Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“And if we refuse?”
“You will be leaving here in a body bag. And the people I have in position will move in and take everything you built. By tomorrow, the world will be rid of your memory and control.”
I sat back, crossing my legs. “Your decision.”
“You want us to believe you will not use this to track and kill us?”
“My word is not in question here. I have never broken it. I don’t care what you do as long as you stay away. And you will not use others to do your dirty work. You are done here. For good.”
“And there will be no further revenge?”
“To you? No.”
“To whom, then?”
My voice became cold. “Marianne must pay.”
“Her sister will allow this?” Gregory asked skeptically. “Women are softer.”
“Her sister will do as I say.”
His eyebrows rose at my harsh tone. Then he nodded. “We agree.”
One of my men came forward and implanted the devices. I refused to touch either man, and I knew Aldo felt the same. I would make sure Henry got a reward for doing so.
“How did you connect me with her?” I asked, curious.
“Our men saw you at her shop after the fire. It didn’t take much guessing.”
I thought about the fact that Effie had gone there on her own later that day. It was only divine intervention that stopped them from taking her from me. I drew in a long breath, keeping my temper.
“Your business in Canada is over,” I announced. “Do not return. Ever.”
They stood, and I held up my hand. “I have a bonus for you.”
“And that is?”
“Marianne. She took a flight to Vegas. I’m looking for her. If you find her, there will be no retribution for ending her life. In fact, I would consider it a debt fully paid, especially if she suffers.”
Gregory narrowed his eyes. “You are a cold man, Roman Costas.”
I shrugged. Marianne had ceased to be a person to me the moment she chose to set this plan in motion. She meant nothing to me, and she deserved to be punished. Effie would be horrified, but if it happened elsewhere, she wouldn’t hold me accountable. The bottom line was, I wasn’t going to give Marianne another chance to hurt Effie. She would try, I knew it as clearly as I knew the Santini brothers would find a way to break this deal.
And when they did, they, too, would die.
“Remember that,” I instructed them.
Without another word, I left the room.
CHAPTER 19
ROMAN
Istopped in the hotel, showering in the gym. I always kept a set of fresh clothes there for when I worked out. I refused to go to my suite with the lingering scent of the Santinis anywhere on my person. Simply being in the same room as them made me feel filthy.
Aldo didn’t say a word to me, but I knew he was thinking about what had occurred as much as I was. I also knew he would cover the hotel and casino for me. I wasn’t safe to be near anyone right now.
I let myself into the suite, not surprised to find Effie asleep. I sat and watched her for a short time, allowing the calmness she always afforded me to wash over me. I was desperate to touch her, but I refrained. Unless she asked, I wouldn’t.
Back in the office, I left the lights off, wanting the darkness. I poured a good measure of scotch into my glass, staring out the window at the Falls. The lights on the water showed the power of the flow, even with the darkness shrouding it. Up close, the thunder of the water was incredible. High up in the building, enclosed in glass, all I saw was the spectacle.
I sat down at my desk, switching on a lamp. I opened the drawer, taking out the small box Nonna had slipped into my pocket. I stared at the dusty, faded box for a moment, then flipped open the lid. Inside, the ring glowed with a life of its own. A cushion cut diamond glittered in the light, the deep color of the emeralds flanking the stone an unusual shade of green.
Like Nonna’s eyes.
My mother’s eyes.
My eyes.
This had been my great-grandmother’s engagement ring. It was passed to Nonna. She had offered it to Luca since I insisted I would never marry, but Luca declined, saying he wanted something more modern. In private, he told me it was only right it go to me.
“You are her favorite,” he said, stating the fact simply. “And you have the green eyes.” He clasped my shoulder. “One day, you will find the right one, Roman. I know it.”
I doubted that, but what he said was true. Although she treated us fairly, Nonna and I had always been extremely close. I looked like my mother, favoring her coloring. It drew Nonna to me the same way it pushed my father from me. I was too painful to be around. He never got over my mother’s death, and once she was gone, our interactions were sparse and usually fraught with tension. He concentrated on Luca, grooming him to take over, only bringing me in when our mother passed and he deemed me ready. But he was never satisfied with me. I often wondered how he would feel knowing that Luca went against most of what he stood for. Nonna insisted it was our mother in us.