Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“I—” My brain stalled.
“They were never going to see the inside of a courtroom. I know this. You know this.” The accusation was a stab in the chest. “What happens from this point on is out of our control.”
“That’s not true,” I said when I found my voice. “I understand that some men become monsters to fight them. But I also know Sunny, Liam, Bane, and Genny. They do what they have to do, but they’re open to other ways. They’ll listen to me. I’ll convince Sunny this doesn’t have to end in blood.”
“I’d love to sit in on that talk, if you don’t mind. It’ll be deeply satisfying to witness the moment you find out who Sole Bellisario truly is.”
“He’s a good man who treats me with respect. Liam is a loving father. And Bane spends his time looking for ways to make me smile.” Or he used to.
“What can I say about the Rat King? Everything I learned about you was from someone else.”
The mood shifted considerably. River and I switched between watching Grant and the mystery man and trading scowls. It was a relief when Sunny arrived. He’d bring sense to the situation. I wasn’t naive. I knew the Sons of Saint weren’t a girls scout club and illegal activity was the theme of Sunny’s birthday parties growing up. He wasn’t a saint, but River would never make me believe he was a cold-blooded killer.
Sunny gripped my thigh, leaning over me. “Is that him, Angel?”
“It’s him.”
“Talia Barker was a fool for believing that second-rate doodler could match your skill.” He fixed on the assassin, his expression giving nothing away. “Your sketch was spot-on.”
“What do we do now?” I asked Sunny but looked at River.
“We— Wait, look. Did you see that?”
“I saw.” Sienna pressed against the glass. “Grant passed him a note.”
I looked just as it disappeared into his jacket pocket. “Anyone else thinking that’s not his grocery list?”
“He is a hired gun,” Sunny said. “Maybe he works for Grant. Maybe they met over a tray of scones. Either way, we need to read that note. Delaney, will it cost me another seven million for a lift?”
River winked. “This one is on the house. All this intrigue has me curious.” He left the restaurant and Sunny claimed his seat, attention glued on the man who nearly ended his life.
“Sunny?”
“Angel.”
“What are you planning to do to them?”
Sunny didn’t look away. “What do you want me to do to them?”
I wet my lips, swallowing hard. There was a strange tone in his voice. River’s warning banged in my head. “I want you to turn them over to the cops. I’m a witness. I’ll tell everyone who’ll listen what that man did to you. He won’t get away with it, Sunny. Let’s call the police.”
“Okay, that’s what I’ll do.”
“Really?”
He faced me, and Sunny smiled. “Of course. Whatever you want, pillow cheeks. Though, I’d prefer to speak to him first. Grant and his accomplice. I’d love to know how they got around my security, hit my routes, found my stash warehouses, if they’re the ones who killed the valet, bombed Liam’s car, and killed Genny’s people.”
“The police have interrogators.”
“I do a more thorough job.”
“Sunny—”
“I really must insist on that condition,” he said smoothly, voice low. “The police are welcome to them afterward.”
“Guys, look,” Sienna broke in. “They’re getting up.”
I dropped the conversation. For now.
The two men rose from the table and shook hands. Baldy dropped a bill on the plate, climbed off the patio deck, and turned as River crashed into him.
A solid oak of a man, the hit merely rocked him on his feet. River apologized profusely, and from the looks of it, the guy said nothing. Straightening his jacket, he sidestepped River and walked on.
River stopped a distance away, we assumed to read the note. He glanced across the street, nodded at someone, and crossed. Marty and River met in the middle and paper changed hands. Marty jogged after Baldy to drop the note back in his pocket. He’d never know it went missing.
“My policy on stealing hasn’t changed,” I said, “but that was cool.”
“If that’s what gets you going, baby, we can have a little ‘bring your girl to work’ day.”
Five minutes later, River came up the stairs. “West Twenty-Third Street. Number 19. Nine p.m.”
“That’s in Harlow,” River said. “Warehouse district. That was a shady part of town. The Kings used to hold their underground fights there. We’re talking fights to the death.”
“Oh my goodness,” I breathed. “I’m starting to think your parents shutting them down was a good thing.”
“No question it is,” Sunny said. “After they were evicted, the warehouses returned to their normal function. During the day, workers do their thing hauling product and checking inventory. At night, they’re locked up. Genny doesn’t stash anything there because there are too many people and constant foot traffic.”