Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Footsteps and voices appear outside the door, and I once again use my eavesdropping skills to listen to them. It sounds like several men talking, but I don’t recognize any of the voices. Finally, after a few long moments of anxiously wondering whether one of them will come inside—the door opens.
A man walks in and stands in front of me with a satisfied smile at my current condition.
“Hello, Isla,” he introduces himself. “My name is Angelo Barone.”
But the introduction is unnecessary. I might not have known his name before, but I recognize his face.
“I’ve seen you in the ballet's audience,” I say as I try not to sound as scared as I feel. “Do you enjoy the ballet?”
“No, not at all,” he laughs. “In fact, I find it excruciatingly boring, no offense.”
“None taken. But then why attend the performances?”
“I like to keep a close personal eye on some of my most worthy adversaries, and it just so happens that one of them has a fondness for the ballet.”
Vincent. That’s why I’m here—Angelo Barone has somehow figured out that Vincent cares for me, and he’s seeking to exploit that as leverage. I refuse to let him. Not only because I vowed never to let powerful men exploit me again, but because I know now how much I care about Vincent, and I refuse to let this asshole use me to harm the man that I’ve fallen in love with. I sit with that thought for a minute as Angelo continues to look me over. It’s the first time that I’ve let myself admit that I’ve fallen in love with a mafia don, even if it’s just a silent admission inside my head. If I get out of this alive, I’m going to tell Vincent that I love him.
“You’re probably wondering why you’re here, aren’t you?” Angelo sneers.
“I think I have a pretty good idea already.”
What is it about bad guys and their affinity for always wanting to monologue? Does it make them feel more powerful and feared? Angelo continues, despite my reluctance to listen to him.
“You witnessed Vincent Moretti kill one of my men,” he says. “Backstage at the theatre after your solo performance. Do you remember that?”
Obviously, I do. It’s not like one can just forget seeing a murder carried out in front of their eyes. It’s a rhetorical question that he doesn’t wait for me to answer, anyway.
“And after that, Vincent made you disappear. I have to admit that it was hard to track you down. Vincent keeps his building locked up pretty tight, but I have a cop on my side that could pay you a visit and confirm what I already suspected to be true,” he continues smugly. “You see, rumors get around quickly in Vegas, and I have eyes and ears everywhere. That’s how I know that the all-powerful Vincent Moretti is sweet on you.” He breaks into laughter as if he’s just told a joke and amused himself. “It’s such a ridiculous stroke of luck, really—that my previously untouchable rival would let himself fall in love and open himself up to such a weakness.”
“You’re a fool if you think Vincent is weak,” I snap at him.
Instantly, Angelo’s smug look turns into a bitter glare. He reaches out and strikes me across the face with a slap that echoes throughout the room.
My cheek stings, and the ache in my head worsens.
“Careful, my dear,” he hisses. “You might be the only one who can break the Devil, but be under no delusion about having any power here with me. Because I can break you, one piece at a time, if I want to. I control more people in this city than you know.”
“Is that how you got that dumb cop to do your bidding? By offering him a bunch of money and a promise of power?” I say as I try to stall Angelo from doing anything else to hurt me. I hope that somehow Vincent got out of the car and is on his way to find and rescue me. I just need to stay alive until he gets here.
“Detective Monroe?” Angelo lets out a chuckle. “No, his own obsession with destroying Vincent makes him a useful idiot. You see, your boyfriend caused that cop a bunch of trouble years ago, and Hal has had an axe to grind ever since. He plays both sides when it suits him, and I use his badge and his sheer blind stupidity to give me access to what I want, like you.”
“One day, he will turn on you, I bet.”
“Doubtful,” Angelo says as he leans casually against the table piled with ammo. “It would be hard for him to do that from the grave. Unlike Vincent, I don’t like to leave any loose ends lying around.”
There’s a small knock on the door and Angelo goes to open it. A woman walks inside, which surprises me. She’s lovely, demure, with not a single hair out of place in the sleek, dark ponytail at the back of her head. Angelo goes to give her a performative kiss on the cheek, and she grimaces while he isn’t looking, clearly repulsed by him.