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)
“Do you know who I am?”
“You’re one of the Di Lorenzo brothers. Your brother is the one who knocked me out.”
“You have to forgive Dante. He has a bit of a temper. I want you to do something for me. Do you think you can do that?”
“Ye…yes.”
“Relax, this comes with a nice compensation.”
He nods and rubs his hands on his thighs. Licking his lips as he peeks over at Jace, who remains silent.
“Now, Aaron, how are your acting skills?”
“I was a theater major in college. In theater club in high school.” He shrugs.
“See, I knew I had the right guy.” I smile. “I know you know someone has been doxing Izzy Gunz. I’m going to need you to run with this information. Take this drone and the bag. There’s a uniform and badge inside that will grant you access to the office building Izzy works in. You’re going to need them for this job.”
“Um, okay.”
“I have half a million dollars ready to hit your account if you do this exactly as I lay it out.”
“Is your brother involved?”
“Yes, he is, but you let me handle him.”
“Okay.”
“Good, now this is what I need you to do.”
Jace
The place smells amazing as the rich aromas of tomato and basil flow from the kitchen. I leave Gio to it and head into the living room.
I can’t say I like this plan. Will I be there to cover Bella with all I am? Yes, that’s never been a question. However, I understand what Gio is doing. We can’t run through another list of witnesses, and this isn’t what we want to spend the rest of our lives doing.
We’re almost where he has planned all along. Everything the Di Lorenzo name is tied to is legal. The internet has changed business on so many levels for crime families. Less violence is needed, at least for Gio, it could be.
Riccardo and Peter Hall, with his snitching ass, are the only things standing in the way. We succeed in turning the tables, we’ll have it all. Ming, Ny, and I worked to make sure the FBI has Peter dead to rights. Talon will be up for a promotion after this.
If Gio has his way, Toni will prosecute the case for the favor she did with that final witness he asked for after getting her the information on her friend. It will be a win for a lot of people.
My mood not the best, I pull my phone and connect it to the sound system. Sitting on the couch, I put on “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane and close my eyes.
I get lost in thought. This is it. We get rid of Riccardo with this move.
Unfortunately, he might have to meet the same fate as Bethany. Not what we want, but we’re being watched. It’s necessary we become the victims to build a new illusion. One that gets all eyes off us.
I feel the moment Gio flops down on the couch beside me. I open my eyes and turn to him. He looks like he’s wearing the weight of the world.
“This is who we are. We were kids when my mother sent us on our first hit. To this day, I don’t think Nonno knows why I did what I did. He thinks it was all over the fight you and Ny had,” Gio starts.
“We’d been training a lot longer and we were the attackers. Not the bait.”
“She’s ready. Everyone will do their part.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
“I—”
His words are cut off as the elevator chimes. I turn as Ny stumbles out. We both stand, ready to react.
She leans against the wall and pulls her shoes from her feet. Looking her over, I don’t see anything out of place, she just looks exhausted.
“You all right?” Gio asks as we move toward her.
“I’m emotionally exhausted,” she mutters.
I lift her in my arms and head back to the couch. G goes to the kitchen to turn off the burners. Sitting, I place Ny at my side. She lies down and places her head on my lap.
“Want to talk about it?”
She sighs. Gio comes and scoops her feet up before he sits and places them in his lap. Pulling her socks from her feet. He begins to rub her foot.
“That feels so good. Thanks.” She takes a pause and releases another heavy breath. I brush a lock of hair out of her face. She smiles and then begins.
“She looked so beautiful. My little sister is all grown up and getting married. I told her I was upset about you guys, but the truth is, as I stared at her in that dress, all I saw were my parents. I take ten steps forward and a million steps back. I wanted to be in that moment, but it took so much for me to lock myself in.