Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me gently. “I’ll come back as soon as I can. Maybe I can somehow free up a night before Christmas. I don’t want to wait longer.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Two weeks felt like eternity, though I knew I’d find something to keep me busy with.
Amo took a step back then another before his expression turned resolute and he turned on his heel and got into his car. I sank down on the step when he drove off, feeling a strange emptiness. Soon Bear, Dotty, Teacup and Momo joined me and I patted them as I stared off into the distance.
When Amo and I had first agreed to meet in secret, it had seemed like a decent solution. We both couldn’t have a serious relationship, for more reasons than I liked to think about. I buried my face in my hands. It had seemed so easy, but switching my emotions on and off was becoming more difficult every day. My life was divided, into my time with Amo and the rest of my life. A life always partly on hold. A life full of lies, deceit and longing.
I wasn’t sure how much longer I could live like this, but I knew I couldn’t live without Amo either. Just thinking about it made my heart ache in the worst way possible.
When I got off the private jet that evening and turned on my phone, the number of missed calls from Marcella, Dad, and even Matteo was staggering. Maximus hadn’t tried to call again. I’d given him a promise and he knew I’d keep it. When I tried to call him, only his voicemail answered. I called Primo instead. For a while he’d been working under Cassio in Philadelphia but had recently returned to work at Maximus’ side as Enforcer. “Where’s Maximus?”
“He’s on his way to a warehouse in Newark.”
No news. It was why I’d asked the pilot to land in Newark. I didn’t want to waste any time.
“He’s alone?”
“I think Romero might be with him. I hope so. Dad and I are on the way there too. Maximus didn’t want to wait. You know how eager for revenge he is. Your father and a few more men are heading there now too.”
“Okay. Send me the exact address. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I jogged to the parking lot of the rental car service. One of the staff tossed me the keys to the motorcycle I’d rented via a phone-call. I nodded my thanks. He was a loyal cocaine customer and would get a special price for his next order.
The warehouse address wasn’t far from the airport and with my bike I could weave through traffic, so I arrived at the designated spot within ten minutes. I spotted Maximus’ car, an old Ford truck he mainly used to transport stuff for the sanctuary or bodies. I dismounted my bike, pulled my gun and hurried over to the car, but Maximus wasn’t inside. I began to search the area, hoping Maximus hadn’t been crazy enough to go in alone. Maybe Primo’s assumption was right and Romero had joined Maximus. He had every reason to be part of this after all.
Maximus had said the informant had spoken about at least three Russians inside the building. He was a good shot, but he was fueled by anger and that was never a good thing. I rounded the building and found Growl and Primo beside one of the steel doors, trying to get in.
“Why didn’t he wait for you?”
“He tricked us,” Primo murmured. “We wanted to scout the area first and make sure the informant didn’t lead us into a trap, but Maximus didn’t want to wait.”
I shook my head. Growl finally managed to open the door. I took the lead and went into the dim inside of the warehouse with Primo and Growl close behind. This was a small warehouse for the Bratva, which made it a target, but that wasn’t why Maximus was here of course.
Voices drifted over to us and I motioned Growl and Primo to duck behind the wooden crates. With our heads lowered, we moved closer to the voices. I tensed when I spotted two tall forms behind one of the crates, then relaxed when I recognized Maximus and his father-in-law Romero. They pointed their guns at us then lowered them. I knelt beside them and Romero pointed at a gap between the crates while Maximus had his gaze firmly locked on the scene in front of him. I looked through the gap.
Three men were playing a game of cards at a table and drawing lines of their own stuff. My lips curled. A Famiglia soldier who sniffed our stuff would be punished harshly. You couldn’t be your own best customer if you wanted to run a successful business.