Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
“Actually, we did. We found electronics and jewelry that belonged to the justice in the possession of a felon who was out on parole after serving time for armed robberies and theft. A charge of murder was brought against him a few years ago, but it was dropped due to a lack of evidence.”
My heartbeat triples. Shit. They have an innocent man behind bars. At least, he’s innocent in Evan’s murder.
Detective Jordan raps his knuckles on the desk, startling Claire. “I wanted to share the information in person.”
“Thanks,” I say, battling to keep my voice even.
He stands. “If you happen to remember anything, you know where to find me.”
“I told you everything I knew.”
His smile turns sardonic. “I suppose it doesn’t really matter. Why waste my time? Maybe it’s better to turn a deaf ear to the rumors and give your husband and his enemies enough rope.”
“What rumors?” I ask, my stomach tightening with foreboding.
Obviously enjoying my distress, Detective Jordan leans closer. “That the gangs are stocking up on weapons. In my experience, men don’t buy guns unless they’re preparing for war. The way I look at it, if given enough time, your husband and whoever is out for his blood will kill each other without my interference. And I’ll be sitting back, enjoying the shitshow when it happens.” Saluting me, he heads for the door. “Have a nice day, Mrs. De Luca.”
My pulse drums in my ears, beating out a headache behind my temples. I don’t like what he insinuated. I know he was trying to frighten me in the hope that I’d give him a name, but I’m not stupid enough to believe that will save Saverio. Even if Detective Jordan manages to stop a war by arresting Raphael, Jordan will still go after Saverio. He won’t rest until Saverio is in jail.
I yank open the desk drawer and take out one of the burner phones from the stock we keep. Rethinking it, I put back the phone. Maybe the detective came to rattle my cage, and he has a van parked outside with listening devices.
Instead, I approve the false passport and send a link for a screenshot to the burner phone number Elena provided. Then I bite my nails until Dante gets back from procuring suppliers.
“Hey,” he says, throwing an apple at me. “Picked you up a snack.”
I catch it in midair. “Is it safe to talk here?”
He pauses. “Yeah. We have diverters in place that scramble any foreign signals. You never know who’s trying to eavesdrop.”
“Detective Jordan was here.”
“Motherfucker.” His nostrils flare. “What did he want?”
“Why did he say there’s a war in the making and that Saverio and Raphael are going to kill one another?”
Dante’s face goes blank.
I get up and round the desk. “Dante.”
He raises his hands. “You better talk to Sav about that.”
My already racing pulse goes into overdrive. It’s true. I sense it. “Tell me, Dante. Claire and Livy are implicated. So am I. We have a right to know.”
“Talk to Sav,” he stresses.
“Dammit, Dante. You know Sav isn’t going to tell me anything. You’ve seen how he is.”
Dante purses his lips.
“Please, Dante. Don’t leave us in the dark. I can handle whatever you tell me. What I can’t handle is being stupid and helpless because I’m uninformed.”
He hesitates, working his jaw, and then he curses under his breath. “How did Jordan find out?”
“He didn’t say. He just said there was word on the street about the gangs stocking up on weapons.”
“Fuck.” He brushes back his fringe. “Anya, I—”
I make my voice hard. “Just say it.”
“Yes, goddammit. Saverio is planning an attack.”
Everything inside me goes still. For a moment, I can’t breathe, and then adrenaline hits my bloodstream, making me woozy. “When?”
His voice is resigned. “I’m not sure. Soon. Sav hasn’t shared all the details with me yet.”
I push down my mounting anger and anxiety, trying to keep calm. “How’s it supposed to work?”
He sucks air through his teeth, fixing his gaze on the window before he looks back at me with a labored exhale. “Sav is going to set a trap. He’s going to let information leak about a meeting with the cartels opposing the Morellis at an abandoned location. When Raphael strikes, he’ll have him and his men surrounded.”
I know exactly what weapons we have at our disposal because I saw the lists that went with the payments, and it’s not nearly enough. With the territory Raphael stole from Luigi, the Morellis’ area is twice the size of Saverio’s now. Plus, they have the cartels backing them while we have a vastly diminished and weakened army.
“There’s no way Saverio can go up against the Morellis and win.”
Dante only watches me.
It takes me all of a second to understand. “No.” I back up, shaking my head. “Saverio is going to sacrifice himself.”