Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Bartholomew is a bad guy, Laura. It may not seem like it right now, but this is a blessing.”
“No. Leonardo is a bad guy. Bartholomew is a fucking saint compared to him.”
“He deals with some rough characters.”
“He killed the men who hurt me…and I didn’t even have to ask him.”
Victor’s eyes dropped momentarily, full of shame.
We sat in silence for a long time.
“Would you be willing to talk to him?” Victor asked.
“Who?”
“Your father.”
“Do I really need to answer that?”
He looked away again.
“I never want to hear his voice or see his face again. Make sure he knows that.”
He gave a subtle nod.
I’d lived in this world long enough to know what was really going on. My father was gathering information under the guise of remorse, trying to figure out if Bartholomew was still in my life and if I was intent on revenge. Because if I did intend to kill him, I had the strongest ally in the world.
But I decided to give him a false sense of security instead.
7
BARTHOLOMEW
I walked through the parlor and took a seat on the leather armchair.
Armando and his brother were waiting for me, ready to get down to business.
The liquor was poured. Short pleasantries were exchanged.
I had to keep my eye on my men as well as theirs now.
“We can’t sell this amount of supply within the timetable you’ve given us,” Armando said. “We were told we would have more customers, but that didn’t work out.”
I would suffer this humiliation for a long time. “I just met with the prime minister. We should be able to cross our northern border into Belgium without being searched soon enough.”
Armando kept a straight face, but I could tell he was impressed.
I had to improvise if I wanted to stay on my feet, if I wanted to keep the respect I’d worked my ass off for.
Then Bleu stepped into the room and locked eyes with me.
As if he had something he needed to tell me.
“Excuse me.” I left the sitting room, and Bleu and I entered a different parlor. “What is it?”
“Victor came to visit Laura.”
My eyes narrowed the second I heard the name of that coward. “Alone?”
“Yes.”
“Did she let him in?”
“Yes. He hasn’t left.”
A tightness formed in my chest, like a cord being wrapped around my body. “How long has he been there?”
“An hour.”
“You’re certain he came alone?”
“We’ve checked all the streets in a one-mile radius. Haven’t seen anyone who shouldn’t be there.”
Leonardo would be stupid to come to my territory because then he would be fair game. So he sent Victor—his bitch—to do his work. And Victor was probably too stupid to realize he was an expendable pawn on our chessboard. “Tell me when he’s gone.”
I knocked on her door and waited.
Her feet shuffled on the other side. A shadow formed over the peephole. Then she knew it was me.
She opened the door, her eyes wide with surprise because she probably thought she’d never see me again. Her hair was in a loose bun at the top of her head, showing off her slender neck. Her face was free of makeup, but her eyes were still stunning.
The last thing I wanted to do was give her false hope. I wasn’t cruel. “What did he want?”
Her entire face deflated like a balloon popped by a tiny needle. It was slow…and agonizing. “You’re still watching my apartment.”
“If your father steps foot into my territory, the truce is void.”
Once she understood my motivation, her skin went pale as chalk.
“What did he want?” I repeated.
“To see if I was okay.” Her voice was quiet, as if she barely had the energy to string a couple words together.
“What else? He was here for an hour and seventeen minutes.”
Her stare hardened, but she still didn’t have the energy to get angry. “What does it matter?”
“Trust me, it matters. Now, answer my question.”
“He asked if we were still together…and I said no. He said my father wanted to call, but he knew I wouldn’t answer. I told Victor that Leonardo better stay away from me. And that was it.”
“He’s putting out feelers.”
“I know. That’s why I tried to throw him off the scent…even though I’m coming for him.” She reached for her arm and lightly massaged it. “Once my arm fully heals, at least.” She walked back to the table and took a seat.
There was nothing left for me to do but leave.
“Sit with me.” She refilled her wineglass. “I have a proposition for you.”
I studied her for a while before I dropped into the chair across from her, the place I assumed Victor had just occupied. My anger throbbed underneath the surface, annoyed that he had the audacity to come here and act like he gave a damn.
“What?”
My eyes flicked to hers.
“You look angry all of a sudden.”
“I don’t think Victor had any business being here.”