Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“Why not?”
“You picked the most common Irish surname on the planet. You might as well have gone with John McDoe.”
“There’s no proof I made it up.”
“You did, though.” I returned everything to the wallet and stuck it in my pocket before starting the engine. “You went through a lot of trouble to get a fake ID. Why would you put your real name on it?”
“By the same token, do you think I’d actually tell you my real name, just because you asked nicely?”
“I think you have a lot of incentive to try to stay on my good side,” I said, as I put the car in gear and began to drive down the alley. “Telling me your real name would prove you’re willing to cooperate.”
“Pass.”
“Suit yourself.”
We drove in silence for a minute or two, until he blurted, “Fine. It’s Sullivan.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Why don’t you believe me this time?”
“Because you gave it up way too easily.”
Jack tried to cross his arms over his chest, but he only half-succeeded, since his right wrist was chained to the door. “Oh, you’re right. My bad. You’ll only believe what comes out of my mouth after you’ve been beating me for an hour or two.”
That definitely wasn’t the plan, but I decided to remain silent and let him stew. After another minute, he asked, “Where are you taking me? Some undisclosed location, where no one will hear me scream?”
“Undisclosed location? Where’d you get that, some cheesy detective novel?”
“Probably. Really though, where are you taking me?”
“My apartment.”
He tried to let it go, but after a pause he asked, “Why do you insist on calling it that, when it’s clearly a townhouse?”
“Do you really think arguing with me is the way to go here?”
“I’m just saying.”
My phone beeped, and I pulled it from my pocket. The text from my brother said: I thought you should know two guys smashed up Mom’s bar and told her it was a message to you. She’s fine, we’re both in my apartment.
I muttered, “Fucking hell,” and pulled to the curb.
“What’s wrong?”
I ignored Jack and called my brother. When he answered, the first thing I said was, “Is Mom really okay?”
“Yeah, she’s just a little shaken up.”
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
“Two thugs came into her bar with baseball bats this evening and started breaking things. They said, ‘This is for your boy Adriano. Tell him Mario Greco says hello.’ One of Mom’s customers called the police, and the men ran off when they heard the sirens. As far as I know, they haven’t been caught yet.”
“Please tell Mom I’m sorry that happened, and I’ll be there in the morning. This might sound paranoid, but don’t open the door for anyone, and don’t go anywhere tonight.”
“Will do, but are you sure coming here is a good idea? You left to keep yourself safe, and the situation clearly hasn’t gotten any better.”
“I don’t care what happens to me. I just need to make sure you two are safe, and I can’t do that from San Francisco.”
“Maybe Mom should come and stay with you instead,” he said, “just until things calm down a bit.”
“You can pitch that idea to her, but watch, she’ll refuse to leave. You know how stubborn she is. In fact, I don’t even know if I can stop her from opening up the bar tomorrow and acting like it’s business as usual.”
My brother sighed and muttered, “You’re right.”
“I’d better go, so I can grab a few things and get on the road. Call me if you need anything, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
We said goodbye and disconnected the call, and then I sent a quick group text to the best people on my payroll in Vegas. After I filled them in on what had happened, I asked them to watch the bar, in case Greco’s men came back to finish the job. It was tempting to ask them to watch my brother’s apartment too, but none of them knew the address and maybe it was best to keep it that way. I trusted these people to an extent, but who could say if they’d remain loyal to me if Greco decided to put the screws to them?
I pulled away from the curb and was deep in thought when Jack said, “Well, shit. That sounded serious.”
I’d actually forgotten he was there. “It is.”
“So…what are you going to do with me?”
“I’m not setting you free,” I told him. “It took me two weeks to find you, and after this you might disappear entirely.”
“If you’re thinking about leaving me chained up somewhere, I wholeheartedly object.”
“Like I’d let you out of my sight. You’re coming with me to Vegas.” There was so much wrong with that idea, but I really didn’t see an alternative. I shot him a look and added, “I need you to not be a huge pain in my ass, though. We have a long drive ahead of us, and believe me when I say I’m in no mood for any bullshit.”