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)
He snorts. “Oh, she matters and for several reasons. Gio cares about her. At first, I thought he had something going with her. You know, from the gifts and things. However, since the sister started working there, I know it’s her. She’s the one he’s fucking.”
He continues to drone on. “I’m just saying. Izzy has tons of death threats and obsessed followers. I could dox her and they’d handle her for us, or we could grab her and make them give us answers.”
“What are you rambling about? The only one who matters to that finook is that long-haired weirdo he’s fucking. That mulignon is just like her mother, nothing more than some guard dog.”
“I don’t know about all that.”
I stand and ball my hands at my sides. “Your brother left with your cousin. So they’re both missing. Why don’t you focus on that?”
“Are you saying you don’t want me to dox her?”
“Get the fuck out, Peter.”
How fucking slow can that kid be? Useless, fucking useless.
Peter
I know Riccardo thinks I’m some type of idiot. I’m right though, Izzy is the way to get answers. I’ll just dox her on my own. That will piss Gio Di Lorenzo off.
I’ll figure the rest out from there. I’ll get answers. That old man never listens when we give him information he can use.
I’ve got this one. I can do this.
Chapter 51
In and Out
Ava
The closer my plane got to America, the more alive I felt. Don’t ever mess with a woman’s child. The Kumars have had this visit coming for a long time.
I don’t want to step on Gio’s toes, but there are some things I need to do. This is one of them. This woman should have known better, she had a child of her own. How dare she and her husband target my sweet boy.
“Look at you,” I sing as I step off the plane and into Nyla’s embrace. “You look well.”
It’s good to see her. I’m trying my best to let go, but she hasn’t been sharing about the boys during our talks. I don’t know where things stand, that’s why I requested she come stay with me. I wanted to see Gio’s reaction.
I should have known he wouldn’t have one. He’s just like my father. Giuseppe will look you in the face with no expression, as if you’re not stabbing him at the same time. It took years for me to learn how to read him.
“So do you. How do you want to do this?”
“I won’t be long. Take me to this address.” I hand over my phone with the Kurmars’ address.
I still have ways to get information here in the States. I just try not to, not wanting to bring attention to any of Gio’s moves. However, as soon as Gio mentioned Kaling’s time being up, I knew I needed to make this visit.
Finding out she’s been hiding out in their home brought a smile to my face. I had half expected her to be on the run, especially after her daughter’s death.
“Got it. Come on. I have a bag for you in the trunk. You can pick your tools once we get there.”
We climb into the truck. I’m silent at first. Giving her time to settle and start toward our destination.
I turn in my seat to look around the truck. It has that new-truck smell. My eyes land on the back seat. My heart squeezes. I still have hopes for grandchildren.
“Nice truck,” I say.
“It was a gift from the guys for Christmas.”
I take the opening and run with it. “How are you guys doing?”
“I haven’t been speaking to Gio. He’s gone too far. I didn’t like what happened with Nonno. I hate that he put me in that position.”
“You’re not going to like a lot of the things Gio does. That’s this thing though.” I snort. “You’re driving his mom to cut a bitch’s head off. Come on, Ny. You can’t be mad at him for being who he needs to be.”
“Seriously? That’s your dad. You’re not pissed at him?”
“Yes, I was. To be honest, I had to calm down before I could speak to him. However, I understood. I know my son is about to do some dark shit. All necessary evils. We’ve taught him well. Gio will be the most ruthless Don ever.”
She purses her lips and sighs. “Well, I’m getting on that plane with you, so I won’t see any of it.”
“Oh no.” I shake my head. “You’re his anchor, his way back. Gio needs you more than I do. Your place is here.”
“Ava, really?”
“Yes, sweetheart. Ask yourself… can you accept all of my son. Remember who he is and who he was always meant to be. You and Jace are his humanity. He will give that up for a while, but you two have the power to root him in the sweet boy he once was.”