Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
It will be something I have to live with until the day I die, which will hopefully be soon enough.
I never told Alejandra how I felt about her, or even how she made me feel less disconnected, that she made me feel human again. Part of me wishes I had. The other part wishes I’d never met her at all.
The expectation of love versus the reality is two completely different things.
The expectation is that it’s all hearts and roses and feelings of warmth, kisses and long-lasting embraces filled with hope that life will be forever beautiful. But beauty doesn’t last. Never does.
Even roses have thorns.
The reality of love is being terrified of disappointing your partner, setting yourself on fire to keep your loved one warm and believing you have the ability to prevent bad things from happening to them. And the moment you realize you don’t, your soul leaves you in a most painful way, piece by piece torn from you, and love becomes an eternal enemy.
It took a day of tailing, but I managed to get my hands on one of Gambino’s boys. I persuaded him to give up details of a certain meet that was happening right now at the house Vito Gambino is sure has been kept a secret. I know Gambino’s man hasn’t told him I’m coming. I know this because he’s currently drugged and locked in the trunk of my car, missing an ear, as well as the tip of his tongue, and smelling of his own piss. He was smart enough to yield when he did. I don’t know how much longer I would’ve kept civil.
Unlike Eduardo Castillo’s home, this one does not have a monitored front gate. There is no head of security here and bar the eight-foot fence, little from stopping anyone who wanted to enter. We’re out in the greens. Gambino’s next neighbor is miles away.
I know.
I checked.
Vito Gambino’s confidence in his men is admirable. It’s a shame it’s going to be the cause of his expiration.
When I reach the gate, I dig into my jacket pocket and pull out my cell. I dial the number, and he answers right away. “You sure this the place?”
My voice is rough from lack of sleep. “This is it.”
“Righty-oh,” he responds, his tone conveying his lack of confidence. I get it. There are going to be a lot of important people here today. He adds, “Well, I’m here. Ready to go when you are, my friend.”
“Good,” I say tiredly. “That’s real good.”
With my car still running, my finger taps the disconnect button, and without another thought, I turn my body to peer backward and throw my car into reverse, backing up a good distance, far enough to take in the property before me.
I should be thinking about the cost of what I’m doing, not just for me, but for all involved. But I don’t. I don’t give a damn anymore.
This is the end of the road. The final stop. The last call.
I’m so tired. But I have a score to settle.
My hand moves the gear into drive. With a curled lip and a raging mind, I push my foot down on the accelerator, pedal to the metal. The blood roars in my ears as the wheels of my car spin, causing dirt to fly up and around the vehicle. A moment passes, and I jolt as the car begins to move, the sounds of the hard working engine echoing through my body. My chest vibrates with every rev, each one stronger than the next. Closer and closer, my target ascends, and when it’s right there in front of me, I grit my teeth and steel my grip on the steering wheel, anticipating the impact.
Boom.
The sound makes my ears bleed as the SUV crashes through the tall wrought iron gates, my car sliding out to the side from the collision. Taking my foot off the accelerator, I steer into the slide and correct the move with no effort at all. Accelerating once again, I make my way down the cobblestone drive all the way down to the main house.
The commotion has brought men running out of the house, guns in hand, waiting for a fight. But they won’t get one. Not right now.
I’m fighting a different way today.
When the men aim their weapons at me, I raise my arms in surrender, and call out, “I need to see Eduardo Castillo.”
Just as the name is spoken, he steps out of the house and glares at me. “Julius Carter, the fuck are you doing here?”
“I need you to vouch for me,” I tell him, watching the horde of agitated-looking men around him. “I need to speak today, and since I wasn’t invited, I need you to vouch for me.”
His eyes narrow at me harshly. “Why should I? You mock my family by your presence, bringing nothing but trouble, then you marry my daughter without permission.” His lips thin. “Give me a reason to not kill you where you stand, Carter.”