Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
But he wanted to end this, and end it now, and he needed to do this for his sister.
One of the security team went back into the small building, but the other one, the larger guard, stayed at the gates, eyeing Nate down.
A few seconds later, the guard who had disappeared came back.
“Marco says to let him in.”
The gate opened a moment later, and Nate got back into his car and pulled through the gate. Both guards stared him down as he drove up the cobblestone driveway, up a slight incline, and finally stopped in front of the door.
There was one more man sitting on the steps of the porch, a gun beside him and a cigarette hanging from between his lips. Despite the Cardonas not being some high-profile mafia, they did have a statewide reputation.
Nate took a step forward, but before he could take another one, a guard grabbed his arm. He was frisked quickly, and then he was being pulled toward the entrance. Nate kept his head down as he was led inside, down a hallway, and finally shoved through an open doorway.
The door closed behind him, and he looked up to see Marco sitting on the couch in front of a fire. He held a clear, crystal cut glass filled with amber liquid and had a cigar between his lips.
Marco was next in line after Sal, his father, or at least Nate assumed that’s how these things worked. Nate knew enough about the Cardonas that Marco was even more brutal than Sal.
“You better have my money, because you showing up here empty-handed is pretty damn stupid,” Marco said and took a sip from his glass.
“I want to clear this up. Just you and I. I don’t want anyone else involved.”
Marco didn’t say anything, but he did set his glass down and stand. He took a puff from the cigar and blew the smoke out after only keeping it in his mouth for a second or two.
“You don’t want anyone else involved?”
Nate shook his head. “I don’t want my sister hurt because of my mistakes.”
“That’s pretty honorable,” Marco said without emotion and moved closer. “But you are at least smart enough to know how this works.”
Nate felt the tightness in his body increase.
“You don’t have my money to me by the date it’s due, and I’ll make sure I find your pretty, little sister and fuck her until she bleeds.” Marco grinned, a grisly display of his distorted power and violence.
He stepped closer until Nate smelled the cologne he wore.
“And I’ll make sure you watch and know you’re the one who brought it on her.”
Nate wasn’t thinking clearly, not after what Marco just said. He would have done anything to make sure Renee was protected.
“I want her safe,” he whispered.
“You know,” Marco said, “I might have some fun with her even after I get the money.”
Nate snapped, something inside of him tearing in two. He pulled out the blade, minus the handle, he’d had tucked at the front of his pants. It had been flat, undetectable.
When they’d patted him down and because there hadn’t been a handle, they hadn’t felt it or had overlooked it. If they’d found it, Nate wouldn’t have made it inside and, instead, would have either been shot dead or been incapacitated and then taken to see Marco and Sal.
When Marco started laughing again, probably envisioning what he would do to Renee, Nate didn’t think, just reacted.
He plunged the blade into Marco’s gut and heard the man howl in pain. He stumbled back, not knowing if any of the guards would come in since they were probably right outside the door or if Marco would kill him.
Nate stabbed him again, not even thinking anymore, because he realized what a bad idea this had been. But all he had thought about was trying to make things right for his sister, to keep her safe.
But Marco slapped Nate’s hand away, the blade skidding to the ground.
“You stupid motherfucker,” Marco said and reached behind him to grab a gun. Nate tensed, thinking he’d die right now. But Marco took the butt of the gun and slammed it against Nate’s head.
“I should kill you, but I’m going to make sure your sister knows how you fucked things up.”
Darkness was the last thing Nate saw.
Chapter
Eighteen
Butters knew her eyes were large as she stared up at Mayhem. He looked so powerful and dangerous, all in the same breath. She was so wet for him. Could he see her arousal glistening, smell her like he’d claimed?
He still didn’t approach her right away. Instead, he just watched her while jerking off.
He moved closer to her, and she swallowed. Her breasts were thrust out, not so much as she was trying to tease him but because of the position she was in on the couch. But she supposed it looked a little sultry, a little tempting.