Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 53428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
I widened my eyes.
Gypsy touched his chest. “Me.”
Say what now?
Santino radiated fury, seething with a silent rage that was more intimidating than any words he could have said. His hand shot up with lightning speed and a deafening clatter of metal filled the air behind us.
Fuck.
Slowly, I glanced over my shoulder.
I snapped my head back. My stomach dropped at the sight of Santino’s men. Their guns pointed firmly at Gypsy and the Coffin Cheaters.
Meanwhile, Killer Crows crept closer to us, probably trying to hear us better. I felt the weight of their judgement.
Not moving too fast, I placed my attention forward.
Gypsy watched me. “You know how many of us exist, and what would happen if something happened to me.”
“Nothing will happen tonight.” My hands shook at my sides. “No one is shooting anyone.”
Santino put his hand down.
Movement sounded again behind us, letting me know that Santino’s men had put away their guns for now.
Thank God. I only have attention for one group of enemies at a time.
I cleared my throat. “I just need time to fix this situation. A week.”
That cruel smile spread back on Gypsy’s face. “If Pedro is dead, then we marry. Do you understand?”
I was thankful that Santino made no response or movement, even though deep down inside I knew he was seething.
I held out my hands. “First, let us get the facts straight before we start declaring anything.”
“Facts. I like that.” Gypsy raised his hand to place it inside of his jacket.
Now Santino had his gun out in a blur and pointed at his head.
Jesus Christ. He’s fast.
My bottom lip quivered.
“I would never hurt, Kash.” Gypsy frowned. “I’m getting facts out of my jacket. Not a gun.”
I shivered.
Santino lowered his weapon.
Gypsy pulled out a thick folder. “When my brother didn’t call and none of the Killer Crows would give me answers, I decided to do my own digging.”
“O-kay.” I stared at it.
Gypsy handed it to me. “By the way, you can keep this folder.”
What the hell is this?
I grabbed the folder and opened it.
The first picture that greeted my eyes showed Pedro stepping into a hotel late at night.
I looked up. “What is this?”
“Images from the street cameras.” Gypsy winked. “The Diamond Syndicate isn’t the only people with government connections. This image was the last place that my brother was seen at.”
“Okay.”
“Flip to the other image.”
Sighing, I checked the next picture.
Shit.
Lei walked into the same hotel. It was still in the evening.
Come on, God. Do I need more problems?
When my sister, Chanel was alive, Lei had been beyond obsessed with her. Had life been fair for the both of them, the Board would have let Lei and Chanel marry.
However, my father who was living at the time knew that the North and South leaders in the Syndicate would have seen their marriage as two great powers uniting against them.
He wasn’t completely wrong either. The East and West made a lot of money. Together, we would have been unstoppable.
Additionally, the Coffin Cheaters and Killer Crows had been battling for years over territory. Romeo was in charge during this time and was having a lot of trouble battling against them. We lost a lot of Killer Crows in those years.
My parents thought a peace treaty through marriage would solve two problems—keep the Killer Crows powerful and end our war with the Coffin Cheaters.
It did.
But Lei never stopped loving Chanel and never moved on. He remained single and completely obsessed with my sister, even years after her marriage.
Why did Lei go into this hotel?
I flipped to the next image. Now it was morning as Lei walked out.
O-kay. Where is Pedro?
I went to the next image.
Damn it.
It appeared to be later in the day. Now Dima headed into the hotel with several men.
Really, guys? You all are keeping secrets from me?
I went to the next picture.
This image showed Marcelo and his men entering the hotel.
This is bullshit.
I looked up. “I don’t know what is going on, but I will find out.”
Gypsy softened his expression. “Watching you go through these pictures and seeing your reactions, tell me that you truly had no idea about this.”
“I didn’t.”
“Dima, Marcelo, and Lei are hiding something from you.”
Fury bubbled within me. I closed the folder and placed it at my side.
“If you continue through the images, you will see Dima’s people carrying bags of items out of the hotel. Additionally, one of those bags look like the body of a person.” Gypsy sneered. “Who do you think that could be?”
I gritted my teeth.
Gypsy shook his head. “If it is confirmed that my brother was the body in that bag, Coffin Cheaters will not forget the Diamond Syndicate’s disrespect.”
I won’t either.
“This will be war.” Gypsy pointed at me. “And I expect the Killer Crows to stand with us.”
Alright. Hold on there.
“And... I expect us to marry.” Gypsy winked and headed off.