Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I want to laugh, but I don’t. When Maxwell Korslova invites you to his daughter’s birthday bash, you go—even if you’d rather be shot. “Wouldn’t be anywhere else. Where is little Emilia?”
“Not so little these days. There are entirely too many sharks swimming around her. I need to put a stop to it,” he complains.
I laugh like I understand what he’s talking about. In reality, I have no idea. I never will. Kids are not in my life plan. I am fine with just scratching an itch when needed. My gaze moves to Katherine—my date for the night. She and I have an understanding. No strings and mutual satisfaction. She’s not looking for forever and I don’t have to worry she’ll try to demand it. She’s like me—she just has killer tits and a pussy that never gets enough. That makes it easy. It’s also the only type of relationship a man like me gets and I’m okay with that. You make certain sacrifices to have the kind of life I do.
“I suppose,” I respond before sipping on the whiskey he handed me as he walked up. We’re off to the corner of the room, while the rest of the guests are mingling. This is normal for us. In the two years since I was promoted—at Maxwell’s urging—the two of us have become closer. He is my sounding board and my orders from DeLuca usually come through Maxwell. Maxwell is also right there during my meetings to go over everything with the Boss. I’m grateful. He’s become a great mentor through the years.
“Look at that sniveling asshole over there,” Maxwell growls under his breath. “I want to serve his head on a platter to Antonio and it pisses me off that we haven’t been able to.”
“I know,” I murmur, my gaze following his line of sight. I see Emilia standing, talking to her friend Zoe and another girl. There are some boys there, too, but that’s not what Maxwell is complaining about. No, that would be Dante Russo. He wants Emilia. I knew that when she was fourteen, and it’s becoming even more apparent now. He’s just a year or so younger than me—which means he’s way too fucking old for Emilia. Hell, we’re almost double her age. I shake my head, disgusted. I know how slimy Dante is. Emilia isn’t safe around him. I know he had something to do with Gio’s death. It’s been over two years now, though, and I still haven’t found a way to prove it. All roads led to a low-level grunt in a local gang. The path led straight to him. It was obvious—too obvious. The family exacted revenge with the information uncovered, but he felt much like Maxwell and I did. We didn’t get the whole story. It can’t be coincidence that Dante shot the guy before we could get information from him. He told DeLuca he lost control because the man killed his father. I think he was just trying to cover his tracks. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but somehow, I will eventually prove that Dante killed his own father. In the meantime, I’m keeping him out of Florida every chance I can get—doing my best to watch my own back.
Still, the weasel slithers back into town too damn much. Like tonight.
“That kid is a waste of air.”
“Emilia doesn’t like him,” I respond. I don’t really know how she feels about him, but she didn’t like him a couple of years ago, so I’m hoping that hasn’t changed.
“She doesn’t, but I don’t trust him not to take the decision out of her hands.”
“You think he would—”
“I think Dante Russo would do anything he could to connect himself with my daughter and use it to move up in rank. He knows that if he were tied to my daughter…” Maxwell shrugs, leaving the unthinkable unsaid. “What he doesn’t realize is that I’d kill him and face Antonio’s retribution before I’d let him near my baby girl.”
“Maxwell—”
“Follow me,” he says and turns to go into his office.
I walk with him as the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. I can feel an energy shift in the air, and I know whatever we’re about to discuss that I’m probably not going to enjoy. There’s one rule in my business that stands out above any others. Always be ready.
I have a feeling that I need to be prepared now.
I sit in the chair across from his desk. I’ve been here a million times over the years, staring at him on the other side, but this is the first time it truly feels like a business meeting. To make matters worse, Maxwell appears nervous. I’ve never seen that. He’s wringing his hands together on his desk.
This can’t be good.