Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Before he can finish, there’s a shout from the entrance and a deafening gunshot. Guests duck and scream and step back from the oncoming intruder. “Out of my fucking way! Sabato! Get out here, Sabato, I know you’re here.”
“That fucking old bastard.” Gennero drops Alik, turning toward the chaos.
The wave of onlookers moves back, parting to let our old neighbor Mort McAllister, Reindeer Hater, come through.
“We’re having a party here.” Gennero’s voice is flat and calm, but that’s when you should worry. “And you just put a hole in my roof.” He points toward the ceiling.
Mort steps forward, eyes red and puffy. His cheeks are crimson, and there’s a wobble in his steps. “Yearly Christmas party for all the outsiders. Wish you’d all go back where you came from!” He yells at the room as Gennero’s hand reaches for his loosely held shotgun.
“Yes, and you weren’t fucking invited.” He says as several of the larger men in the crowd turn at attention ready to back up Papa.
Mort growls, baring his teeth. “Gimme back my gun,” he hisses, but Papa holds it at his side, unmoving, his face a frozen mask of calm. “How the hell your fucking reindeer get poop on my roof, Sabato? What do they do now, fly?”
Papa rolls his eyes. “Our reindeer haven’t been anywhere near your roof.”
“Well, it ain’t no wild deer out around here. I know wild deer shit and it don’t look like that. Bad enough the rest of the year they get out and come crap all over everywhere else on my land, now they shittin’ on my roof! You got people collecting it and flinging it up there just to piss me off?”
“I’m surprised he can tell wild reindeer shit from bourbon,” Lucy whispers in my ear, appearing out of nowhere with flushed cheeks. “Let’s get out of here before Grandpa puts Mort’s head into the punchbowl. Or worse.”
I hesitate, watching Gennero poke his finger into Mort’s chest. I don’t want to leave, but I hate confrontation. I hate violence, even when Mort’s insulting my reindeer.
With a nod, I turn and follow Lucy, ignoring Mort’s continued rant as we slip out, grab our bags, and head down the hall, through the ballroom and into the main house.
“Where did you go?” I ask.
The full moon reflects over the lake and casts a red glow across the horizon behind the mountains as we walk by the wall of windows in the great room off the kitchen.
Lucy doesn’t answer for a moment, then she says, “When?”
“After the performance. You disappeared.”
“Oh, just got pulled away by some adoring fans. I was the star of the show.”
I snort a laugh. “Bullshit, really, where did you go?”
She turns and sticks out her tongue, and we both giggle. Then she glances across as we pass the entrance to Gennero’s workshop.
Down at the end of the hall leading into the kitchen, she stops and I spin to see her forehead furrow as she bites into her lip.
“I have a couple of things to check with Mama about the decorations for the breakfast tomorrow I forgot to go over with her.”
“What things?” I narrow my eyes. “I can help if you want—”
She shakes her head. “Nope, I’m good. Get some sleep. You look exhausted. Did you eat anything today?”
“Yes…” She knows that question will lock me up every time.
“Night, sis! I’ll see you tomorrow, breakfast, on time!” She turns and walks off with an excited bounce in her step.
But after a few steps, I hesitate. He headed toward Gennero’s workshop, and Mama was in the bar area of the auditorium when we left.
Besides, we’re not allowed in the workshop.
I turn back and retrace my steps, tip toeing in silence until I’m right outside the door that’s always closed.
It’s open a sliver and I press my forehead to the molding that surrounds the heavy door with the iron lock, squinting into the small space looking inside, easing the door open an inch.
And there’s Lucy.
When she sees me, I shrug with a ‘what’s up’ sort of gesture, but before she can react, the door closes, leaving me standing stunned in the hallway alone.
But there’s more. Above Lucy’s head on the wall, there was the Sabato sword.
It was what signified the leader of the family. And I don’t just mean Lucy, Mama and me. The family family. It should be back in Chicago with whoever is running the unholy empire now.
The empire I was more than happy to leave behind. Why would Papa have it here? Why is she in there?
I shake my head. Must be like a retirement gift or something. Like, instead of a gold watch, you get a sword replica. I’m too tired to worry about it all right now. I shake my head, considering knocking but I have my own problems to sort out.