Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Come in,” I hear in a thick Brooklyn accent.
She pushes open the door. “Mr. Massino and Mr. Watkins have arrived.”
“Thanks, Jenny.”
She motions for us to enter, and we do. Thick puffs of smoke fill the room, and right in the center is a black desk and Mr. Frank Vitali himself, his bald head shining under the lights.
“Morning, gentlemen,” he says before taking a drag. “I thought you might skip out on me.”
I eye the two large, muscular bodyguards on either side of him. He’s working hard to intimidate us this morning. “We never miss a meeting,” I say coolly, meeting his nearly black eyes.
“Of course,” he chuckles before turning to Henry. “So, you thought you would insult me with your offer, and now you’re scrambling to make it right. I have to say that’s rather pitiful.”
“You’ve got a target on my back,” Henry says through gritted teeth. “I’d say you’re the one overstepping our agreement.”
His dark brows rise. “Our agreement? I don’t think I’ve violated it. There’s been no harm to anyone. Last I checked, all of your men are in perfect health.” There’s a sinister glimmer in his eye, and it makes my stomach churn. He’s got the upper hand with us being here, and I don’t like it.
“Your men ransacked my daughter’s apartment?”
“Now, Mr. Massino,” Vitali chuckles. “You do know that the city is full of violence. It’s not uncommon for apartments to be broken into.”
“You followed her,” Henry says through gritted teeth. I shoot him a warning glance. The last thing he needs to do is to lose his fucking head in this meeting. That’s when bad things can happen.
“Ah, no,” Vitali laughs. “Well, I will admit that I did have one of my men digging into her. It was out of pure curiosity. I know you’re no mobster, but you have strong connections, and we need to form an allegiance.”
“Why is that?” I chime in, my curiosity piqued. “Wouldn’t our business deal be enough to show that we’re not rivals anymore?”
He lets out a sigh. “Well, the rumor is that the Romano and Greco families have forged a new friendship.”
My stomach flips. Both are powerful, but together… “They’ve always hated each other.”
Vitali nods. “Yes, they have, but recently, their heirs formed a connection.”
“Marriage?” Henry beats me to the punch.
“Mmm,” Vitali says, tsking. “It’s a bold move. Don’t you think? They announced it a couple of days ago, and while I’m still insulted by your offer, I think we have a much bigger problem now.”
“We’re on good terms with the Greco family,” I say quickly. “We always have been. I’m not looking for some sort of territory war to start.”
“And why wouldn’t it?” Vitali levels with me, sitting forward in his high-backed desk chair. “Greco’s been encroaching on my turf for some time now. Who’s to say you’re not next? They’ve been funneling through using some of my contacts as well. They know you and I don’t see eye-to-eye and never have.”
“So what you’re saying is they’re going to try to knock us out,” Henry says, which is what we’re all thinking. “They’ll take us out, and then they’ll be the only families left in the city. It’s…”
“Brilliant,” Vitali finishes, taking another draw on his cigar. “The wedding is in two months.”
“Fast marriage,” I say, swallowing hard. “Puts us on a tight timeframe.”
“Why would they release this information?” Henry seems to wonder aloud. “That gives us a chance to get our ducks in a row.”
Vitali pauses. “Well, I think they expect us to scramble and not rely on each other due to our differences. No one knows that we were making a business deal.”
I nod. “Yeah, they think we’ll wait it out. That’s what we would’ve done before this meeting.”
“Exactly,” sighs Vitali, adding, “which brings me to the point of this meeting. I’m willing to let go of the insult on the condition that we put our differences aside to figure this out. I don’t want to see my family fall, and as much as I hate it, it will require yours.”
I exchange a glance with Henry. “We’re going to have to make a statement.”
“Yes, and I know what that statement should be.” Vitali hands us each a cigar.
“Then please share,” Henry inquires, a smile spreading across his face as he takes it. “I’m dying to hear.”
CHAPTER 17
Liz
“This is giving me anxiety,” I mutter, sitting on the opposite side of the couch from Gerard.
“Wow, thanks for that info,” Gerard says, rolling his eyes and reaching for the remote to turn the TV up. “You gotta let this shit go.”
“What shit?”
“Worrying about what Troy and Henry are up to. This is just a normal occurrence for them.”
I furrow my brows. “Vitali could kill them.”
“Nah, he won’t,” Gerard quips nonchalantly.
“How can you be so sure? Aren’t they rivals or something?”