Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Listen to me, you old sack of shit. I’m going to pay the Panagos myself. Consider the money you stole a loan, repayable at five percent interest, and no, don’t make a fucking sound, you worthless scum, that’s much better than you deserve. When I release your face, I’m going to walk out of here, and you’re going to be fucking thankful as I leave, because if I didn’t like your granddaughter, if I didn’t respect Brice, I’d beat you within an inch of your life, and probably kill you by accident, you ancient, decrepit piece of shit. Don’t say a word. I know you understand.” I release him and step back.
He sits there staring at me wild-eyed and bewildered, and I glare at him like the only thing I want in this entire world is to watch him bleed out on this carpet—which is pretty fucking close to the truth—and I wish I could smash one of those teacups down into his face, but the old fuck really might die if I do it. Instead, I make good on my promise, and I walk out of there without murdering him.
The sick fuck. The stupid, sick fuck really didn’t pay the Panagos. I’m trembling with anger and frustration. Why do these bastards insist on putting her in danger, over and over again, like she’s fucking expendable? I hate them for it, hate them for acting like she doesn’t matter when she’s the best among them, the smartest, the strongest, the purest—even if that fucking purity repulses me—and I want her so badly in my arms right now it feels like my world might end if I can’t at least hear her voice. I lean against the limo as I call her, desperate to tell her everything, to tell her that her family thinks she’s worthless, that her family would gladly sacrifice her life if it meant continued comfort for the rest of them, but most of all, that I would gladly burn to the world to ashes if it meant one more afternoon with her in my arms.
She picks up after two rings. “Hey, I didn’t think I’d hear from you today. Everything okay?”
“He didn’t give them the money,” I growl into the receiver.
“Who didn’t? What are you talking about?”
“Your grandfather. That’s why the Panagos took a shot at us. He didn’t fucking pay them when I told them he would.”
She’s quiet for a long moment and I suddenly regret making this call. I should’ve waited until I got back to Philly to tell her in person, because at least then I could pull her against me and kiss her and tell her everything would be okay. Instead, I’m on the phone, fucking impotent.
Finally, though, she speaks up, and she sounds far away. “Carmine, listen. My dad’s out on bail.”
I feel like someone shoved a piece of molten steel down my throat. “He fucking what?”
“I know, it’s crazy, but the judge approved it last night and he’s out now and—” She takes a deep breath. “He’s here. In Philadelphia.”
“Brice,” I say, my voice a harsh growl. An edge of panic slices into my guts. “Don’t you dare go speak to him. Do you hear me?”
“I’m sorry, Carmine, but he says it’s important. I don’t know, I didn’t plan on telling you, but apparently Daddy is taking a big risk leaving Texas and coming here.”
“Brice. Do not speak to your father. He’s going to fuck you up and poison you. Don’t speak to him.”
She’s quiet for another long moment, and when she speaks again, I can barely recognize her. “I’m honestly surprised by your reaction right now, but please, don’t worry about it. I’m meeting him at the Hilton in the lobby, it’s a big hotel and really public, so it’ll be fine. We’ll be safe.”
“Brice—”
“Look, I have to go, he said he’ll be there in ten minutes and I don’t know this city at all. But hey, it’s a grid right, so it can’t be that hard? Maybe I can get someone to drive me. Anyway, I’ll call you after and tell you how it went.”
The line goes dead.
I stare at it like I can barely understand what just happened. How the fuck did her father make bail, and who the hell flew him out to Philly? There’s no way he could’ve gone commercial, which means someone with a private plane snuck him out and flew a major felon awaiting trial out to another state, which is itself a goddamn felony. The layers of insanity and stupidity and downright evil makes my head spin.
There’s only a small handful of people involved in this mess that would do something so brazen and crazy, and none of them are good.
I need to get back to Philadelphia right fucking now.
I get into the limo. “Airport. Go fast.”