Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
This was his job—to provide an opportunity for brother and sister to meet. He’d gotten a call from a cop, warning him that Ben Hunter was talking shit about him. Telling people he was invincible because Rome Hayes was on his side.
The only person keeping Ben alive right now was his sister.
He didn’t know what kind of delusion Ben was working on right now, but either way, this was a test for Beth. She looked up at him with a frown on her face.
“You’re back,” she said.
“Business took a little longer than I would have liked. Were you able to find the bathroom okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, yeah, it was fine.”
He gave her that opening.
The waitress was just in time with their drinks, a friendly smile, and off she went.
He handed Beth her orange juice as he took a sip of his whiskey. Rome always made sure he got the best, he didn’t shirk on quality. The whiskey was spicy, but not in a cheap way. This had been aged with grace.
“My brother was in the ladies’ room, waiting for me when I was done,” Beth said.
Rome turned toward her. He figured she wouldn’t tell him, that her loyalty was to her brother and not him. Beth lifted her gaze to his, and he saw the tears in her eyes.
“He wants me to steal money from you. He … I’m sorry. I…” She looked around the room and the music was just a little too loud.
“Come on,” he said, taking hold of her hand. He led her toward the back of the nightclub, going through several doors, until he stepped into his office. The moment the door closed, silence assailed them.
“A soundproof office, I should have known you would have something like this,” she said.
“Only the best,” he said.
“Of course.” She chuckled. “That is what you have.”
He moved toward the desk and leaned against the front of it. “Talk.”
“I don’t know what he’s doing or what he’s been up to, but he mentioned losing the apartment. I can’t even believe he has done that. We don’t even own the place, but apparently if someone wants to rent, then it can be some kind of collateral, I guess. I don’t get it. It’s a shitty apartment.” She cried out. “He makes me so mad! I told him to get his shit together, and instead, he’s only made things worse, and now he wants me to steal from you.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what happened.”
Rome sighed.
Tears had started to fall down her face. The mascara she wore must be waterproof, as none of it had smudged while she cried.
“It’s pretty simple, I’ve been aware of your brother using my name as leverage to get into several places.”
“What?” Beth asked. “What kind of places?”
“Gambling. Anywhere you can place a bet is where you can find him.”
She shook her head. “No, that is insane.” She began to pace.
“Did you know what your brother did back home?” he asked.
“He had some kind of job, I don’t know what. He always wore a suit, and he said it was important.”
Rome stared at her. There was a lot she didn’t know about her brother.
“Your brother was a breaker,” Rome said.
“What?”
“He worked for one of the biggest crooks in town. A guy called—”
“Vinchy?”
“Yeah, you now the name?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, he ran everything in town. He owned everything. No one could do anything without him knowing. My parents worked for him as well. I always thought, no, Ben always told me he had a good job.”
“He did, he got paid to break bones of men and women who didn’t pay their debts.”
Beth gasped and pressed her hands to her face. “He did?”
He saw her scrambling as she started to pace.
“Holy crap, no, this can’t be, but then, that makes a lot of sense. It explains why so many people were upset and terrified of him. I can’t believe it, this feels insane, I mean, none of it makes sense to me, and yet it does. He broke a woman’s nose.” Beth rubbed her temple.
“Do you want to steal from me?” he asked.
“What?” She shook her head. “Hell, no. I left home. I left my parents. I left that life and he can tell me all he wants that I owe him. I owe him nothing. I’ve been taking care of him for the last five years, and he has done nothing for himself.” She screamed and tightened her hands into fists. “He makes me so angry.” Beth looked up at him, and he saw how lost she appeared. “What do I do?”
Rome knew there was nothing she could do. He spread open his arms. “Come here.”
Beth sighed and he partly expected her to tell him no, but then she surprised him by closing the distance and all but throwing herself into his arms.