Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
I look up at the screen in front of us, the movie paused and wonder how hard it would be to convince Sam to turn the plane around now. I should have never agreed to come in the first place. I’m regretting my impulsive decision more and more by the minute.
“What are you going to do? Do you even want to take over for your father?”
“I do. My uncles are the ones that are holding the family together and their dealings together. I would be working with them. They both want our family name to be strong and stand for something—besides the shame my father has brought to it. It’s not the kind of life I imagined, but I can see what they’re doing, and it needs to be done.”
“Sam, people go to jail every day for doing stuff your family does.”
“I know.”
“They die,” I remind him.
“And sometimes, I’ll be the one to order those deaths, Angie. I have no problem being the man I need to be. Especially if that means making sure men like my father don’t have the same power. There’s a difference between ruling for family and ruling for greed.”
“Your father will likely have you killed before you even get a chance to test that theory.”
“You seem so upset,” he murmurs, making me frown.
“How does that surprise you, Sam? I care about you. I don’t think this is something you should do. Of course, I’m upset.”
“I thought your response would be different. I thought you would be less judgmental.”
“I’m not judging you, Sam. I’m worried about you. There’s a difference.”
“I’m fine. What I am doing by helping to take my father down is better for everyone. That’s my goal. You’ve seen my father up close. I didn’t expect this response from you. You do know who and what Victor Conroy is and does, right?”
Every single muscle in my body locks tight. I can’t move. I don’t even think I breathe. “I never told you Victor’s last name, Sam.”
“Don’t look at me like that, Angie.”
“How am I supposed to look at you? Have you been checking into the people in my life?”
“That’s a hard question to answer,” he stalls, sounding more hesitant and regretful than I’ve ever heard.
“What does that mean? I would think it is pretty damn easy. You either say yes or no.”
Sam grins. “How is it that all your family and friends think you’re so quiet and shy? Do they not know the real you?”
“They don’t think I’m quiet and shy,” I deny, but I know I’m lying. I have made it a habit to not assert myself and to hide in the shadows. I don’t like drawing attention to myself. It just became easier to be somewhat of a wallflower. The only person that slips around is Victor, and even then, it’s not all the time. Sam, on the other hand, knew me before my attack. So, he doesn’t know the shell of myself that I have become.
“Liar. Although it seems you don’t hesitate to stand up to Victorio.”
A smile tugs on my lips when he says that. Until the incident with Morgan, I began to feel like I could be myself around Victor. It’s like my body and my mind both knew I was safe with him. Now, I’m back to being reserved. I’m so tired of living my life afraid all the time.
“You’re changing the subject. I want to know what’s going on. Wait, I don’t. I’ve changed my mind. All I want from you is to take me back home right now.”
“Now that, I’m afraid is not possible.”
“What do you mean? Of course, it’s possible. Turn this plane around, Sam. You promised you’d have me home tonight.”
“And you will be,” he agrees.
“Then, let’s just go home now.”
“We’re almost to our destination and I did promise you a great dinner at my favorite diner.”
He’s not looking me in the eye. I can’t shake the feeling that something is going on. I pick up my phone once again to see if Victor ever responded.
He hasn’t.
“You better not be lying to me, Sam,” I mutter. I put my phone down on the table in front of me. I can’t help but notice Sam stays quiet.
Shit. What kind of trouble did I get myself into?
sam
. . .
I look over at Angie and feel a million different things—the biggest one being regret. She’s going to hate me. I know it, but there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop it. Right now, she’s staring at her phone. I know she’s waiting for that damn Victorio to text her.
Victorio Conroy was a complication that I hadn’t planned on. I knew he was her bodyguard. I’ve had Angie under surveillance for a while. No one besides me and my most trusted men know. The men I have watching over her are inside the DeLuca organization. They are able to monitor things without anyone being the wiser. That has worked to my advantage and one of the main reasons I’ve left her on her own for so long.