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)
“We just assumed she was staying at the hotel, boss. I mean, she was in the hotel bar last night.”
If there’s one thing I hate, it’s when Zane makes more sense than I do. I let out an annoyed breath. “Check the hotel for her while I’m in the shower. I want her found.”
I turn away, heading toward the bathroom.
“Uh, boss?”
“Yeah?” I grumble.
“How are we supposed to search for her. They frown on you knocking on doors here.”
“I don’t give a fuck how you do it, just do it,” I instruct, waving him off. For his sake he better get it done.
“Do you at least have a name?” Levi asks.
I hold my head down and pinch the bridge of my nose. Motherfucker. I didn’t truly get her name. I’m not about to admit that shit to these two assholes, though. “Her name is Lina.”
“Did you get a last name by chance?” Zane questions, but I just flip him the bird and keep walking. “He didn’t get a name.”
“Nope, not at all,” Levi responds.
I slam the bathroom door loud enough so that they can hear it while idly wondering why I don’t shoot them and end at least some of my misery.
antonio
I curse under my breath as Max’s voice mail kicks on. Damn it.
“This is Max, leave your message.”
Max’s droll voice mail greeting annoys me. Then again, everything is annoying me today. There’s no Lina in the hotel. In fact, Levi reported the concierge said a girl had some things in a hotel locker and got them out this morning. He described what she was wearing, and I know damn well that was her. I have no way of locating her—at least not easily. It pisses me off that I want to, but I do.
And I’m going to.
I had Zane get a copy of the security footage. I’ll use it to locate Lina and when I get my hands on her, I’m going to turn her ass red for leaving.
“Max, damn it. Call me.”
I slam down the phone, feeling like there’s this dark cloud over me. I’m a firm believer in listening to gut feelings and today something is just off—and I’m not talking solely about Lina. I don’t like it because it feels like everything is out of control. That doesn’t work for me. I’m a man who likes to be in control. Things must happen according to plan. I’m about to call Niko and scream at him when someone bangs their fist against the front door of the room. Stone—the guard who took over for Levi and Zane—looks at me, cautioning me back as he places his hand on his gun. Stone is new. He’s a former Navy SEAL and comes highly recommended. That’s about all I really know about the guy because he’s still being watched closely. I alternate between liking him and wanting him gone—and I don’t know why I feel that way. I just do.
He opens the door cautiously and Victorio comes bursting through the door.
“Put your fucking gun away,” I tell Stone as I walk toward them.
You’d have to know Victorio to know something is horribly wrong. He looks wild, normally, he’s model pretty and always calm and collected. Sure, he can be a smart ass, but he’s quieter and more contained than anyone I’ve ever seen in this life. In fact, I don’t think he’s been upset since I’ve known him. Ever. He truly is now, and his usually perfect hair is completely out of place as if he’s repeatedly shoved his fingers through it. His clothes are wrinkled, and his starched white shirt has blood on it. That gets all my attention at once.
“What’s happened?”
“Max and Niko were gunned down outside the Seaside café.”
“This morning? We were supposed to be leaving. I’ve been calling—”
“At lunch. I came straight here.”
I look at the clock and noticed that was almost an hour ago. “Why in the fuck—”
“I was detained by the fucking cops. They wouldn’t let me call or anything. They finally released me twenty minutes ago.”
“Tell me,” I finally respond, bitterness already forming in my gut. I can tell by Victorio’s eyes the news isn’t good. Hell, the fucking blood on his shirt tells me the news is about as bad as it can fucking get.
“Niko was transported by ambulance to the hospital in downtown Athens. He was alive, that’s all I know.”
“And Max?”
Vic rubs his jaw, pain etched on his face. He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to.
“Motherfucker!” I scream. Wanting to hurt someone. “Who did this? Was it Dracos?”
“No clue. It was a sniper. The damn shots came out of nowhere. Niko dove over the table to try and save Max. He took two shots in the back doing so, but it was too late.”
I have so much rage and pain exploding inside of me. I want to set it free, but I can’t—not yet. I must at least appear calm and think about what Max would want right now.