Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“Why?”
Lucca eerily felt like he was looking right into a mirror of himself at that age. “Because if we’re not careful, we will end up hurting people like your sister.”
Like my mother.
“I don’t want to hurt Kat.” Finally, some sort of emotion showed on Cassius’ face as the boy looked as if he had already done it.
“I won’t let you. I can help you,” he assured him, knowing he’d probably have to kill the bastard in the future.
“Okay …”
The boy actually smiled up at him, and all he could think was, What a dumb little shit. No one taught him not to talk to strangers?
“What’s your name?” the kid repeated.
Guess not.
“You can call me …” Knowing he had him hook, line, and sinker, Lucca had to hide his smile, so he went behind Cassius and began to push his little body on the swing. Plus, it gave him enough time to think of an alias since this kid had the mouth of a dying wet rat. It wasn’t like there were many Luccas around Kansas City, and as far as anyone was concerned, there was only one who mattered since his stint of becoming made. “Luke.”
Cassius began to fly in the air. “Like Skywalker?”
“Sure, kid,” Lucca huffed, hoping this better be fucking worth it. This plan was going to take years before it paid off. But boy, was it going to pay off when it did.
Lucca hadn’t expected this night to turn out this way, and most of all, he couldn’t believe he had almost tried to help the future boss of the Luciano family. He hoped Dominic was lying dead on that floor now, but something told him he wasn’t going to get that lucky.
As he swung the little Luciano higher, a sneer lit his face.
He had already struck enough gold for one night.
FOUR
HOW LONG HAVE YOU SMOKED?
LUCCA, AGE 20
Standing in line at a gas station in Blue Park, he was down to his last couple of cigarettes. Lucca would have waited until he got back to his side of the city before he had gotten a new pack, but he planned on being on this side for a while today.
Lucca would turn twenty-one at midnight. Tomorrow was his birthday, and he was going to become the underboss, a position that was now being held by one of his father’s best men and friend, Enzo, until he came of age. Everyone in the family had known this moment would come the second he was born, as only those who held the Caruso last name could hold the boss and underboss titles. Being his father’s firstborn son, he was literally groomed to take over the family business, and now that he was turning twenty-one, he was about to be one step closer to becoming king. And, unlike his father, he planned on avenging his mother’s death by destroying the Luciano family.
The only problem with becoming the underboss was that it came with more responsibilities, so his visits to Blue Park were going to become fewer and further between.
Over the years, he had grown accustomed to this side of town, sometimes even preferring it. Hell, he rarely wore a suit anymore because of it. His black T-shirt and jeans made him not only blend in around here but in Kansas City. No one recognized him as Dante’s son, and it let him go places most Carusos couldn’t without detection.
Somehow, Lucca had been lucky to not be caught by a Luciano in Blue Park, but it looked like his luck was about to run out …
He had clocked Dominic the moment that little bell above the door dinged and he entered the gas station. Hell, he was impossible to miss. The oldest Luciano brother had filled out even more over the years, and even though Lucca was considered tall and fit, there was no comparison to the six-foot-five, muscled giant, which gave him even more reason to believe his time in Blue Park wasn’t being wasted.
“Slumming it today, Lucca?”
Lucca turned, glancing down at the copious amounts of candy Dominic held in his hands, causing his brow to slightly rise. He had never had much of a sweet tooth, but maybe he should start adding Life Savers to his diet.
Hoping to keep this short and sweet, he shrugged before taking a step closer to the register as the line started to move. “Passing through.”
Lucca didn’t look back as the little bell jingled again, not wanting to face the Luciano more than necessary. However, he realized belatedly that he should have when a crazed man shoved past him and the older lady being waited on.
“Give me your fucking money!”
Goddammit.
Realizing the interaction with his adversary was no longer going to be short and sweet, he regretted taking the fucking drive over the train tracks once the gun was pointed at the cashier behind the counter.