Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 74276 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74276 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Tanner kept smiling. “I understand, Don. But you might want to talk to good old Roberto before you start making threats.”
Baldy grimaced and absently touched his shoulder then glared death at Tanner.
“Enough dick measuring,” Dad said. “Do we have a deal? We can work out specifics, but I’ll say ten percent for both ends, plus I still get Eastwick. You put me in touch with your cartel guys and make sure they’re selling at a discount.”
“All of that seems reasonable.”
“Good.” Dad banged his hands on the table.
Dante jumped and rubbed his eyes.
“We will speak again then,” Don Leone said and stood. “This was a productive meeting. Thank you for arranging it, Tanner. But please, never show your face again.”
Tanner leaned back and put his hands behind his head. “Lovely seeing you too, Don.”
Don Leone turned and walked to the door. Dante opened it, glared at Tanner, shook his head, and let the old man out. Baldy followed, but not before giving Tanner a death stare.
“Whatever you did, they hate your guts now,” Dad said.
Tanner laughed and waved.
Dante lingered in the room then looked back. “We’ll be in touch,” he said, then left without another word.
Tanner sighed and stretched his legs. “All right,” he said. “Short and sweet. That was easy.”
“Easy?” My dad glared at him. “You crazy bastard. That was far from easy. Do you have any clue—”
“Dad,” I said. “Enough, okay? Enough. You got what you wanted. Can you just leave?”
He looked at me and for a second, I thought he might be my father again. There was a strange, longing look in his eye.
But he stood, nodded, and walked to the door. Bigman followed. Tanner waved.
I rolled my eyes. These men couldn’t help themselves. They all had to act like the biggest, toughest bastard in the world.
Dad left the room, followed by Bigman, and left the glass door open. The girl in her pink pant suit walked past again, this time staring at a laptop, her nose inches from the screen.
I shifted in my seat and turned to face Tanner. “I have no clue what just happened,” I said.
“Peace happened,” he said. “All it needed was a chance.”
“Was that real? My dad’s giving Don Leone a cut of drug sales?”
“And Don Leone’s giving him a cut too. In the long run, I think Don Leone made out better, but your dad’s pretty shrewd. I’m sure he’ll turn Eastwick into something bigger and badder down the line. At least I’m pretty sure that’s his plan.”
“I hate this.” I stood up and pushed my chair back. It toppled over and hit the carpet with a soft thud. “I feel like nothing’s over. Like they’re just going to keep fighting, no matter what we do.”
“It’ll hold for a while,” Tanner said. “It’s all about money in the end. Right now they see how working together will benefit them both. New markets, new revenue streams, all that shit.”
“Sooner or later they’ll turn on each other.”
Tanner’s face got serious for a moment. He leaned forward then stood. I could see his body tense as he came around the table and walked toward me. I backed up against the glass and he reached over to slide the door shut. I stared into his eyes and wondered what he’d do to me in this room with all those people out there watching.
“I need you to know something,” he said.
“What?”
“I want you, Elise.”
“I know that already.” I bite my lip unable to help myself. “You’ve made it pretty obvious.”
He looked pained for a second. “No, I’m saying it wrong. I mean… I love you. All this fighting, all this effort and fear and pain and killing… I did it all because I love you.”
I took a long, deep breath, and felt the world drop out beneath me.
“I love you too,” I said.
He leaned forward and kissed me.
I melted into that kiss. I couldn’t help myself. I felt dizzy and stupid and breathless.
I fell in love with a killer. I fell in love with the father of my unborn child.
And he loves me back.
I knew he did, at least on some level. He went further than I thought possible to try to protect me. That counted for something.
That counted for everything.
He broke the kiss off and let his hands linger on my hips.
“I hate to do this, but I have to ask you something,” he said.
I smiled and felt numb. My lips buzzed with his taste. “What?”
“I have to leave the city.”
I tilted my head. “You do?”
“Don Leone won’t let me stay here.” His voice was gentle like velvet but the words stung. “I could keep killing the men he sent after me, but sooner or later I’ll make a mistake, or he’ll send someone better than me, or I’ll get arrested and sent to prison. I can’t stay in Philadelphia, Elise. And I want you to leave with me.”