Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
He helped her out of the shower, and he was gentle as he dried her skin.
His attention and love were breaking her heart.
“I wish you hadn’t lied to me.”
“I know.”
“I don’t think I can ever forgive you.”
“You will.”
She sighed. There was no talking to him, when he was so determined to see his own needs before her own.
Chapter Thirteen
“You brought a civilian into our lives. Have you gone completely mad?” Durante asked.
Diego looked toward his future father-in-law and contemplated killing the bastard. Durante was in fact a good man. A good capo. He had loyalty amongst his ranks, and he made sure men were willing to die to save him and his family. Mostly his family. Durante was one of the few men who didn’t have a mistress. He had no use for one because he was completely besotted with his wife.
“I did what I had to do,” Diego said. “None of you were aware of Angelo’s manipulations and influence. I was, and so was Richard. He’s a security expert, and he had kept an eye on Angelo.”
“Forgive me,” The Boss said. “Why was he keeping an eye on Angelo? I think it’s good I now know the truth of the betrayal, but I wasn’t born yesterday. There’s always a reason why you take a sudden interest in someone. What this man wants is revenge. I want to know why.”
Diego looked toward Richard. “This is for you. I brought you here, the rest is on you.”
Richard shrugged. “Angelo is responsible for the rape and murder of my sister. She was fifteen years old. Minding her own business when Angelo took her.”
“How can we trust this … person? He has a clear disliking of Angelo.”
“I’ve got a disliking of all self-righteous pricks who think they’re above the law.” Richard pointed his remote at the screen. He’d connected his laptop to the main screen, and the moment he clicked the button, feminine screams filled the air, begs and pleas.
Diego hadn’t seen this footage, and what he saw sickened him.
Angelo, along with three other men, were raping a girl. One by one, they were taking her, changing places. They were laughing about it.
“Turn it off,” Angelo’s father said.
“What? You think that’s all I’ve got? I found this video along with fifteen others of him raping girls. Now, I’m no expert. I always trust software.” The video came to a stop on a close up. Richard zoomed in to the neck of one of the men. “But that, my friends, is a Russian ownership ink. Every single video I have, more of these men are there. Some of the girls are underage. Some of them aren’t.”
“Angelo’s just lost his way.”
“With all due respect, your son can stay fucking lost. He attacked five of our places, and nearly killed Diego.”
“Yes, let’s go back to Diego,” Angelo’s father said. “His little exploits have been brought to our attention. What do you have to say about that, Durante? He’s supposed to be marrying your daughter.”
“Belle Johnson and her father, James,” The Boss said.
“The father is in the hospital in a coma. It’s unclear if he’ll ever wake up. The girl is in our care,” his father said, surprising Diego by standing up for him. “With regards to the Durante girl, the wedding is still going ahead as planned.”
“She doesn’t cause a problem?” Angelo’s father asked.
“Not as big a one as your son. Belle can be taken care of and handled by Diego. Your son, however, has turned his loyalty, and last time I checked, he knew some of our secrets,” his father said. “At your insistence he could be trusted.”
“Diego has failed to provide an heir. He should be forced to step down. My son should take his rightful place as capo,” Angelo’s father said.
Diego snorted. “Please, as if that is going to happen. I may not have produced an heir, but Belle could be carrying my child. My first wife was a fucking traitor. You want to keep throwing that in my face? If I recall, it was you that suggested that union, not me.”
Angelo’s father’s face went bright red. “This is outrageous.”
“And now I’m bored.” The Boss clicked his fingers, and Angelo’s father was seized. “I cannot guarantee you are not working for your son. You are defending him at every single turn, and because of that, I cannot trust you. You’ll be held until we get Angelo back. Until then, you should get your things in order.”
The man screamed as he was pulled out of the meeting.
Diego watched him go.
“Richard, you must leave,” The Boss said. “I have seen all the necessary evidence, but you are neither capo nor a made man. Be thankful you are leaving with your head intact.”
Diego waited as Richard left the room. He had no doubt he was going to his home and would bitch at him. His not-friend liked to bitch like a woman.