Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Yes, I’ll see what I can do,” I said, getting to my feet, and buttoning my jacket.
My suit had been a major bone of contention in my trial. Both my lawyers and my jury consultants wanted me in blue. Guilty men, apparently, wore black. Innocent, blue.
They hadn’t liked it when I’d reminded them that I was guilty.
“That’s not… what am I supposed to do until then?” she asked.
“Go stay with your friend,” I said.
“I… can’t,” she told me.
I probably should have asked why. That was what people did. But I didn’t give a shit why.
“Then stay at a hotel until you hear from me.”
“I can’t afford a hotel,” she said, spitting out the words like they were bitter.
I understood that feeling, though. My old man had been rolling in cash. But he made damn sure that we never got to spend any of it.
A hungry dog will bring home his own dinner, he’d told me more than a few times.
So, yeah, I’d been hustling since fucking grade school to have some extra cash.
I understood the humiliation of not having money like everyone else did to spend how they saw fit.
I reached into my pocket, pulling the clip off my money, and tossing a grand on the table.
“Get a hotel. Get some sleep. Leave your number with one of my men,” I said, waving toward them. “And I’ll be in touch.”
With that, I turned and walked away.
And absolutely did not think about how thankful this woman would be when I handled this problem for her.
Thankful enough to let me strip her out of those baggy clothes, and finally see what was underneath, perhaps?
CHAPTER FIVE
Halle
Okay.
So… he was a complete and utter dickhead.
I mean, I guess I’d gotten hints of that at the trial. But talking to him up close and personal was a whole other thing. And, yeah, holy crap, was he a dick.
I mean he looked at me with those cold, disinterested eyes. And he spoke to me in that detached tone.
Which was why it was extra ridiculous that I swore a spark coursed up my arm when his hand came down on mine.
I know I probably should have taken his cash and tossed it in his face just to make a point. But, honestly, I needed that money.
I couldn’t, wouldn’t, involve Lauren in this. The last thing she needed in her life was to be the target of some old-man-beating psychopaths.
If they were willing to do what they’d done to a senior citizen, I didn’t have any illusions about the kind of torture a woman in their path would have to endure.
Which was why I’d gathered up that money, and slipped it into my pocket, only taking out some to pay for my coffee, only to be told that it was covered. Even though I hadn’t seen Cosimo pay her.
“A tip then,” I urged, holding out the twenty. What did I care that it was an exorbitant tip for a cup of coffee? It wasn’t my money anyway. And, I mean, judging by how the mob worked, Cosimo hadn’t exactly worked for it, either.
“They tip well too,” she told me. Then, voice lower, so no one else could hear. “Trust me,” she said. “Keep that all for yourself.”
With that, she was gone. I did sit and drink my coffee. I was dead on my feet. And while I drank it, I looked up hotel rooms on my phone.
With this kind of money, I could stay anywhere I wanted. But I decided to go for somewhere as cheap as possible, which might allow me to stay for several days. It wasn’t like Cosimo had told me when he might be in touch. And I couldn’t imagine my situation was high on his priority list. So, just to be safe, I booked a room that seemed like it would have a view of the alley full of rotting garbage. But at least breakfast was included. That would save me more money.
I mean, I couldn’t even go back to the shop until this was handled, right? It was far too empty most of the time. No one to see anything happen.
It was high on my priority list to get a good security system in the shop. Both inside and out. So nothing like this could ever happen again without us at least having evidence of what had transpired.
I couldn’t help but wonder how the finances were at the shop as I tucked my phone away, ready to head out, even though I couldn’t check in at my hotel until four. I figured I could grab something quick and cheap to eat, then maybe hit the library for a while, get some books to study while I was locked up in the hotel.
Were the bills all paid up?
Did my grandfather have any savings?
Ones that would hold the place over if we had to close for a few days?