Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Valentina went to their first-aid kit, pulling it out of the cupboard. She turned to find him already sitting on the edge of the bath. “Don’t you want to do this in the bedroom?” she asked.
“Can’t. I have to be here. Close to running water.”
She nodded.
Stepping closer, she opened the kit, and whatever he asked for, she got for him, standing in watch as he actually stitched his wound closed.
“We have professional doctors for that,” she said.
“I know, but when you don’t want people to find out you were injured, you do it yourself.”
“Who don’t you want to find out?” Valentina asked.
Giovanni stared up at her, and she knew he was making a decision as to whether to tell her or not. She was a little hurt that he was in any doubt as to her loyalty to him, but she also knew Rossi business was deadly and life threatening. That was why Giovanni was the Butcher. He’d survived all kinds of brutality. She had once asked him how bad it had been, and he’d told her that most of the stories she heard, the rumors, they were true. Barely anything was exaggerated and just knowing that filled her with dread.
“Leonardo Rossi. Tonight, he finally screwed up, and I know he’s the one attempting to overthrow his father and take the Rossi empire for himself. He didn’t know I was there. He believes he killed all of us. Ten men lost their lives tonight, and I will make sure he pays for every single one of them.”
Chapter Ten
“You’re sure?” Thomas Rossi asked.
Giovanni nodded, knowing the news he gave wasn’t what his boss wanted to hear. He didn’t think for a second it was easy for anyone to learn that your own child wanted to kill you.
One of the capos had been willing to talk so long as they’d give him a quick death.
The Butcher’s skill at torture had reached far and wide. Everyone who knew of him was aware of what he could do. How he could keep men and women alive, on the brink of death, spending their hours on earth begging for him to end it.
Giovanni had granted the man’s wish, and the moment he had all the details and evidence, he’d granted the man his wish.
Thomas rubbed at his temples. “He’s … Giovanni, thank you.”
“What will you do?” he asked.
“I will find him, and then I will have no choice but to kill my own son. My flesh and blood.”
Giovanni pulled out another small envelope. “This might be a saving grace for you.”
Thomas took the envelope with a frown. “What is this?”
“Your son raped a girl many years ago. He was sixteen, she was fifteen. It was the first … incident you made me clean up. She got pregnant. You provided the money, and I can guarantee you that the boy is a good one.”
Thomas pulled out the picture of the young girl and the son. He let out a little gasp. “It’s like looking at Leonardo.”
“The boy’s name is Neal. He’s a good kid. She’s a good mom to him, but …she’s sick. Cancer. Her family tossed her out after everything, and she’s been on her own.”
He looked at the older man. “You’re giving me a second chance.”
“No, that boy can be a second chance, but you have to meet her. I went and saw her the other day. She doesn’t have much longer. She knows what this will mean for her son, but if you’re willing to take him, to make him your heir, she will follow your will.” Giovanni had also promised that he would keep an eye on her son.
“I will meet with her,” Thomas said. “Is there anything we can do to help her?”
“No, death is already coming for her, Mr. Rossi. All we can do is make her passing from this world bearable.”
The man nodded, and he saw tears in his eyes.
“I was going to … announce you as my new heir,” Thomas said.
Giovanni nodded. “I know.”
“This is your way of saying no.”
“Mr. Rossi, you have been a good man to me. I will serve you, and the next line that deserves my protection, but I’m not the man who can run this. Your capos, your soldiers, all of them need a man who scares the fucking shit out of them. That is what I am for. It’s not to … lead them. I’m here to show them that nightmares exist.”
Thomas burst out laughing. “And how is that wife of yours?”
“She is … pregnant,” Giovanni said.
“You think I don’t know what you did, but I do. Leonardo was never good enough for that woman, but you are. You’re good for her. She is making you a good wife.”
“She is the best of us,” he said, nodding.
Thomas stood and held his hand out. “Bring me my son. I will be the one to take him from this world.”