Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
"Which is precisely why they think she left of her own free will."
"Jesus Christ," Gabe mutters. "You've lost your goddamn mind."
I spin to face him, only to see Rafe's Bentayga pulling up beside my SUV. I snap my mouth closed, waiting silently for our older brother to join us before we hash this shit out. If I'm going to have to argue my case again, I'd rather do it with both of them at once. This will be the last time I do it.
Explaining my decisions isn't something I make a habit of doing. They're the only two who get the courtesy. Anyone else can fuck off as far as I'm concerned. I'm not Rafe. I don't snap my fingers and expect people to fall in line. But this isn't a democracy, either. Explaining invites questions, questions breed doubt. And doubt is the motherfucker that gets people killed.
I'm trying to make sure as many of us make it out alive as possible. Not just today but every day. That's my job. Making sure we survive.
Gabe glances over at the Bentayga, his eyes hard as he waits for Rafe to emerge from his armored SUV to join us. He grunts when Mattia slips out and heads our way too. Guess he's not thrilled with Mattia's role in any of this shit, either.
Rafe looks nothing like he did when I left him yesterday. The stark hopelessness in his eyes is gone, replaced with a sense of peace I've never seen. Even though his expression is grim, he's settled, happy. It's fucking weird to see from a man who hasn't known peace since he was shot twice when he was an eleven-year-old kid.
"Gabe, Luca," he says. "Thanks for meeting."
I jerk my chin in a nod.
"We live to serve," Gabe says dryly.
Rafe ignores his smart-ass comment. Gabe needles the hell out of him. He's been doing it since our father died and Rafe took over. Gabe belongs in this world about as much as Nico does, but he took the oath. He won't forsake it now. He sits in his ivory tower, running the day-to-day operations of Valentino International.
"Emilio Genovese knows you have his daughter," Rafe says to me, not wasting any time. "He wants a sit-down with you to discuss her return."
"Not happening."
"He isn't buying that she's with you of her own free will."
"Hold the fuck on," Gabriel interrupts. "You knew about this?"
Rafe grimaces, which is answer enough for Gabe.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," he growls. "You've both lost your minds."
"Watch your mouth, little brother," Rafe snaps. "We're trying to prevent a war."
"Holding the man's daughter hostage is a real great way to accomplish that," Gabe retorts. "As soon as she's free, he'll hit us with everything he has."
"Not if she's carrying Luca's kid."
"Assuming she doesn't dip out before that happens," Gabe says. "Assuming everything goes according to your idiotic plan. Assuming an awful fucking lot."
"He won't strike while she's with Luca," Rafe explains calmly. "He won't risk her."
Huh. So he didn't recruit Gabe to bust my balls. He's arguing my case.
"Cazzo Madre di Dio!" Gabe growls, throwing his hands up. "You're both insane."
"They do what they have to do," Mattia says. "You know they do, Gabriel."
Gabriel grunts. "Fine. Then we do what we have to fucking do. And if it makes us no better than Tommaso Genovese, so be it. At least she isn't chained to the bed, right?" he snaps, his jaw clenched tight.
"You untied her?" Rafe asks.
"Always planned on it," I mutter. "Can you stall on the sit-down?"
"How long do you need?"
"How long can you get me?"
"Not long," he mutters. "Given everything that just went down, I can hold him off for a couple of days until cooler heads prevail, but that's it."
"Do it." I hesitate. "I'll get her on the phone with him to help hold him off."
"You sure that's wise?"
"Fuck no," I say, laughing without humor. "But I'll figure it out."
Rafe nods. "Figure it out then. We need to get this shit under control sooner rather than later. Tommaso was found early this morning. But they know who took him out. They know why we left a pile of bodies on Emilio's doorstep too. They also know the bastardo had it coming, but Emilio can't be seen as weak if he wants to secure the votes to take Tommaso's place. He either needs to hit back or secure his throne another way."
"An alliance will secure it," I murmur.
Rafe nods his agreement.
Gabe snorts.
"They don't have the numbers to survive a war," Rafe reminds him. "Tommaso was picking off his own people for weeks, and we took out four of his captains and half a dozen of his enforcers last night. We also took out Battista. If Callandria is tied to Luca, Emilio secures the future of the Genovese family. They won't like it, but it's their best choice."