Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“I have some clue,” he says quietly but shakes his head. “You’re right though. I’ve never suffered that way.”
“It’s like my whole life has been spent struggling just to survive. The next breath, the next meal, none of it is ever guaranteed. My mother worked dozens of jobs to keep us both afloat, but she had too much pain in her and she was never able to get ahead. I blame Malcolm for that. She was waiting on a miracle that never showed up.”
Gavino doesn’t move as I walk away. I lean against the wall, catching my breath, trying to find some center again but it’s like I’m spiraling into hate. I haven’t told that story to anyone in years, and now, spewing it out feels like puking my guts up on my shoes.
“All right,” Gavino says finally and I look up. “That was vague and didn’t really give me a straight answer, but all right. Trust goes both ways. If I want you to trust me then I’ll need to trust you in return. I’ll start by letting you keep your secret.”
I work my jaw, because that pisses me off—like he has any choice in the matter—but I nod once. “Thanks.”
“You’ll need to meet with Casso. He’s my older brother and the head of the Famiglia. We’ll have a contract drawn up and hammer out the details of our arrangement. You’ll get a salary, benefits—”
“Wait, hold on. You’re paying me?” My eyebrows raise and I stand up straight. “Seriously?”
“You’re going to be my personal secretary. Did you think I was going to make you work for free?”
“Basically, yeah.”
“No, that’s not how we do things here. I pay my people.” He tilts his head, smiling, and comes closer. “I like that you were willing to be all mine for nothing.”
“Not for nothing,” I say, meeting his gaze. “For Malcolm’s blood.”
“High price, but you’re in luck, because I’m willing to pay.” He stops close to me, his body big and hulking, his lips gorgeous and his chin chiseled. “But remember. You will be mine. All of you.” With that, he slips past me, pulls open the door, and steps into the hallway.
“Wait, what do I do now?”
“Make yourself at home. Write up a list of what you want from your apartment. Wait until you’re summoned. I’ll come for you soon.”
Chapter 10
Gavino
Casso frowns at me from behind his desk, arms crossed over his chest. Fynn sits quietly on the couch, ankles crossed in front of him, and Nico paces back and forth. I watch my brothers with a dark expression.
“She’s useful,” I say, gesturing for calm. “She’s keeping secrets, but that’s to be expected.”
“She’s a liability,” Nico says, glaring at me. “You have to see it. She’s in our damn house.”
“We don’t know her,” Casso agrees.
“Why do you want to keep a woman around?” Fynn asks. “It isn’t like you to want a woman around for more than a night.”
I glare at them. “Would you just listen, all of you?” Nico stops pacing and Casso makes a go-ahead gesture. “Jeanie knows something about Malcolm. She wants to hurt him for a reason she won’t say, and I think we can use that. Besides, she’s clever, and I think she’ll be helpful in closing this damn deal.”
“We don’t want to hurt Malcolm, we want to work with him,” Casso points out, narrowing his eyes at me. He’s very aware of my personal feelings toward Malcolm. “Do you think she’ll be on board with that?”
“I don’t know,” I admit and choose not to tell him what I promised her. Malcolm’s blood. I’m playing a dangerous game here, but if it pays off, the Famiglia will be even stronger than before. “But at the very least, her presence will knock them off balance. That’s a good thing when it comes to a man like Malcolm.”
“I say we keep her around,” Fynn says with a shrug. “What’s the harm? We’ll make sure she’s watched night and day whenever she’s in the house so she won’t have a chance to get into trouble. Besides, it means Gavino might spend more time in the main house.”
There’s a knock at the door as I give Fynn a sharp look and Karah breezes into the room. She kisses Nico and he smiles at her in response. His whole face lights up whenever she’s around. Those two are still madly in love with each other, even all these years later. It’s sickening.
“What’d I miss?” Karah looks around.
“Gavino’s got a new toy, and your husband and Casso want to take her away,” Fynn says.
“That’s not—” I start but Karah interrupts me.
“I hear Nathan says she’s cute. Is that true?” Karah’s grin is sly and I’m simmering on the inside.
“The kids met her?” Casso seems surprised. “I thought you’d sneak her in.”
“They ambushed me,” I grumble, which isn’t true—they just happened to be heading out as I was heading in. Bad luck.