Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Elena says you killed a guy in the first half hour after you got out of jail.” Laura studies me with her head tilted to the side like a predatory bird. “Why’d you do it?”
“I wanted to send everyone a message.” I finish my coffee and get up. “I’ve got a lot of unfinished business I need to get wrapped before my life can actually start back up. Paulie was just the start.”
“You’re on a revenge tour, huh?”
She follows me to the front door.
“Something like that,” I admit.
“Don’t let it consume you.”
“Says the girl that spends all her time creeping around the oasis.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m serious. It was five years ago.”
My fingers dig into the doorjamb and I glance back at her. Our eyes meet, and her face tenses at the look I’m giving her. “They took five years from me,” I say very softly. “And now Tommy’s running my fucking club. I can’t move on until I know they’ve all been punished for what happened.”
Laura studies me with that strange, scrutinizing stare, until she finally nods. “Good luck then. I’ll let you know what I hear.”
“That’s why you’re my favorite sibling.” If she were anyone else, I’d hug her, but that’s not Laura’s style. Instead, I leave her alone and walk off, which is about the nicest thing I can do.
Everyone looks at my little sister and sees a strange girl that just wants to be left alone. But I know better. She desperately wishes she could be a part of the Famiglia, only she struggles with her issues, with her nightmares, and can’t seem to get out of her own head. Maybe one day I’ll find a way to help her.
For now, I have a meeting with Simon.
My brother’s the Don of the Famiglia. He’s the oldest sibling and was born to take over after my father inevitably retired. His office is in the main administrative building on the oasis, the single city block in the middle of Chicago that’s only accessible from one direction and is completely owned and controlled by the Famiglia. Every building, every house, every inch of sidewalk is completely ours, and it’s the safest place in the whole damn world.
Simon ushers me into his office. It looks so much like the way Dad had it back in the day except with different pictures on the bookshelves. I smile at one that shows all the siblings: I’m standing with my shirt off, grinning like a maniac, no older than sixteen, my arm draped around a glaring and unhappy Davide on one side and a smirking Simon on the other. Elena’s in the middle, hands on her hips, chin up in the air, while Laura’s lurking off to the side.
“Where was this taken?” I ask, genuinely not sure.
“Remember that lake we used to go to as kids?” Simon looks over my shoulder and his expression softens. “It was down there. I think we were only ever all together for one single summer before Dad started breaking us up and sending us to different camps.”
I remember those guys. I swear, our old man took any chance to torture us. I put the picture down and sit in the chair across from Simon’s desk while he settles himself and stretches his back.
“I wanted to discuss how you’re going to fit back into the family business,” Simon says, studying me with his arms crossed over his chest. “But first, I need you to hear this.” He leans forward. “No more revenge shit.”
My eyebrows raise. “I don’t know what you could possibly mean.”
“Don’t joke around. I know what you did to Paulie and while I don’t give a shit that loser’s dead, I don’t want you to get locked up again for some dumb cowboy fantasy. Let it go, Angelo. It’s done and buried.”
I sit back and lapse into silence. I’m not going to lie to my brother and say the matter’s dropped, but I’m not going to argue with him, either. Instead, we sit in the tension for almost twenty seconds, before he finally gives in and sighs.
“If you’re going to be like that, we’d better discuss your role in the Famiglia moving forward.”
“I want my old territory and my club back. From there, I figure I’ll rebuild my crew, vet some new guys, and get to work.”
Simon doesn’t look happy. “The territory’s been broken up and I’m not sure you can have much of it back. We’ll find you some turf, but for now, you’re going to work with Davide. And as for the club—”
“It’s my fucking club.” I lean toward him, trying not to show him my teeth. “I want it back.”
“Tommy’s been doing a good job.” Simon’s stare is hard. I bet this conversation would be going differently if I had agreed to drop the revenge stuff. “Cage is one of our better earning properties and I really don’t want to mess with that.”