Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
I sit very still and glance down at my plate. Santoro’s request plays through my head, and I suddenly feel like the rock and Simon’s the hard place.
“When and where?” I ask, trying to delay.
“Tomorrow night. We’ll meet here, and don’t worry about the details. Just come ready.”
I clench my jaw and shake my head. “I can’t do it. Not on that short of notice.”
Simon’s eyebrows raise. A few of the Capos stop eating. They glance at each other, and the vibe at the table shifts.
“What do you mean, you can’t do it?” Simon tilts his head. “I thought you were getting more involved. Wasn’t that what you said?”
“I understand, but I can’t risk the lives of my men on no notice without knowing what the plan’s going to be.”
Davide grunts and cuts off whatever Simon was about to say. “Then we’ll give you details.”
“But it’s still short notice.” I fucking hate this. The way these men are staring at me is like liquid fire. Nobody says no to the Don, except I have to remember that I’m also my own kind of don and I get to my decisions for my own fucking family.
“You’re turning me down.” Simon seems surprised, like he genuinely didn’t expect that this was a possible outcome. “What’s going on, Quinn? You got a problem all of a sudden?”
“No problem. Just being practical, that’s all.” I push back from the table. “I shouldn’t be a part of this conversation anymore. I don’t want to get in the way.”
I start to walk off, but Davide catches up with me. “The fuck are you doing?” he asks, his voice very soft and calm, but he’s looking at me like he’s about to break my neck.
“I’m doing what I have to do,” I answer.
“You can’t turn this down.” He grabs my arm to stop me and I wrench it free. “Simon’s building trust with you. We’re all building trust. Now you suddenly don’t want to fight alongside us?”
Elena comes over, looking concerned. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine,” I say, not taking my eyes off Davide, because of everyone in the Famiglia, he’s the most dangerous. “We just have a disagreement, but I already told him what the deal is. You’re going to have to accept it.”
Davide doesn’t move. I don’t back down. I can’t show weakness to these people, not after rejecting their don’s operation.
“Maybe I misread you,” Davide says and turns away. He returns to the table and glares at his brother and the two of them start having a heated conversation.
I keep on walking past the edge of the gathering and back toward Elena’s house. She keeps up with me and only speaks when we’re well out of earshot of anyone else. “What the hell was that?” she asks gently.
“They wanted me to go on some hit with them and I turned it down.”
“Honestly, I’m not sure how to feel about that.” She pauses at the porch steps and doesn’t follow when I climb them. “Davide looked upset.”
“Can you blame him?” I don’t look back at her, shoulders tense. “He thinks I’m a fucking coward, but I couldn’t do it. He doesn’t understand.”
She’s quiet for a beat. “Is this about your plan?”
I nod once. She doesn’t know about my meeting with Santoro. None of them do. I can’t risk telling anyone, not when there are spies in all the families, and I’m already on the razor’s edge. All she knows is I’m trying something dangerous and unconventional.
“When this works, they’ll get over it,” I say and walk to the door. “But for now, maybe I’m not welcome at the party anymore.”
She doesn’t argue when I go back inside.
Chapter 38
Elena
Idon’t know what’s going on with Brody, but I’m worried.
That’s what I do these days. I worry and I worry about everyone and everything, but mostly I worry about Brody.
I know he’s got some plan going that’ll hand Santoro over to Captain Kennedy, but he refuses to give me the details. Simon’s aware that Brody’s working on something too, but he knows even less than I do, and I know barely anything. Brody’s out on his own and I don’t know how to help him.
Which leaves me frustrated. I don’t like feeling as though I can’t do anything for him. I’ve defined myself based on how much I can help other people, especially the people I care about the most, but it’s like Brody’s determined to keep me at arm’s length.
I’m distracted when I get back to the house a couple of days after the barbecue. I just spent the afternoon with Mom, Stefania, and Emily going over baby stuff and making sure Emily’s got everything she needs. Her due date is coming up and she’s understandably nervous, and though Mom’s doing her best to make sure Emily knows she’s supported and that she’s going to be okay, the poor girl is still freaking out.