Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 84219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“G-good. T-they treat me w-well.”
“What do you want?” Ivan demands.
“A meeting,” I inform him. “I think it’s time we talk face-to-face.”
“I’m not meeting the Cosa Nostra. I’m not that stupid.”
“Enough men have died,” I mutter. “This is between you and me. We’ll fight old-school. No weapons.” I press the barrel into Miro’s neck, and it has him whimpering, then I continue, “If you win, you get Castro and Diaz. If I win, I kill your brother. I think it’s fair.”
“What about the others?” Ivan asks.
Damiano steps forward. “A deal is a deal. We won’t interfere.”
Renzo shakes his head, not happy that I’m going to fight Ivan. He voted that we attack full force, but the others agreed with me.
“Fine, but I say when and where,” Ivan spits out.
“Last time I checked, I was the one with the gun to your brother’s head,” I mutter. “I’ll send you the time and place.”
I end the call and copy Ivan’s number to my phone to send him the message once I’m ready.
We’re all quiet as we leave the room, and only when we’re out of the armory does Renzo mutter, “I’m going with you.”
I shake my head. “No. I’ll have Marcello and Milo.”
Renzo grabs hold of my shoulder, and I stop walking to lock eyes with him.
“I’m going with,” he growls.
“I’ll take my sniper rifle,” Dario says. “I found a nice spot in the building next to yours that gives me a perfect view inside your warehouse. Just make sure both doors are open.”
“Angelo and I will wait nearby with our men in case Ivan brings an army,” Damiano informs me.
I glance at them, then shake my head. “You’re not going to take no for an answer, right?”
They all mutter some variation of ‘fuck no’ as we continue to walk out of the guesthouse.
“Give me thirty minutes to scope the warehouse,” Dario says. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready, then you can notify Ivan of the location. I want to make sure he doesn’t send men to take up sniper positions so he can take you out the second you get there.”
“Thanks.”
“We’ll get the men ready,” Angelo says.
I nod and watch as they leave, then turn my attention to Renzo, who’s still glaring at me.
“Why are you doing this?” he asks. “Why not just hit the fucker hard and call it a day?”
“I don’t want to lose half my men going up against the Slovak mafia.”
“And?” he pushes.
“They fucking shot at Samantha and traumatized her.” When Renzo opens his mouth to argue, I shake my head hard. “I’m doing this my way.”
“You have no idea how well Ivan can fight,” Renzo argues.
“So? Have you forgotten I’ve trained with the best?”
Frustrated with me, he shoves a hand through his hair. “No, I haven’t. I just don’t want to risk your life.”
“Brother.” I shake my head. “I’ll be risking my life whether we attack full force or I fight the man old-school.”
He stares at me, and realizing I’m right, he lets out a sigh.
I punch him hard on the shoulder before I walk toward the mansion.
“What the fuck is that for?”
“For giving me shit,” I mutter.
When I enter the house, I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial the direct number for my line at the office.
“Mr. Vitale’s office. Samantha speaking.”
“Hi, baby.”
“Hmm…who is this?” she teases me.
“Your mystery man.”
I hear a loud bark of laughter behind me, and as I glance over my shoulder, I watch as Renzo stumbles out onto the veranda, where he proceeds to die of laughter.
Fucker.
I’m never going to hear the end of that.
“Who’s laughing?” Samantha asks.
“Renzo.”
“Have I met him?” she asks.
“Yeah, he was with Dario at the office,” I remind her.
“Oh, I remember now.” She pauses for a moment, then asks, “Why did you call?”
“I wanted to hear your voice,” I murmur. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I hear her typing on the keyboard, then she says, “I’ll see you after work.”
“Okay.”
I wait for her to hang up, but she doesn’t. Instead, her voice is filled with emotion as she says, “I love you with all my heart, Franco.”
She ends the call, and I tuck the device back in my pocket before heading to my bedroom to change into my combat gear.
When Milo stops the G-Wagon near the entrance of the warehouse, I take in our surroundings before my eyes lock on Ivan, where he’s leaning against the side of his SUV.
“Let’s do this,” I mutter while shoving the door open and climbing out.
Marcello hauls Miro out of the back while Milo remains in the G-Wagon, so he can alert the others if anything goes wrong.
I unlock the doors and push them open before heading inside and switching on the lights.
For a split-second, my eyes flick to empty crates where Renzo is already hiding.
Marcello pulls Miro to the side and forces him onto his knees while training the barrel of his gun on the back of Miro’s head.