Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Send me the photo and places where he was spotted.”
“Already did that.” He yawns then asks, “How are things there?”
“Good. I have Davies and Bentall sweating.”
“When are you killing them?”
“When I feel like it,” I mutter.
“Do you need anything else?” he asks. “I have a ballet recital I don’t want to miss.”
Shaking my head, I let out a chuckle. “Go to your recital, and don’t forget your tutu.”
“Don’t diss it until you’ve tried it.”
“Enjoy the rest of the day, brother. Thanks for all the help.”
“Anytime,” he says, and I hear him moving. “I’ll send you my invoice.”
Chuckling, I mutter, “You do that.”
Ending the call, my eyes return to the screen, but then Elio walks into the office, pulling my attention away again.
Opening my emails, I click on the one from Dario and forward it to Elio. “I’ve just sent you an email. We have a photo of Castellanos. Get the men to search New York and tell them the one to bring him in alive gets a fifty thousand bonus.”
“They’re going to tear the city apart,” Elio mutters as he checks his email.
“That’s the idea,” I murmur as I look at the live stream from the room.
Skylar’s now leaning her head back against the wall, looking deathly pale.
“What’s Antonio’s number?” I ask.
When Elio gives it to me, I quickly dail it.
“Hello,” Antonio answers abruptly.
“It’s Renzo.”
“Yes, boss,” he says, his tone instantly filled with respect. “What can I do for you?”
“Bring Bianca to the warehouse.”
“Have you found the group responsible?”
“Not yet, but I need Bianca’s medical skills.”
“We’ll leave as soon as possible, boss.”
I end the call and keep staring at Skylar.
Don’t die on me, topolina. I need you to live a long and torturous life.
Carlo comes into the office and gives me a chin lift. “The office is ready, boss.”
“Come with me,” I order as I walk toward the steps. Taking them up, I signal for Emilio to unlock the door, and when I step inside, Skylar’s already scrambled to her feet and is darting to the back of the room.
Wanting to teach her that she has to obey my every command, I growl, “Come here, Skylar.”
She shakes her head, her body plastered to the wall.
“If you make me ask you anything for a second time, I’ll cut the kidney from you without any hesitation.”
“Please. This is insane,” Harlan cries as he moves between his daughter and me.
I hold out my hand, and a moment later, a gun is placed in my palm. My fingers close around the hilt and pointing the barrel at Harlan, I don’t hesitate for a single second and pull the trigger.
The bullet tears through the sleeve of his dress shirt, and before blood can blossom on the white fabric, the bullet slams into the wall less than a foot away from Skylar.
“Daddy!” she screams as she darts toward him.
“Skylar!” I shout to get her attention.
Her eyes snap to me.
“Come. Here.”
She hesitates, but now that she knows I won’t hesitate to shoot her father, she walks to me.
When she tilts her head back to meet my eyes, I lean down until our faces are an inch apart.
“Don’t ever disobey me again.”
She swallows hard as she nods.
Turning around, I mutter, “Follow me.”
I leave the room and hear Skylar’s rapid breaths behind me. When I walk into the office that’s now a makeshift bedroom, I use the gun to point at the bed.
“Get some rest,” I order.
“W-What?”
My eyes flick to her face, and she recoils while wrapping her arms around her waist.
“Do you really want me to repeat myself?”
She quickly shakes her head and hurries to the bed. When she lies down, her body is ramrod straight, and tension comes off her in waves.
I walk closer and look down into her terrified eyes that sparkle like the ocean when the sun shines down on the water.
“Sleep, topolina. You’re going to need your rest for what comes next.”
Instead of begging for her own life, her voice trembles as she pleads, “Please don’t kill my father.”
“You’re in no position to ask that of me,” I remind her.
She sits up, and with a tear spiraling down her cheek, she says, “I’ll do anything you want. Spare my father. Please.”
I didn’t plan on killing Harlan. Not soon, anyway. I want him to suffer knowing I have his precious daughter.
Bringing my right hand, which is still holding the gun to her face, I drag the barrel through the wetness left behind by her tears.
“Next time I give an order, you carry it out without hesitation.”
She nods quickly.
When I turn around and walk away, she calls out, “Will you spare my father?”
I stop in the doorway and say, “That all depends on how well you behave.”
When I step out of the room, Carlo pulls the door shut and locks it.
“Give me the key,” I order while holding out the gun for him to take.