Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
What am I going to do?
Chapter 51
The Clown Opera?
Emily
In the conference room, ten men stood in front of us. All of them wore these black and white clown masks with deranged grins, stitched eyes, and bulbous noses.
I didn’t know if I should laugh or run.
Meanwhile, one of the clowns stepped forward, telling me that he must have been the leader.
Is that Rocco Vizzini?
Max and Boris stood on the right side of the room. While Boris leaned against the wall, Max glared at the clown leader.
Relax.
Before the clowns arrived, Max and Boris had grabbed their guns. Now, their weapons lay in their holsters.
I scanned the space.
Several of Kaz’s men lined the walls and gripped their guns.
Wassily was armed and on my right.
On my left, Kaz sneered. “Take off your masks.”
None of the clowns moved.
“Hmmm.” Kaz walked over to the leader and stopped in front of him. The clown leader didn’t turn his way. Kaz placed his hands in his pocket. “Did you know the first circus started in England?”
The clowns remained frozen like statues.
“1768.” Kaz shrugged. “Or maybe 1769. Does not matter, the man who invented it was six feet tall, and a former sergeant major. He saw war.”
I wondered what the clowns’ expressions were under the mask—confused or annoyed.
“His name was Philip Astley. They say his showman skills were developed during his military career.” Kaz walked away from the leader and checked out the other clowns. “That fact always stuck with me.”
Kaz turned around and gestured to Wassily. “How do you think this man found the skill for entertainment in a war dealing death and pain?”
Wassily shrugged. “Perhaps because humans can be funny in any situation. . .even in war.”
“Yes.” Kaz pointed at Wassily and bobbed his head. “Humans are unpredictable and quite entertaining, even in the middle of war.”
Kaz put his attention back on the leader. “Here I thought I was fighting Black Axe and desperately trying to get out of this god forsaken country.”
As if unconcerned and possibly bored, the clown leader placed his hands behind his back.
“And here I find that the circus has come to town?” Kaz leaned his head to the side. “Perhaps, I do not want to leave at all.”
The clowns remained silent.
The door opened.
Four Harlem Crew members stepped inside and walked over to me.
I whispered, “What’s up?”
One leaned my way. “They found, Blue. David is bringing her back.”
“Ah!” The noise just squeaked out of me. Anger, hopelessness, and resentment left my body, and I had no idea they had even been boiling inside me.
Everyone looked my way. Even the clowns.
Relief surged through me.
I let out a long breath. “They found Blue.”
“Yo.” Shock hit Max’s face. “Are you fucking with me?”
The Harlem Crew member shook his head. “I talked to Blue on the phone. She wanted Emily to know, immediately.”
“Oh my God.” Max rubbed his head. “Sweetheart has nine lives like a cat. I can’t wait to see her.”
Boris rose from the wall. “Can I go meet them when they land?”
My nerves calmed. “Go ahead. Then, hurry back.”
Boris left with the four of Harlem Crew.
Jesus Christ. Thank you.
“And now for more miracles this evening.” Kaz put his attention back on the clowns. “Do you think you all could disappear?”
Only silence came.
“Let’s give them some motivation.” Kaz gestured to his men. They raised their guns and pointed at the clowns’ heads. Kaz snatched the mask off the leader’s face.
Oh.
I didn’t know why I expected some hideous monster’s face—mismatched eyes, a bumpy, uneven nose, crooked teeth.
However, the vision that greeted my eyes was the exact opposite.
Rocco was a good-looking man.
Lush wavy black hair framed his face. His deep-set green eyes sparkled like jewels. His high cheekbones were softly colored, giving him a warm, inviting glow.
It might have been a crime to cover that face with a mask.
Rocco directed his view to Kaz. A heavy Italian accent rode his words. “This could be a miracle, Kazimir.”
“Could it?”
“Just let us go.”
“Not so fast.”
“The Brotherhood is already involved in a complicated war with Black Axe. A wise man would not want to welcome my family into this.”
Kaz pointed to his own face. “Does this look like a welcoming expression?”
Rocco pursed his lips.
“I surely did not welcome you to this hotel, yet here you are, dressed to entertain.”
“We can go, Kazimir. Let us all pretend like this never happened.”
Kaz spoke through clenched teeth, “Yet, it did happen. Lights off. Cellular service too. Even an attempted escape of someone that I am holding here.”
Anger flashed in Rocco’s green eyes. “You are holding a person of interest for the Vizzini Family. I chose to act—”
“Oh really? A person of interest.”
Rocco nodded.
“If I call your Don, he will back this up?”
Rocco said nothing.
“Perhaps, this person of interest is not connected to the Vizzini Family at all. Maybe, it is only you that is interested.”