Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
My mind starts to race. One by one, the pieces come together. I look at my mother and my mouth falls open.
“His mother,” I gasp. “She was connected to the mob.”
“She was the mob, baby. Donna Ava Di Lorenzo. Your aunt was her consigliere for years. She offered your uncle Kington the cop who murdered my brother and granted your other uncle’s elections and promotions to whatever they wanted, we’ve been tied to them since. The promotions, the Senate seat, the Di Lorenzos have had a hand in it all.”
“I loved my sister. I never understood her choices or how she fell in with those people.” I turn to look at my father as his choked voice fills the room.
“I didn’t know who the Thompsons were. I’d only fallen in love with my best friend’s sister. I met Steven in high school and in college he introduced me to your mother. If I’d known his intentions or my sister’s…I never approved of any of it, but to lose my sister, it was all too much. I fear every day that you’re going to fall into that life or have the same fate.”
“My brothers would never allow that to happen,” Mommy says.
“You can’t promise that. My sister was one of the best-trained soldiers, she started a security business to protect others from what happened to her, but she and her partner both fell at the hands of the monsters those people brought into their lives. How can you promise me my daughter and grandchild will be safe?”
“Because I will fight to the death before anything happens to this baby and I would never leave my child to live without me, so you don’t have to worry, Daddy. I know for a fact Dario would never allow anything to happen to us. I know this in my heart.”
“Humph,” my father grunts and shakes his head. “You don’t even remember what my sister gave you. You can’t make that promise. God, now I wish like hell you could, but you can’t.”
I sit staring at my dad in confusion. You don’t even remember what my sister gave you. I have no idea what he’s talking about, but my phone rings as I go to ask.
Seeing it’s Dario, I excuse myself to take the call. The six-hour time difference throws everything off. I try not to miss his calls when I can help it.
Chapter 33
You Did This
Frances
“Have you heard from your cousin?” I ask Peter as he walks into Sylvia’s living room.
Her nephews aren’t the brightest, but they are all eager to find themselves. This is what annoys me. My father is well aware of this fact and it’s dangerous.
“No, I’ve been busy watching the boards like your father asked me to do.”
“And I’ve told you to stop doing things my father tells you to. You’re going to get yourself hurt following him.”
“I like the girl.” He shrugs. “He’s getting me close to her with this job. It’s a win-win,” he says like a goof.
“What ever happened to just asking a girl out if you’re interested? Peter, you’re a good kid, I’m warning you not to get mixed up in whatever my father has going on.”
“I don’t see you warning the others. Franky is up to something too. That’s probably why you can’t find him. There’s a payday coming. Why should I be the only one to miss out?”
I jump up from my seat and grab him by the collar. “What money can you spend if you’re dead?” I growl into his face.
“If I were one of your sons, you wouldn’t treat me like this.”
I shove him out of my hold. “He’s feeding you that bullshit. I’ve looked out for you boys like my own flesh and blood. I’m looking out for you now. You don’t mean more than shit on the bottom of my father’s shoe. Leave him and his scheming ass alone. I’m not going to warn you again.”
“Does this have anything to do with his guys that are going missing?”
I look at Peter and narrow my eyes. “What? What guys?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. I heard him yelling that guys were missing. They’ve been disappearing. No-shows, no calls, no one knows where they are.”
I bare my teeth. There’s no telling what my father has gotten those boys into.
“He’s pretty pissed about it. Some other job got fucked up or something to—”
“Peter, honey, is that you?” Sylvia calls through the house.
“Yeah, Aunt Sylvia. I’m talking to Uncle Frances.”
“Come to the kitchen when you’re done. I have something for you.”
“All right.”
“I mean it, Peter. Stay away from my father.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I grind my teeth as he waves me off. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dial my father. It rings a few times before he picks up. However, I’m not expecting him to sound so distraught when he does.