Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“And what did you hear?” I ask, remaining very still.
The girl shrugs. She leans back, head tilted to the side. I can see why Tommy would find her attractive. She’s got the looks of a woman used to getting attention, and an attitude like a venomous snake. Some guys are into that.
“Mostly, it was bullshit. Nothing things, you know, stupid jokes and chatter and such. But once, they got all serious, and they were talking about some special job Tommy was running overseas back in the old country.”
“Tommy was involved in Serbia?”
“I don’t think so, not exactly. It was more like… he was going to be more involved. Like he was expanding.”
My heart starts racing. “When was this?”
“Two, three months ago.” She shrugs a little and licks her lips. “Is this good information? Was this useful?”
“Extremely.” I’m already turning away as I digest what she told me.
“Then I need money. A little reward for being loyal, yes?” She runs fingers through her hair and tosses an innocent smile my way when I glare at her. “What, are you surprised? I don’t want to spread my legs for horny idiots for the rest of my life. I have names of Serbian men he met with too, if that helps.”
“Write them down and give them to Rodrigo in the next hour. I’ll get the names from him. Talk to him again tomorrow morning, and he’ll have something for you.”
“I am very appreciative of your generosity.”
I leave the girl in the room. Out in the hall, I pace back and forth as the full picture begins to resolve.
Tommy’s been trafficking girls for years now. Back when I was still running the crew, back before I went to prison, that was the start of it. He likely first met the Serbians during one of our jobs and took on the pimping shit as a little side gig to earn extra cash.
Then he realized how lucrative it was and how much more money he could make if he had the perfect spot to act as a front.
That was Cage.
And that’s what catalyzed my downfall.
Except that was only part of his long term goal. Working here in the States is nice, but the laws are much more malleable overseas where government officials and police officers are even easier to bribe. He could move his base of operations direct to the source of his girls and start his very own empire.
Which means that’s his escape plan. The butcher shop is only a temporary safehouse.
Soon, he’s going to make a break for it. Tommy knows he’ll never be safe in America again, but in Serbia?
The Bianco Famiglia is powerful, but our resources only stretch so far.
He’s going to run, and when he does, we’ll be waiting.
Chapter 40
Claudia
Ifeel completely out of place sitting on gorgeous outdoor furniture in a lush and lovely back yard with four of the most amazing women I’ve ever met. Elena’s talking about how she’s trying for a baby with her husband, Brody, while Emily, Simon’s wife, leans back and watches her toddler, Jeremy, tear around the yard while Freddie chases after him.
“Enjoy your freedom while you can,” Emily says. She’s smiling to herself as her little boy just barely escapes the clutches of his grandmother. “Once that kid comes along, everything changes.”
“It can’t be that bad, right?” Elena shrugs, sounding nonchalant. “Brody says we’ll hire a fleet of nannies.”
“Nannies can only do so much.” Emily takes a long sip of wine. “Nannies can’t take away the constant nagging worry that you’re not doing enough, or that your baby isn’t perfectly healthy, and somehow everything’s your own damn fault.”
“Girl, I think that’s just your anxiety speaking,” Stefania says.
Emily laughs and shakes her head. “I mean, that’s probably true, but it’s also a mom thing.”
“Honestly, I can do with a little more anxiety in my life.” Elena waves away the looks she gets. Even I’m like, what the heck is she talking about? “Life is boring sometimes. The family’s not really at war anymore and Brody takes care of everything, and I guess I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my life.”
“I guess that’s reasonable,” Stefania says with a sly smile. “Or you could just, you know, get a job.”
“Kill me now.” Elena mimes stabbing herself in the heart. “I’d rather pump out kids than get a job.”
“Oh, the horror.” Stefania laughs and swats at Elena.
“Seriously, when are you getting pregnant? You and Davide have been together for a while now and we haven’t heard a peep about it.” Elena’s head tilts to the side.
Stefania looks down at her glass. Her smile fades away and she seems pensive. I get the feeling this isn’t a conversation she wants to have, and I’m about to cut in and save her, but she speaks up anyway.
“I don’t think I’m going to have kids.”