Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I’m planning on it. Later.
Dario’s a master at surveillance, and rarely lets anything get past us. We agreed that Gloria and I would do any necessary questioning tonight, and he’d be our guard if shit went sideways. He’s as loyal as they come and vicious, both assets that come in handy in a group like ours.
“She’s signaling someone,” Gloria says. “They’re meeting in a private room at the back.”
“And you know the guy she’s meeting’s the asshole that put a hit on my sister?” My blood begins to simmer, and I keep my voice low with difficulty. We’re here because my sister was almost killed. We weren’t sure who put the hit on her, but the only reason she escaped was because her bodyguard intercepted a signal from one of the people planning her hit.
“I know for a fact,” Gloria says. “Let’s just say I did some digging on my own and corroborated evidence.”
I give her a sharp look. If I’m understanding her correctly, there’s a good chance she’s kept in contact somehow with the CID. I doubt she’s kept in touch with an old friend, but may have found a way to circumvent intel and accesses databases she used. In any event, I don’t ask questions.
“Later, tell me everything,” I say in a whisper. If she’s got an informant or a contact on the inside, I need to know. I won’t shut shit down like others might do. I know her, I know how badly she wants this.
“Promise,” she says, reaching her pinky to mine and giving it a little shake.
We come around the bend just in time to see the redhead head toward a private room. Damn.
We’re so close I feel like I’m on fire, my skin electric and heated. Gloria reaches for me. She entwines her fingers with mine, reminding me that I’m not alone. That no matter what happens, we’re a team now.
It’s different than it is with my brothers. The two of us have a shared history that somehow deepens the connection we’ve forged.
“Mario,” she whispers to me. “Ten o’clock. Redhead sliding into room. I’ve jammed the lock so it won’t lock even though it looks like it.”
“Vandalizing property now?” I say, teasing a lock of her hair. “You’re brilliant.”
“I’ll do whatever I takes to bring them down,” she mutters, her lips pinched together. She despises dishonesty and betrayal. My heart warms at her assurance.
I tug her closer. “I love you,” I say as I kiss her cheek.
The next thing I know, Dario’s cocking his pistol and stepping in front of us.
“Get ready,” he tells me. “Fuckin’ showdown.”
I cock my pistol just as Dario forces the door open, then close it behind us quickly so no one gets suspicious.
We blink and stare for seconds, but Emma moves quickest. “Hands up, motherfuckers,” she orders. My heart warms. She’s a natural.
The redhead turns to face us, her hands up in the air when Dario curses under his breath.
“Mario,” he says warningly. He knows her. “Jesus,” he mutters, shaking his head and looking away.
I give a shake of my head. “Motherfucker,” I mutter out loud.
“Someone wanna fill me in here?” Gloria shakes her head.
“You were right. She’s in on it. Only problem is, didn’t know this was Sergio’s sister we’ve got a gripe with.”
I turn to Dario. “Take her back to the castle, brother. Get back up to escort her friend.”
“Mario!” My baby cousin, disguised to the nines, pleads with large, winsome brown eyes. “Please!”
“This isn’t like when you were little and wanted to go with us to the arcade, Vivia,” I say, shaking my head. “You crossed a line. You can tell Romeo your sob story.”
Dario crosses the room. Gloria’s got her mate already cuffed and ready for an interrogation while I call to give him the heads-up that the person we’ll be questioning when I get Gloria back to the castle is none other than Vivia Montavio, cleverly disguised as a redhead. Dario calls in back-up.
“Ah,” Dario says as he takes her cuffed hands and prepares to escort her out of the private back entrance to the club only exclusive members are allowed to use. “Sergio told me about you. Said you were always getting in trouble, weren’t you?”
“Fuck off,” she mumbles under her breath.
Dario clucks his tongue. “Behave yourself, Vivia.”
“He served time, and he ain’t afraid to go back,” I yell at their retreating backs.
Gloria snorts beside me. “Like seriously, you couldn’t come up with a better line than that?”
“True though.”
“I bet.”
I look around the room. “Ah. Private room at a private club with a secret exit, our job’s done early, and no other way in here,” I say thoughtfully to myself, stroking my chin. “Whatever could we do in a place like this? They cleaned it and readied it for a night of pleasure, and now here we are…”