Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Fuck, I don’t even know if I’ve been compromised myself. All I know is what I was told to do and what the consequences will be if I don’t.
“Let me in,” she says on the other side of the door. The medic Sergio called in smiles wanly at me.
“She doesn’t give up, does she?”
“No,” I say with a laugh that hurts my rib cage. Broken ribs? “She’ll battle you to the death and then her ghost will come back and haunt you for eternity.”
Sergio snorts in the corner. “Got that right.”
Sergio’s had the privilege of being Starla’s pseudo-dad for the past six years, when he and Eden got custody of Starla before she reached adulthood. He ought to know.
Pride swells in my chest. I’ve never met a single other human who could fight the way Starla does.
Don’t think of that.
Don’t think of her.
You don’t know her. She doesn’t know you.
I wait as patiently as I can while the doctor pokes and prods. After someone in our brotherhood’s been taken as prisoner, reentry is almost a militaristic procedure. I’ll go through an initial screening to make sure I get the proper medical care, followed by a security screening and questioning.
I’ll do whatever it takes.
I’m home.
“There’s minor evidence you’ve been compromised, Mr. Montavio, but nothing that would prevent your full immersion back into your family,” the doc says, sliding his stethoscope off my chest and folding it up. “You’ve obviously been beaten and injured. I’ve noted three badly bruised ribs that’ll mend quickly, lacerations, and evidence you’ve been drugged as well. You may have memory impairment, confusion, or poor concentration. The effects vary widely depending on the length of time and the drug used, but if you find you’re experiencing hallucinations or delusions, I’ll need to know immediately.” He looks at Sergio. “Tolerance and mental fortitude will have a large impact on his ability to move beyond any cognitive disablement.”
“Right.” I sit up and stretch, ignoring the pain across my back and through my ribs, and the sudden visceral image of three men entering my cell bearing weapons. Fucking assholes. One man against an armed one is an unfair advantage. It was my own fault for fucking the first one up. After that, they always sent them in groups of three. “I’m free to go?”
The doctor and Sergio share a look.
“Not yet,” Sergio says. “We need you to meet with a few more people.”
Shrinks? Investigators? Questioners.
“Bring it,” I say on a sigh, as Starla’s voice on the other side rings clear.
“Did you guys feed him? He needs like a really good meal or maybe ten. Did you give him water? Sergio, don’t tell me you jerks were so invested in searching him that you—”
Someone pulls her away, her voice growing muffled and faded.
I quirk a brow at Sergio. His lips purse in a thin line and he shakes his head at me.
“No Starla yet.”
I grunt in reply. “She has a point. Could give a brother a cup of fucking coffee.”
“We needed to investigate first, Mr. Montavio. Some evidence of human tampering becomes hard to trace after the administration of food and water.”
“Fine,” I say, leaning back on the stretcher. “At least tell me you’ve got a hottie to do the body cavity check?”
Sergio snorts. “Jesus, you can’t be that fucked up,” he mutters. “Still a wiseass.”
“I’d have expected you guys to be happier to see me,” I say with a shrug. “Bring out the fatted calf and all that like the prodigal son.”
The investigation continues, but I manage to convince them to bring me a tray of food probably made in the kitchen by Sergio’s wife. Eden’s the resident cook, and her food has won awards in local magazines. I feast on apple pie, roasted chicken, and mashed potatoes until I’m satisfied, while I answer question after question.
Well, answer as much as I can, that is.
“Cleared?” Sergio asks. I don’t look up. Eye contact right now is probably not the smartest choice. There’s no fucking question I’ve been mentally compromised. Did I give those assholes the keys to the kingdom? Hell no, which is why I’m sitting here beaten as badly as I am.
“Are you going to let me in or what?”
Sergio rolls his eyes heavenward and pulls out his phone.
“Yeah, she’s giving us shit through the door, babe. You still in the kitchen? Yeah. I know, but we had the o— right.” He blows out a breath and shakes his head. “No, I know, but—”
My brother is one of the fiercest mobsters on the East Coast. People take a step back when they hear the name Montavio, and when paired with Sergio, it’s a whole other ballgame.
It used to be that my brother Ricco and I were the ones that had the greatest sway over Sergio… and then he married Eden.
“Alright. Yeah, I understand. I’ll tell you later. Love you, too.”