Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“No. It’s a long story. Chase killed the man. . .by accident, well, because the man was raping Lucy, and your father basically took care of it,” I said.
“By cutting the body into pieces?” Vivian asked.
I looked to Troy or Chase for help. They turned away.
Cowards.
“What the hell does my father do?” Vivian directed that question at Chase.
“He’s an attorney.”
“Fuck you!” Vivian spat those two words out. “What does he really do?”
“He represents the interests of people who have been investing in my family’s businesses as well as many other wealthy men all over the world,” Chase said. “These people aren’t the mafia or some sort of drug cartel. They’re men in suits with families and longstanding respectable images in their communities. However, behind closed doors they invest in heavy things from war weapons to my field of global entertainment. I don’t know all the ones on top. Benny deals with them. He’s the middleman. And with the way Benny solves his problems, I don’t think I ever want to meet the people on top.”
Vivian’s bottom lip quivered. “Do they have a name?”
“No. According to Benny, names give people somewhere to point to and investigate, so he says ‘my’ or ‘our’ friends,” Chase said. “Dad had to deal with them when my grandfather handed over everything to him. Now, I’m involved with Benny’s friends.”
“Meanwhile, in between these shady deals, my dad just kills people like it’s a hobby?” Vivian began gnawing on her thumbnail.
I snatched the hand away from her mouth and patted it. “I’ve never heard of Benny killing anyone.”
“Oh, yes. I forgot. Dad just gets rid of dead bodies.”
I had nothing to say after that. “Well, we’re off topic. What we need to figure out is why Benny is even here in the first place. He obviously knew about the beach search and that we were here.”
“He’s bugged my home.” Chase began typing into his phone.
“Chase’s men suck,” Troy said. “No wonder women have been dying around you. The number one suspect, Lucy, hired them all. Then you have Benny’s men ordering them around because they’re soft, punks. You need a whole new group of men.”
“I plan to replace everyone today,” Chase said.
“With heavy hitters?” Troy asked.
“Exactly.”
“Get my brothers out and they’ll be the best—
“Oh, hell, no.” I put my hand out to say stop. “Sherman and Mike are in jail for a reason. They don’t know how to deal with problems in society in a way that won’t get someone killed, emotionally harmed, or severely injured.”
“And Sherman scares the shit out of me,” Vivian admitted.
“He’s just a bit intense,” Troy said.
“My money goes far, but not that far, Troy.” Chase stood up and paced. He’d been pacing a lot more lately and walking through these days with grim looks. “One thing is correct. My security sucks.”
“Sucks balls,” Troy added.
“Thank you, Troy. Duly noted.” Chase took out his phone and headed away. “Jasmine, I’ll be in my office next to our bedroom. Let me make some calls and get this taken care of. I need men who won’t bow down to anyone, not Lucy or Benny. I have to keep the best around you.”
“But, baby—”
He’d already left without another word.
The room went silent for a few seconds. No doubt, everyone pondered what had already transpired and what would soon come. It was bittersweet for me. I suspected Lucy or Dawn, but never had proof. The missing gun was my assurance. Yet neither woman could be found and now Benny walked around in the shadows of Atrani, doing what he always tended to do, stir up madness and shovel sand over secrets.
Why are you going so crazy to protect me, Benny? Is that really why you’re here, or are there secrets of your own that you’re scared will be revealed? There’s no way you love me so much to rush out here. If you did, then wouldn’t you have told me you were my dad long ago?
Vivian’s words broke the silence. “It’s like I have no idea who the hell my dad ever was.”
Troy got up and readied himself to leave. “Well, once we get this crazy bitch with a gun far away from Jazz, then we can spend our time finding out exactly who Benny is.”
Chapter 15
TROY
This is probably stupid, but I just don’t give a fuck.
On the beach, Viv and I lay under the stars. Sure, we each had our own blanket with three feet of space between us, but we would be kidding ourselves if we thought this moment wasn’t something more between a man and woman, or even. . .siblings. We were far apart, but so fucking close I drowned in her scent, just hoping to die in that moment when silence mingled with stars and our problems existed far behind us.
She’d followed me here, or more like refused to stop walking behind me as I marched to the beach. I couldn’t sleep or think. The foundation of Chase’s house had caved in on me. The ceiling reminded me of jail, the lies of home. I had to get out of there. The urge to break out overtook me.