Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Lucien moved to stand by my side, and Val remained with me, which was good. My leg was protesting, and at any time, I might fall over. I was going to have to rest it before I met Lisa.
“Tell me what you know,” Lucien said.
“Lisa just sent me a message. She has Corey.” I barely succeeded in keeping my voice steady.
No one spoke. I didn’t know how much any of them knew about what had happened between Corey and me, but they could all sense I was close to coming apart.
“She warned me to keep our appointment tonight if I wanted to see him alive.”
“It’s a trap,” Vito said. “Surely you know that.”
I scowled at him. “Of course I know, but I’m going anyway.”
“You don’t really think she’s going to release him, do you?” Lucien asked.
“No, but as long as he’s alive, I have a chance of saving him. If she comes face to face with me, she’ll be dead before she can harm him.”
“And you?” Lucien asked. “Are you planning to live to see him safe and alive?”
“I would prefer it, but I will do whatever is necessary. He was in my care, and it’s my responsibility to save him.”
Vito took a step toward me. “Pops, you can’t—”
Fury built inside me. “Would you walk into a trap to save Zeke? Or would you just leave him there when you had a chance to help him?”
“I could never leave him, but we need to make plans. We have to have people in position to assist you and to look for Corey if Lisa doesn’t bring him with her.”
“I’m doing this alone.”
“The fuck you are,” Lucien growled.
“I’m going in with you, sir,” Giorgio said. “I promised X I wouldn’t let you go on this mission alone.”
I snarled at him. “The mission has changed.”
“You’re still meeting Lisa and planning to kill her, and you still need backup.”
“Haven’t you learned anything this week?” Vito asked.
I turned to face him, barely managing to keep my balance. “Do not speak to me like that.”
He stood his ground. “I’ll do whatever it takes to save your life and Corey’s.”
“Enough,” Lucien’s voice echoed in the room.
He gestured toward the sofa. “Dominic, let’s take a seat.”
I appreciated that he didn’t call out my weakness but gave me a chance to rest. I forced myself to walk with only a trace of a limp, then sat next to my nephew.
“You will meet Lisa tonight,” Lucien said. “And you will put an end to her. I wouldn’t ask you not to follow through with that plan, but you won’t go alone. And we will spend every minute prior to that meeting trying to find Corey’s location so that we can free him.”
“If we go in before the meeting, she’ll kill him.”
“Will she, or is she scared enough to want a way to bargain with you? Does she realize how clear the evidence is against her?”
“I don’t know if she cares. I think at this point she just wants to hurt me and find a way to get enough money out of her disgusting scam so that she can flee the country again.”
Lucien nodded. “That may be true, but we will search for him. She may not bring him to the meeting.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“We won’t make a move without contacting you, but I will ultimately make the decision about what is best.”
“Corey is mine to protect.”
“I am the head of this family, and I make the decisions.” His expression was fierce, his voice sharp and cold. He rarely spoke to me in that tone. I wanted to hate him for it, but he was a good leader. He had done a lot for the family in the few years since his father had stepped down. “Giorgio will go with you tonight. He knows how to remain unseen. He will position himself as a backup shooter. Also, you will wear protective gear.”
“Lisa will see that, and—”
“It will be dark. And if she sees it, then she’ll know you’re wise and a headshot is her only choice. She’s got nowhere near the skill you do.”
“I’m already restricted enough in my movements. I don’t—”
“This is not a negotiation.”
I wanted to scream. I had to make sure I had every chance to make my move. I couldn’t let this go down any other way. I had to save Corey. I had to believe he was alive and that if I ended Lisa’s life, I could have him back.
“Do you accept this plan?”
Did I really have a choice. “Yes, sir.”
“Excellent.”
He looked up and began assigning tasks to the people in the room. Val and Vito were ordered to help me prepare in any way I needed them. I was angry at them, but also glad that they would be by my side until the moment I left, in case it was the last chance I had to talk to them.