Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“I’m fine.” Even I knew I was lying, so he did too.
He grabbed the armchair and pulled it toward the window so we could sit together. My bedroom was now a guest bedroom, but it was still as immaculate as a primary suite. His elbows rested on the armrests, and he looked out the window before looking at me, back and forth, trying to decide what to say. “I’m sorry this has happened to you.”
“It is what it is.”
“I was a shitty husband, and then this guy used you.”
That wasn’t how I would describe it. “We just have conflicting goals in life. We knew it wasn’t going to last forever. So I’m not surprised it’s over, just surprised how it became over.”
“He still deceived you.”
“He kept our relationship separate from his ambitions. He did it as long as he could, because once I figured out the truth, he knew it would be over. If he really was an asshole, he could have kept me against my will. But he let me go…knowing I would tell my father everything.”
“You keep defending him.”
“Just explaining.”
“Why did you end the relationship if he did nothing wrong?”
“Because…” It was complicated, but it was also simple. “Because I couldn’t be in a relationship with someone actively trying to dismantle everything my family has worked for. I asked him to let it go, but he said no. And that was that.”
“He chose money over you?” he asked in surprise. “He’ll live to regret that.”
Bartholomew didn’t seem like the type to have regrets. “My father thinks I might be able to change his mind, but I already asked him once, and he said no.”
“Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Maybe he’ll miss you enough to give a different answer.”
I shook my head. I knew that man. He would never change his mind. “Let’s hope so…because we’re fucked.”
I pulled my knees closer to my chest and circled them with my arms. “Really?”
He nodded. “We’re so fucked. He can easily bleed us out until we’ve got nothing left. We either meet his demands, or he just waits until the money runs out and we’re powerless. He can either kill us all then…or just take over. Some of the guys are talking about fleeing to Greece if things don’t take a turn.”
“What are his demands?”
“No idea. He hasn’t made contact.”
“Why don’t you make contact with him?”
“Because that’s what he’s expecting. The second he let you go, he knew you would tell us. He’s probably waiting to see what we’ll do. And once we do, he’ll hit us, blow us up, et cetera.”
“He’s not going to blow you up.”
“How do you know?”
“He told me he doesn’t intend to kill anyone if they cooperate.”
“Cooperate how?”
“He didn’t say. And honestly, I didn’t want to know.”
23
BARTHOLOMEW
I stared out the window of my study for a long time before I finally grabbed the phone. The number was saved into my phone, so I dialed it before I pressed it to my ear. It rang a few times before his arrogant voice answered. “Yes?”
“Leonardo.” It was the first time we’d spoken, and without sharing my name, he knew exactly who I was.
He made that clear in his silence. Like a cliché, he thought he had more power by not speaking, but the truth was, he just wasn’t man enough to hold his own.
“You’re stranded on an island, and no one is coming to your rescue, Leonardo. Either starve to death or accept my terms.”
“We can discuss your terms in person. Give me the time and place.”
A smile pulled at my lips. “She’s not going to change my mind.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Laura was his final weapon. She wanted to protect her family from my wrath, so it wouldn’t surprise me if she offered to plead on her father’s behalf. She could pitch her case all she wanted, but her beauty wouldn’t faze me. Our memories together wouldn’t soften my resolve. “Won’t make a difference, but perhaps seeing your daughter work against me will teach you to appreciate her. It’ll teach you to respect her.”
It was three a.m.
The shops and bars were closed, so the Piazza Della Signoria was empty. The replica statue of David stood tall for locals and tourists to admire. The Duomo loomed over us with its height, casting a shadow in the darkness. I’d had several meetings in this square, one of the few places where there was enough space for two militias to meet out in the open.
I sat in the back seat of the SUV and waited, our crew driving off the road to park on the cobblestones. Our fleet of vehicles was bulletproof, and I was certain Leonardo’s was as well. An extra car was parked out back, armed with a bazooka if we needed it.
Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that.
Twenty minutes later, headlights appeared. They drove off the road and directly into the plaza, leaving their cars a hundred feet away.