be reunited with them.”
“He’s staying with me,” I said.
Vinnie slammed a hand down on the counter. “I give the orders here.”
I had to keep pushing. “His family doesn’t value him. We could do them a favor and take him off their hands.”
“No way in hell are they going to allow that without promises being made that Lucien would never agree to.”
“I’m not expecting we’d make a fucking alliance with them. I want to keep him.”
“Finders keepers?”
I looked down, realizing how stupid that sounded. “Something like that.”
“Try suggesting that. After they blow your head off, I’ll have less to worry about.”
“Just let me go,” Elio said. “Then neither of you need to worry about it.”
“No.” Again Vinnie and I spoke at the same time.
6
ELIO
Iwas so fucking sick of people arguing over me. When was I going to get to make a decision about my own life? “I wanted Billy dead.”
Vinnie glared at me. “I didn’t give you permission to speak.”
I took a step toward him. “I’m the son of Giacomo Barruchi. I don’t need your permission.”
“I don’t need to listen to anything an enemy has to say.”
“You need to listen to me if you don’t want a war.”
The young man I assumed was Vinnie’s boyfriend moved closer and laid a hand on Vinnie’s shoulder. “Give him a chance. He deserves to be treated like a person.”
I smiled at him. “Thank you. I’m tired of being everyone’s pawn. I’m a prisoner at home, and now I’m one here. I don’t want to be part of this game.”
Tony growled “This is not a game to me. You are not a game. I’m doing this to protect you. If I could do that by building you a remote cabin and keeping you there with me, blocking out all this fucking shit, I would.”
Vinnie and his boyfriend stared at Tony.
“Is that what you want?” the boyfriend asked. “I’m Tom, by the way. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Elio, and….” I studied Tony for a moment. His look said I damn well better not contradict him, and dammit it turned me on instead of pissing me off. “Against my better judgment, yes, but not if it means starting a war or risking Tony’s life.”