Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“Enrique was the one they threatened and he’s trying to go back again, so if anything, he’s the one with the death wish.” Dean kept smoking.
“What does that mean?” I asked. “They threatened him?”
“Did you know this?” Gio looked at Loren.
“Not about Emma trying to go, but I knew armed guards were waiting for Enrique when he landed his plane.”
“Jesus.” Gio breathed out, pushing off his chair. He looked at Gabe. “Thanks for telling us.” Then, he looked at Dean. “Keep me posted.” Then, at Lorenzo. “Let’s go talk to my cousin.”
Rocco’s phone vibrated again. He picked it up and turned it over. Mike again.
“You might want to answer that,” I said.
Rocco spared me a glance. “Nah. I’ll call him when we’re done.”
“I have an early flight and some of us aren’t vampires and need sleep.” He stood. I stood with him and returned the tight hug he gave me. “Let me know if you want to join.”
“I don’t think I will this time.” I pulled away and watched him walk out before I turned to Dean. “I need security on him.”
“Loren already set it up.”
Good.
“I’m going to head out.” Dean stood.
“You just got here.”
“Yeah, well, I’m tired as fuck. Sandy doesn’t feel well.”
“The wolf?” Rocco’s brows rose.
“Yeah, the wolf. Why do you say it like that?” Dean frowned.
“You’re psychotic.” Rocco shook his head. “Who the fuck buys three baby wolves?”
“Someone who has two hundred acres of land,” I said.
“Someone who’s insane,” Rocco said.
“They have their own area; it’s not like you’ll see them when you visit. Unless you want to,” Dean said as he walked out.
I shook my head.
Rocco’s phone buzzed again. Mike again.
Finally, he sighed and answered it, putting the phone to his ear and waiting. He always waited for the person on the other end of the call to speak first. His brother must have and from the way Rocco’s brows lifted, I knew he hadn’t started with a friendly hello.
“No.” Rocco said, standing up and walking to the other side of the room, where a red punching bag hung from the ceiling.
I looked at my phone. Still nothing from Rosie. I looked up at Rocco and found him staring at me. To anyone else, the expression might have seemed nonchalant and impossible to read, but I’d known him too long. He looked worried and that made my stomach sink. Rocco never worried.
“Dom.” He took a step forward.
It was a slow step and it instantly fucked with me. I could always count on my brothers to not pull back on the punches and say it like it was. This wasn’t the norm for any of them, especially Rocco. Quickly, I went through the list of people I cared about and their locations. Gabe had just left, we had security on him, and Mike had been calling before that, so it wasn’t about him. Rosie was at her dad’s having dinner. My sister was still in England, so it could be her. I couldn’t figure out who could have died. It was the only reason he’d call. Mike was the one who told us about Frankie, then about Joey. He’d been the bearer of bad news countless times.
“Spit it out,” I said, my stomach churning.
Rocco took a breath as if he was bracing himself for something. “Isn’t Rosie’s dad’s house on West 175th?”
“Yeah,” I said, dread slowly coursing through me. “Why?” Rocco didn’t answer. I walked over and yanked the phone from his hand. “Why, Mikey?”
“Dominic.” Mike’s voice was calm.
“No. Why the fuck is a homicide detective calling to ask about my girlfriend’s dad’s house where she’s currently having dinner?”
“We got a call from a neighbor who heard gunshots.” He paused for a second. My heart was no longer beating. My grip was so tight on the phone that my hand started to cramp. Even if I had words to say, I wouldn’t be able to speak them. I waited. “I don’t know exactly what we’re working with here, but word is we have a potential hostage situation on our hands. I wanted you to hear it from me. I’ll keep you posted.”
I let the phone fall to the ground and stormed out.
35
ROSIE
You think you know fear until you have a gun in front of you and you’re on the other side of the barrel. I brought my knees up and hugged them, heart pounding wildly. It was the only thing I could hear. I’d lost my hearing when they barged in here. They’d taken two shots to scare us and both were next to me. BANG. One ear shut down. BANG. The other ear did the same. One of the guys was gone, but there was still one by the door, holding a huge gun, watching us. He looked no older than my brother. He looked like my brother, tall and skinny with dark hair, dark brown skin, and dark eyes. He was Dominican too. If he was from around here, Santi would’ve known him. He’d have gone to school with him.