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)
Shit.
Now that I think about Keera being sixteen, and looking at how young she is… I don’t know how my sister did it.
“Happy birthday, baby girl. I hope you like your present. I know you’re going to be responsible with it, but I have to warn you it comes with conditions.”
Keera sighs. “They always do. Lay it on me.”
“Number one: you listen to your mama.”
I can almost hear the roll of her eyes. “I always do.”
“Number two: no boys.”
“I thought we just went through this.”
“Number three: be smart, baby girl. Use your head. Trust your gut.”
A moment’s pause before a hushed response. “I will. Thank you, Uncle Julius. You’re the best. I love you.”
I lean over the table, pinching the bridge of my nose. I utter a rough, “I love you, too, Keke. I gotta go. Work. Talk to you soon.”
“Bye, Uncle Jay.”
As the line disconnects, I stare into nothing, absently tapping my finger on the table.
I don’t know how long passes before Miguel enters the room looking wound up. “They’re here.”
I stand and advance.
Showtime.
Ling and I wait just outside the conference room as I watch the exchange between Miguel and the people who have just arrived.
A man enters first and, seeing Miguel, he reaches out to shake his hand. Miguel hesitates a moment before taking it. He’s a big guy. Not as tall as me, but tall enough. He’s built too.
By my side, Ling whispers out the side of her mouth, “Meow. That man is fine.”
Ignoring her, I watch a small woman come in behind him. She looks frail and haggard. She hides it well behind a black designer dress, black heels¸ and oversized sunglasses, but as soon as she sees Miguel, her face changes. She removes the sunglasses and smiles.
And that smile has me. Locked in.
This woman is beautiful.
No. Beautiful is too weak a word for her.
She is stunning.
With black hair piled up on top of her head into a neat, classy up-style, a single strand is left falling free down the side of her face. I can’t see what color eyes she has from here, but the smile aimed at her brother brings out a dimple in her cheek.
Alejandra Gambino takes a step forward, opens her too-thin arms and waits for her brother to make his way over to her. Miguel smiles hard, steps forward and embraces Alejandra in a bear hug. He envelops her. Cocoons her in a nest of safety, and she falls into him. Stepping up on her tiptoes, she clutches her brother tightly.
They have a lot of love for each other, that’s plain to see. I understand it. I have that with my sister.
As soon as they separate, Dino steps forward and claims Alejandra, cinching an arm around her bony waist.
She looks ill next to him.
Her cheeks are sunken and pale. Her collarbone is much too pronounced. Her eyes look too big for her face; dark circles lay under them. Her ankles are stick thin. And from the way Miguel eyes her with worry then places a hand on her forehead, I can see something isn’t right.
Alejandra rolls her eyes, reaches up and removes her brother’s hand from her forehead before squeezing his hand and smiling at him. But this smile is different from the first. It’s forced.
But then she turns to her husband, looks him in the eye and smiles up at him. He reaches up to cup her cheeks, brushing his thumbs over the apples of them, speaking softly to her. Her hands cover his, and she closes her eyes, taking in the words. Leaning down, he captures her lips in a soft kiss, and she lifts herself into it.
It’s clear this is a couple in love.
And I feel as though I’m intruding on a private moment.
Well. This makes my job harder.
How am I going to get this woman to talk to me?
A loyal woman can be unwavering. If Dino Gambino is guilty of murder, I doubt Alejandra Gambino will be the person to confirm it. But I have to try.
Miguel looks over to where Ling and I stand, motioning us over. Ling slides her arm through mine, and we make our way over to the accused. Dino eyes me on the way over.
I know this game. I fucking invented this game.
Intimidation tactics don’t work on me, boy.
I level him with my gaze, pulling the same maneuver. First one to look away is a rotten egg. My lip twitches at his glare, but I catch it. Miguel clears his throat. “Dino. Alejandra. This is Julius Carter and Ling Nguyen. They’re guests of mine. They’ll be joining our meeting.”
Alejandra speaks, but I keep my eyes on Dino, who suddenly looks confused. “Nice to meet you. Both of you.”
Dino’s gaze flickers to Ling, hovering over her full, red lips. Ling smiles, revealing her white teeth. “You too, Mrs. Gambino.” Ling flutters her lashes, throwing what looks to be a shy smile to Dino, her sights locked on him. His lips lift into a small teasing grin.