Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
The room smells like an old fire, leather, and whiskey. There’s a drink tray next to a small sitting area, and beyond that is a massive desk.
Luca’s father doesn’t stand.
He’s in his sixties and thin, like a skinny, older version of Luca, but with a sharper nose and darker eyes. He stares at me intently, not bothering to hide the sneer as his gaze sweeps me from ankle to head and finally he looks at Luca and shakes his head.
“You dressed the Greek whore up for me, congratulations. She almost looks respectable.”
“Don’t talk about my wife like that.” Luca’s grip on me tightens. “Shouldn’t you still be in the hospital?”
“I checked myself out.” His father shakes his head. “You really went through with this?”
“I told you—”
“And I told you. Kill the girl.” He slides open a drawer and lifts a gun out, placing it down on the desk in front of him. “Do I have to do it for you? Are you that inept?”
Luca releases me and steps forward, putting himself between me and his father.
“You didn’t hear me, Papa. I said, this is my wife, Kacia Valverde.”
His father sneers. “Valverde? The Greek whore took our name? Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is? How you’ve tainted our name?”
“If you call her a whore again, old man, I’m going to send you back to that hospital. What’ll the capos say then?”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Go ahead, Papa. Test me.”
He slowly stands and stares at his son. He’s gaunt and leaning his weight on the desk, and it’s obvious he should still be at the hospital, but the man’s insane. He’s a gangster, more worried about his image than his life.
“The girl is our enemy. She’s a worthless Greek whore, and you will learn to obey me, boy.”
Luca strides forward, hands curled into fists.
“Stop it,” I say, holding my hands out.
Luca stops and both men stare at me. I remember his words, don’t speak, but fuck this. I can’t stand by and watch Luca beat his sick father just because the old man’s an asshole. He might actually kill the Don, and what then? We’ll be even worse than before.
“The whore speaks,” his father says.
“My name is Kacia. You know who I am.”
“And you know me.” His shows his crooked teeth. “Roberto Valverde. The reason your whole family is dead.”
“Kacia,” Luca warns. “That’s enough.” He turns back to his father and I stand there seething. Now I wish I hadn’t stopped him. “Papa, it’s done. Word will already be spreading through the Famiglia. You can go against this decision and let our enemies know that we’re weak and divided, or you can embrace it and turn it into a win. Tell the capos we’re increasing our strength by building our connections in Greece. We’re choosing peace and prosperity and putting an end to the war for good.”
“Killing the girl would’ve done that just as well,” he snarls. “Or perhaps you’ve forgotten your younger brother? Do you remember how they sent us his body?”
“Papa,” I say, tone sharp and warning.
“You should’ve killed every Greek fuck you saw for your brother’s sake.”
“Maybe, but marrying Kacia gives us a chance to get our hands on her family’s weed connections. Think for once. Don’t rush to blood. She’s worth keeping.”
Roberto stares at his son. The men don’t move, and I stay there, my body thrumming with uncertainty, until finally the old man sinks back down in his seat.
“I will not condone this travesty,” he says, and holds a hand up before Luca can argue. “I have too much respect for the memory of your younger brother, But I won’t denounce it either. You want to keep the girl? Then you’ll have to convince the Famiglia to go along with this joke. But more than that, you need to get the Greek crime lords on board as well.”
Luca shifts his weight and crosses his arms. “And if we can’t?”
“Then I really will kill the girl. You say she’s worth keeping? Then prove it. Get me that Greek weed. Get it on the streets and make the Famiglia see how we can flourish with her around.”
“If you say nothing, the capos will interpret that as open season on her. Someone will try to kill her.”
“I’d be disappointed if they didn’t.”
“You could make this go down a lot easier.”
“You made this choice, boy.” Roberto leans back and his eyes slip to mine. “She’s pretty. I’ll give you that. But pretty doesn’t mean a goddamn thing. If you wanted pretty pussy, boy, there are plenty of Italian girls.”
“Too late now. I made my choice.”
“Yes, you did.” Roberto nods at me. “What about you, Greek girl? Are you really happy about this? I can’t imagine my son convinced you do go along willingly.”
My eyes dart to Luca. He nods slightly, giving me the green light to answer.