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)
“Allow me to introduce my wife, Natalia,” he beams as if he’s showing off a prized pig. “She’s going to babysit you for a moment while I attend to another matter. Don’t worry, though, I’ll be right back to finish our conversation.”
The implication of his tone reveals that our “conversation” is about to get a lot less friendly when he returns. He wants something from me, something that he can use to bury Vincent, and I won’t give it to him, no matter what he does to me.
As soon as the door closes, his wife’s expression changes, and she comes to kneel in front of the chair that I’m tied to.
“Are you alright?” she asks in a whisper. “I heard you were in a car accident before they captured you and brought you here. Are you injured?”
“I don’t think so,” I say in confusion. “Why are you helping me?”
Her eyes glance at the closed door for a second before answering me. “I don’t agree with the way my husband handles things. I try to help the women who get caught in his crossfire as best I can.”
“That’s really brave of you,” I say with a smile. “I can’t imagine being stuck in this criminal world without even loving the man that you’re tied to within it.”
Natalia’s eyes look sadly back at me. “Just because I don’t love my husband doesn’t mean I don’t have love for many things. In this world, love is the most dangerous rebellion.”
“Can you get a message to Vincent for me? Can you tell him where I am?”
Natalia nods. “I will try. But be careful, my dear. These men are dangerous. Both of them have pride that escalates the conflict between them, an intense rivalry that only men seem hellbent on prioritizing. We women have to stick together and be careful.”
I nod in gratitude, both for her help in getting a message to Vincent and for her words of advice. I don’t think that Vincent would ever hurt me, but it’s true that the mafia underground is a dangerous thing to be involved in for any woman.
Natalia stands quickly when the door opens again, and Angelo steps back inside.
“Thank you, darling,” he dismisses her before turning his attention back to me. “Now, where were we?”
“I think you were about to let me go?” I suggest sarcastically, “Before Vincent gets here and cuts you down to size.”
Clearly, Angelo doesn’t appreciate banter and takes offense at any insults directed toward his authority. He lunges at me and grabs the side of my chair, tipping it backward and holding it there as my feet dangle off the ground and my head grows dizzy.
“You think you’re funny?” he snarls. His breath is too close to my face, and it smells like stale cigars and whisky. “I’ll let you in on a little secret, sweetheart. Vincent isn’t coming to save you. No one is coming to save you. The building you’re in right now is my best-kept secret, and I can count on one hand the number of people who know of its location. You don’t leave here unless I want you to. And if I ever let you leave, it won’t be to run back into the arms of my enemy. It’ll be because you’ll be working for me, spreading your legs and turning a profit to line my pockets.”
That threat sends a chill down my spine.
Angelo lowers my chair legs back down to the floor, and I plant my feet down in front of me as I try to steady myself.
“If you help me, Isla, then I’ll help you,” he grins. “I want to know everything you know about Vincent’s security systems inside that main casino building. I know he has a woman outfitting all his establishments with high-tech security. I want to know who she is. You give me a name that helps me break into Vincent’s buildings, and I’ll let you stay in this room a little longer before I throw you to the wolves. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like you can go fuck yourself,” I say as I bite down on my lip, knowing that I’ll pay for that remark.
“That’s some pretty unflattering language coming from the mouth of such a pristine ballerina,” he says, narrowing his eyes at me in anger. “Madame Durant would be disappointed, I think. Yes, I know her too—seems you and I have quite a few mutual friends, don’t we? Think carefully before answering my next question, ballerina. Because there are a whole hell of a lot of things that I can let my men do to you if you don’t help me get what I want.”
I glare vehemently back at him, even though I’m admittedly terrified right now.
“What’s the name of Vincent’s tech specialist, and what do you know about the inside of his building? Tell me how I can get in.”