Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Giorgio rests an elbow on his knee. “None like Mancini. Why didn’t we know the motherfucker had a weak heart?”
“I know a few guys who may fit the bill,” I say. “Leave it with me. I need to check them out first.”
“Get back to me by next week,” Luigi says, pushing to his feet with a groan. He adds on his way to the door, “If we leave the books with Antonio for too long, everything will be in a fucking mess.”
Giorgio downs his drink and leaves the glass on the desk. “Have you changed your mind about the club?”
Luigi turns on the threshold. “You did a good job in Boston. It deserves a celebration. Drinks at the club are on me.” He points a finger at me. “Tomorrow night. Make it around nine.”
Giorgio shoots a smirk my way as he crosses the floor, finally having gotten his way. I flip him off, which only makes him grin wider.
“Tomorrow night,” I tell Luigi in a neutral tone.
Not waiting for me to get the door, Luigi opens it and exits with Giorgio in tow.
As I follow them down the hallway, movement at the top of the staircase catches my attention.
I look up.
Anya stands on the landing, gripping the balustrade as she stares down at us. Her eyes flare as her gaze lands on Giorgio, and then her pretty face turns white.
I don’t acknowledge her lest I draw their attention to my new inhabitant, but Giorgio is like a bloodhound, always fast to catch on. He’s slowed down, falling in step with me. Before I have time to turn my face away, he follows the direction of my gaze. His eyes narrow with recognition. Like the sly, intuitive boss Luigi is, he senses the disquiet without anyone having said a word. Stopping, he glances back at Giorgio, who still has his face tipped toward the landing. Luigi lifts his head.
His tone is curious. Calculated. “You have a guest.”
I gnash my teeth. It’s hardly the right moment to introduce them. Keeping my voice even, I say, “This is Anya.”
He nods politely while dissecting her with his gaze. “Pleased to meet you.”
Giorgio observes her with an unreadable expression but with no less interest.
Resisting the urge to punch him in the face, I open the door. “I’ll have a list of candidates for you by Friday.”
Luigi smiles in my direction, but his attention stays with Anya even as he walks through the door.
On the porch, he pauses. “Is she the one?”
Giorgio watches me quietly. Too closely.
“Yes,” I say, carefully schooling my features.
Luigi comes closer, stopping short of me. His voice carries softly, but the threat is clear. “When this is over, you will make her disappear.”
It takes everything I have and then some to keep my poker face. “I may still have a use for her.”
“Sav is right,” Giorgio says. “We need her in case new evidence is found. Like Sav said, she can testify that we visited Lewis because she introduced us.”
“You’ll do what’s right when the time comes,” Luigi says before turning and climbing down the stairs.
Giorgio shoots me a look over his shoulder as he follows his father and opens the car door for him.
I clench my hands into fists as they get into the car and, a moment later, drive off.
Anya is mine.
She’s not going anywhere.
Not now.
Not soon.
Not ever.
If I’m to keep her safe, I’ll have to claim her, and I’ll have to do it publicly.
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Anya
Saverio steps back into the house and shuts the door. He’s donned a mask, not showing me anything, but the tense set of his shoulders tells me everything.
“That man,” I say. “I know who he is.”
“That man is Luigi Bianchi,” Saverio says as he stalks up the stairs. “You’ll stay far away from him, understand?”
I swallow and crane my neck to look at him as he stops in front of me. “Because he wants me dead?”
His jaw bunches. “I told you I’d keep you safe.”
“He’s a mafia boss.” At the flare of his eyes, I say, “Yes, I did my homework. That means you work for him, and if you work for him, you have to do as he says.”
He advances, forcing me a step back. “I’m not going to let anyone touch you.”
“I’m not stupid,” I say through dry lips. “As long as I’m a witness, I’m a threat.”
“That’s why it’s vital that you do exactly as I say.” He takes another two steps, backing me up against the wall. “You’re strong-willed and stubborn, but you’re going to have to learn to obey me.”
“I trust no one but myself,” I say, flattening my back against the wood panel to put space between us.
“You’re no match for these men. You don’t stand a chance. I’m your only hope. When I tell you to do something, you’re going to do so without arguing or questioning me. You’re going to learn to trust me, because I’m the only one who can keep you safe.”