Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
She rolls her eyes and glares at me. My phone rings, saving the day before we get into a fight. I know this isn’t over.
Jace
I can’t blame Nyla for being annoyed with Gio. I understand where both are coming from. My thoughts are with Ny as we head to see Gustloff after dropping her and Holly off.
It was good to see the smile on her face when I brought Holly to the apartment after picking her up from her flight. Gio may want Holly here for Carleen, but I think Ny needs her just as much.
“You made that call?” Gio says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Yeah, they’re moving him to PC.”
What Gio has done is genius. Adrian has been calling home for months. While he has told his father he’s in Rikers, when Gustloff goes to see him or sends a lawyer to find him, there’s no record of him. He can’t be found in any correctional database.
Gio could keep this up for years and Adrian would never be released. It’s like he no longer exists. Only Gio has the power to get him out. Exactly what he wants. Placing Adrian in protective custody has its own motive, real nasty work there.
I pull into an old abandoned warehouse and place the truck in park. I snort as I see Gustloff with Arty at his side. We step out of the car and head to the front where Gustloff waits.
The windows in this place are cracked and broken. The wind from outside blows through as if we’re not indoors at all, so much so our leather peacoats blow in the gust. I tug my scarf up and roll my shoulders back, folding my hands in front of me, mirroring Gio’s posture.
“How you doing, Gustloff? You wanted to see me,” Gio says as he settles into his stance.
“I need you to get my boy out. No one else can find him in the system. I was thinking your boy there could represent him and get him out. You know, pull some favors so they find him, and I can get him out. They’re going to kill him in there,” Gustloff says pleadingly.
Gio nods his understanding. “First, Jace is as old as I am. Neither one of us are boys.”
“No disrespect, Gio. I just really need your help. He has four broken ribs. He ain’t going to survive in there and I know he ain’t killed Vega. He’s a good boy, I keep him out of this shit.”
I roll my tongue in my mouth, knowing that’s bullshit. It’s the reason Gio picked Adrian to begin with. He helps his father with the drug side of the business.
“I’m going to tell you what I’m going to do,” Gio starts. “I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse. I’ll get your son to safety and work on getting him out, but you’re going to do something for me. You know my help always comes with a cost.”
“Anything. I’ll do anything.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I want a life for a life.”
“Wha… what?”
“Your life for your son’s. You see, I want a clean break from you and your sinking ship. My brother has set things up so that if your demise were to occur, all your shit becomes the property of Di Lorenzo Industries. I think it’s time we collect.”
“What the fuck? My ship isn’t sinking. What are you talking about?”
“See, you don’t even know you have an indictment heading your way. At the moment, you’re so desperate to get your son back, I believe you would be a liability if given a chance.”
Gustloff holds up his hands. “Look, I would never flip. Please, help me get my boy out and we’ll take off and never look back.”
“Oh, I’m going to take care of your boy. That’s a promise, but you’re going to draw my brother’s attention when he returns. Let’s say a few bad fish shipments to slow business.”
“You want me to draw out Dante the Inferno on purpose? Fuck outa here. That’s suicide.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll send flowers and your son will be out in time to attend the service.”
Gustloff wipes a hand across his brow. He looks around and licks his lips. Gio has him right where he wants him.
“Okay, all right, I’ll do it. Just get Adrian out,” he breathes. “I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Good, PC it is. I’ll make sure he’s safe in there until you finish your task. If you breathe my name once, he returns to gen pop. If you don’t do just as I say, he returns to gen pop. If you go to the feds, he returns to gen pop and you and I both know he’s not going to survive returning to gen after a save that will make him look like he’s a snitch.”