Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
I only wish he’d come to me first.
“I remember the first time we met,” he says, his voice a low rumble, scarred from the repeated saltwater dunks. “Do you remember, Emilio?”
“I saw you on campus and asked if the college started a football program.”
He chuckles then coughs and nearly throws up again, but manages to control himself. “I told you no, but I was thinking about getting one going. You thought that was funny and invited me to the house, back before it was renovated. We spent the rest of the day together looking at that rotted-out building and dreaming about what it might be one day. The proudest I’ve ever felt was the afternoon you called it finished and showed me which room would be mine. I’ve never felt so good in my life and I doubt I ever will again.”
“Terrence,” I say, struggling to keep my voice calm. I won’t let him get to me, not right now. “Tell me where she is.”
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
I sigh and stand, exhausted and sickened. Dom and Nathan join me, and together we stoop to pick him up—
But Terrence groans. “Wait. Don’t.”
I nod and we lower him down. “Where?”
“Cask.” He closes his eyes and sighs. “In the lower floor. Back room. There’s a window, but it’s barred. You’ve got to go through the front.”
“I’m relieved you finally told me.”
“I didn’t want this,” he says, meeting my gaze.
I pat his arm and stand up. My back’s tired from lifting him over and over, and I want this to be finished. I turn away, facing toward Dirk, who sits there with red-rimmed eyes watching me, his heart broken.
“Terrence, I want you to pack a bag. We’ll cut you free. Dirk will help you. The ferry is coming in two hours, and I want you on it. You’ll drop out of school or complete it online or whatever the fuck you have to do, but you’ll never come back here. Do you understand?”
Terrence releases a long breath. “I understand.”
I gesture at Dom. He walks over and cuts Terrence’s bonds and helps him stand. Dirk comes over and takes some of Terrence’s weight. The pair of them shuffle toward the cave path, but I call out before they can leave. Terrence looks back, pure sorrow in his eyes.
“I’m setting aside money from the society’s fund to pay for your sister’s treatments. Dirk will act as the intermediary.”
Tears slide down Terrence’s face. “You would’ve done that if I had just asked, wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah, Terrence. I would have.”
He nods, crying, and he and Dirk head up the slope and away from the cave dock.
I collapse back against the wall, exhausted. We knew Cask had Kaye but I needed Terrence to confirm it and to tell me exactly where they’re keeping her. With this information, I can gather my people and make a move.
I won’t let them keep Kaye for long.
“I’m sorry, brother,” Nathan says, leaning back against the wall beside me. Dom joins him and the three of us are quiet for a long moment.
“You know, if anyone from our family found a traitor in the Famiglia, they’d be dead in a heartbeat,” Dom says quietly.
“You think I should kill him?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, I don’t. I think you’re making the right choice, actually. He did what he did to help his sister. It was stupid and desperate and misguided, but his heart’s in the right place.”
“We aren’t our family,” I say, staring straight ahead into the gloom. The LED lanterns send shadows all over the space and the sound of the boat moving in the water is like a sea monster scratching at the ocean floor.
“We don’t have to be anyway,” Nathan says softly.
A new light appears in the tunnel and gets closer. Lesley appears, followed by Paola. Both girls look shaken, and I guess they ran into Terrence and Dirk on their way down.
“You really fucked him up, didn’t you?” Paola asks.
I shake my head. “Had to be done.”
“I know it did,” Lesley says, glancing at Paola, who shrugs and walks over to sit with Dom and Nathan.
I stand and pace away. “We need to get everyone together. Cask has Kaye and I’m betting she’s in the same spot they held you. Lesley, how much do you remember?”
“Too much,” she admits with a shrug. “I can guide you there.”
“Then we’re going now. Break down the door, hurt whoever gets in our way.”
“Won’t be easy without Terrence and Dirk,” Lesley says, tapping a finger against her lower lip. “I might have a better solution.”
I laugh gently. “Les, if there’s something easier that’ll get Kaye back, I’m all ears. But I think Cask and their backer are desperate. They’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.”
“Actually, there’s someone outside who might want to talk to you about that.”