Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“There’s a girl,” he shrugs.
“Would she be a curvy blonde?” Niko asks.
“You’re a jerk when you’re full of yourself.”
Vic’s words make Niko laugh and I motion for them to follow me downstairs. I don’t want this chatter to reach Melina’s ears. I have sensitive things to discuss and the last thing I need is to put her on the defensive. I need her to completely trust me. That’s the only way any of this is going to work.
They both sense the change in me instantly. The air around us becomes heavier. When I make it to my office, I wait for them to get inside before I close the doors. Niko immediately shakes his head, his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re going to tell me shit that’s going to ruin my good mood, Anton.”
“Did I really tell you to call me that?”
“Oh yeah. The night of our meeting when your piece of slime nephew interrupted us.”
“Christ. Let’s never speak of him again,” I complain. “Is life ever going to be calm again?” I go to stand in front of my desk, sliding up on the edge of it, almost sit, but mostly lean against it. Niko and Victorio sit in the chairs in front of me and I can read the tension on Niko’s face immediately.
“I sure as hell hope so. I’ve had enough bullshit,” he says and considering he’s still healing from being in a coma, I can understand that. “So, are we going to war with Dracos?” he surmises.
“Eventually,” I admit. “Killian is in the driver’s seat with Kelly. I’m going to be the one to end his life, but we’ll have to help provide fire and manpower when he eradicates all traces of the faction that Kelly had begun building in Boston.”
“And is Doyle Kelly’s head on a platter all you get from this?” Victorio asks.
“No. Our main reward will be the fact that thanks to Marco Stratakis, I will now have help in dismantling Dracos’ empire and replacing it with the DeLuca name.”
“Fuck. He’s going to turn on his old man?” Niko responds, proving he’d be the last man I ever need to worry about trying to take control of my organization.
“Dracos isn’t exactly a man who makes a person feel like being loyal,” Victorio responds quietly.
“You can say that again. The bastard sold his daughter’s virginity and didn’t care she was just going to become one of Kelly’s whores,” I mutter. “I don’t know how a man could even think of doing that to his own daughter.”
“Her father was selling her to one of the major dealers in the sex trafficking business in the states?” Niko asks.
Just the thought of what could have happened to Melina if I hadn’t made it there in time today, makes my blood run cold.
“Maybe he thought because he demanded the bastard marry her first made it better,” Victorio suggests with a bitterness that I can definitely identify with.
“This Marco,” Niko finally responds after we all take a few minutes of silence to organize our thoughts. “Is he at least trustworthy?”
“Killian feels he is,” I hedge.
“But you’re not sure?” Victorio asks.
I let out a sigh that feels as if it is pulled from deep inside of me. “I’m not sure. He seemed concerned about Melina and yet, he didn’t stop this bullshit.”
“Well, with his knowledge of the place and our firepower, overtaking the Stratakis seat at the table shouldn’t be a huge feat,” Niko reasons.
“Yeah, but shit, this was his sister. I can’t be sure, but I think she’s been physically abused by Dracos. I have a feeling that’s not a recent thing either. I think it’s more like a way of life for all of the bastard’s children.”
“This means we’re going to proceed with great caution. Right? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Extreme caution,” I correct. “Although the first thing I’m going to do is get my ring on Melina’s finger. I want our marriage cemented.”
“You’re going to marry her? You love her?”
I laugh—the sound bitter to my own ears. “This isn’t Hallmark. The fact is, by marrying her I will piss her father off even more. However, my major reason is so that she has my name and protection.”
“I wouldn’t use any of that explanation when convincing her to marry you,” Niko advises.
“Wasn’t planning on it,” I laugh.
“What are you planning on doing to get her to agree?” Victorio asks.
“Fuck her into submission,” I answer honestly. The other two laugh, but I don’t. I’m completely serious. I just hope Melina cooperates.
melina
“What are you doing?”
I look up to see Antonio standing at the door. He’s wearing black slacks which look damn good on him, but still make me wonder how they contain all that is him in the first place. Antonio is broad and wide—everywhere. His body is a work of art, but when he enters a room, everything instantly feels smaller. His presence is that commanding.