Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Clear out!” I shout, looking around. “Cops are coming!” I don’t feel like explaining the truth and the threat of cops will get them moving just the same.
The homeless begin to shamble out. They gather their things as the word spreads. I keep going, shouting into the empty rooms, up the stairwell, everywhere I can reach. Romano does the same, and soon Jeanie’s voice rings out, joining us. I’m proud of the girl for overcoming her fear and following us inside. The building comes alive with more people than I realized, some of them appearing as if from nowhere, and soon it’s a mass exodus out the back. When the majority of people are gone, we head back around the front, parting ways with Romano, and start to get in the car as three big trucks pull up and unload about ten mean-looking enforcer types.
Benedict gets out last and looks over at us with a deep frown.
“Too late, asshole,” I call out. Several of the enforcers look over, their mean looks twisted in rage. “No fun for you boys this morning.”
“What a nice surprise,” Benedict says. “Gavino and his pack of worthless rats trespassing on our property.”
“Soon to be my property. Hope you have a shitty day, you sweat stain.”
Benedict glares as we pull out.
Jeanie’s watching me, head tilted to the side, a big frown on her face. I’m grinning and excited. Adrenaline courses through my veins. I love getting one over on Benedict, that fucking prick, and really that was a meaningless victory, but still. I saved those people some pain and suffering and I made Benedict unhappy in the process. That’s a win for me.
“I see what you’re trying to do,” Jeanie says quietly. “You’re trying to make yourself seem more human.”
“Oh, yeah? Here I am thinking that’s not possible.”
She laughs once, sharply. “I’m here for Malcolm and Malcolm only, okay? I don’t want to get involved in your crusade or your family politics.”
“Who said that’s what I want?”
Chapter 15
Jeanie
I decide to get over my discomfort and wander outside right around twilight. The sun’s dipped down into the desert, but the light isn’t entirely extinguished, and I’m able to sneak down the back staircase and go out the back door.
Back home, I could’ve gone for a walk or to a store or something. But here in Villa Bruno, this isn’t my house and I’m barely a welcomed presence. I’m tolerated at best. Nobody wants me, except for Gavino at least, and it’s painfully obvious. Which means I’m stuck in this room, and while it’s a really nice room, even comfortable places can start to feel like a prison after a while. Which means I’d better get over myself and get used to being here.
I keep thinking about that abandoned motel and all the people inside. I would’ve bet money that Gavino didn’t give a shit about the homeless, but he risked his own safety to go back in there and warn them, even knowing that Benedict was on his way.
I’m not sure what he’s trying to do. The idea that he’s convincing me he’s not some mafia bastard seems laughable—he’s clearly that and not much else—but maybe there’s a bigger game. Maybe he’s trying to get me to see his vision of the city, and he wants me to help him reach it.
I don’t want to get wrapped up in his internal mafia politics.
I’ve already let myself get deeper than I ever thought I could. I’m living in his house and contractually obligated to be his personal assistant or secretary or whatever, and I have no clue how I’m going to shoot my shot when I get the chance.
Or what that shot even means.
I know that’s what Gavino’s thinking. He wants me to murder Malcolm. In his world, getting revenge means putting a bullet in someone’s head, and I won’t pretend like the thought hadn’t occurred to me. Malcolm probably does deserve to die for everything he did to me and my mother over the years—but I’m not going to do it.
I hate Malcolm—I hate him so much it’s like every inch of my body is vibrating with that hate—but I refuse to take a life.
I won’t sink to that level.
I keep thinking I can find some damaging piece of information, something I can use to get him arrested, to ruin his reputation, but that seems less and less likely.
I know he’s guilty of terrible things but I can’t prove it.
Not in any way that matters.
Which means I’m stuck waiting and hoping something jumps out and announces itself. Here you go, Jeanie, here’s what you need to get your revenge! A big sky-written sign that I can’t miss even if I wanted to.
Sometimes, it’s hard to be inside my own head. Right now is one of those times. I keep running myself in circles wondering what I’m going to do to hurt Malcolm the way he hurt me while also worrying Gavino is going to push me into doing something I don’t want to do.