Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Cody wasn’t like that?”
“Cody was…” I started, letting out a sigh. “Cody was an okay guy. I know that sounds harsh. He’d been my boyfriend. But he hadn’t been the love of my life. He wasn’t even a very good boyfriend. But he treated his men fairly and he never went out of his way to hurt me or anything.”
“But Colin does?”
“Colin is like the grown-up version of that mean little kid with a magnifying glass, trying to burn up bugs. He likes to hurt people just for the thrill it brings him.”
“Has he been trying to burn you up?” Massimo asked.
“About three weeks after Cody was buried, Colin showed up at the door. I mean, I’d been expecting to see someone. Mike, maybe. Someone, though. Since I clearly wasn’t paying the bills at the apartment, and I was going to need to find a new place to live.”
“Is that what happened?”
“Yes. And no. Colin informed me that the apartment was going to be used as the new, like, headquarters for the organization. But not to worry because he had a place for me.”
“Not liking the sound of this.”
“Yeah, well, the place he had for me was an apartment over his garage. And I didn’t exactly have a say in the matter,” I told him.
“Why didn’t you go to the police?”
“Because I wasn’t given any time. Colin showed up and told me to pack. Not ten minutes later, the place was flooded with Cody’s old men who were escorting me to my new place.”
“Why?”
“Because Colin is warped. Because, I think, he’d always been into me and was pissed that Cody asked me out first. And that, you know, I would never say yes to the likes of him.”
“But you clearly got some freedom,” Massimo said, waving out toward the winery.
“He’s kept me trapped in his house for almost four years now,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.
“I’m not trying to downplay it,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m trying to understand how you’re here.”
“That’s the other long part of the story,” I told him. “Colin wanted to keep me captive because, like I said, he’s sick. He just enjoys it. Forcing me to wear what he wants and sit across from him at the dinner table every night. Like he could wine and dine me enough to make me think he isn’t the absolute scum of the earth.”
“But that wasn’t all.”
“No. That wasn’t all. Colin thinks that I am not only hiding the location of Cody’s fortune from him, but also refusing to tell him about the contacts Cody was making, and the deals he was working on right before he died.”
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
“Why? If you gave him what he wants—“
“He will be even more powerful than he already is. And, believe me, he’s gained a lot of power in our area now. Most of the police are on his payroll. The locals know better than to snitch on him because he is so vicious.”
“Is the money that significant?”
“Yes,” I said, nodding. “I mean, I don’t know what your definition of significant is,” I said, waving out at the winery that had to cost him millions to build. “But for us, for where we came from, it’s a lot.”
“Millions?” he clarified.
“Low, but yes.”
“Are you even sure it’s still there?”
“Yeah.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because my yearly ‘gynecologist appointment’ is actually me checking on it,” I told him.
“Is that how you got away now? Supposed to be getting yourself checked out?”
“This time, it’s the neurologist for my chronic headaches. Which I don’t have. I just claim I have them so I can skip dinner with Colin a night or two a week. I can’t be gone long,” I added.
“On your way back, pick up some calcium, magnesium, and zinc supplements. Maybe even some riboflavin.”
“Ah… why?”
“Because that’s what my ma’s neurologist told her to try first before she got on daily meds. The calcium, magnesium, zinc as a daily. Then the riboflavin and some migraine meds with caffeine when she got a migraine.”
“Oh, ah, thanks. That’s helpful.”
“I have a question.”
“Sure.”
“Why don’t you take these day trips you clearly are allowed to have to gather the cash and run?”
“Yeah. It would be nice if it was that simple, right?” I wouldn’t need to come to the man who killed my old boyfriend if that were the case.
“Why isn’t it?”
“My brothers,” I said, heart aching at even the mention of them. They’re younger than me,” I told him. “They’re nineteen and twenty right now.”
“And Colin recruited them.”
“Yeah.”
“And he uses their safety against you?”
“Yeah. So I sit back and I let my life slip away and I endure his advances and being stuck in his house because I know he would absolutely kill them if I didn’t. Not only that, he would make them suffer first. Actually, he would probably come find me, drag me back, and make me watch. You have brothers, right?” I asked.