Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“I understand that, but…” She wets her lips. “Alessa is a Giordano, remember? Not just in the Mafia Family, but also by blood. Dario is a Fabbri and I'm a Romano, but Alessa's father is Papa's nephew, and that means a lot. There's a rift between the Fabbris and the Giordanos right now. The Fabbris were making a lot of money when Hawthorne was in charge and they want us back to the old days of owning the whole city, not just the East Side. Old school Mafia stuff.”
Eagle-eye fixes his one eye on her. “Tell me why this is important.”
She nods quickly. “I'm getting there. After what Dario did to upset the peace, he was banished from the Family, at least until the truce is settled. His family is pissed, and they're backing him. Things are really tense back at the Tower right now. The Fabbris don't want the truce, and would rather we just wipe the Screaming Eagles off the map and be done with you—”
“They can fucking try,” grunts Ripper. There's an agreeing echo of growls and hell yeahs.
Beatrice looks around with big eyes, probably feeling exactly how vulnerable she is, but she has the guts to continue. “The truce is important to Papa, and the Giordanos. And the Romanos,” she adds quickly, making sure to include herself. “We want to be free to do business without fighting in the streets, you know? If you contact Alessa's dad and tell him Dario has her, he's going to be furious, but they're not going to sit still for one of the Fabbris kidnapping a Giordano.”
“All this infighting shit makes my head hurt. Can’t we just shoot someone?” asks Snark. It's rare to see his bloodlust come out, but his hands aren’t any cleaner than ours.
“Beatrice,” I say, drawing her attention back to me. She swallows as if she'd forgotten that I was sitting right in front, still holding my gun. “Why her dad? Why not speak directly to Papa.”
“Because Papa liked the idea that marrying Alessa to Dario would help calm the feud between them, and maybe make Dario chill out a little. He’s already got Nicholas stuck to his side, but even that’s not enough anymore. Papa doesn't want to risk the truce, but he sees it as an opportunity for peace in the family. But trust me, Alessa's dad doesn't want Dario anywhere near Alessa. She's his only daughter, and with her mother gone, he doesn't want his family legacy to go to the Fabbris. He just hasn’t wanted to straight up say no to Papa.”
“Then we'll make the fucker work with us,” Eagle-eye crunches. “Give me his number.”
Beatrice gets out her phone. “Yeah. I'll find it.”
“Viking, gather the boys. We're going hunting. I'm going to call Giordano and make sure we come to an understanding.”
I stand up, the motion drawing Beatrice's attention back to me. “This had better be the truth, and all of the truth. If there's anything you want to add, now's the fucking time. We're keeping you here until we have Alessa back, and then you're going to confess everything to her. It's up to her what we do with you.”
“That’s all I can think of. I swear. I've told you everything. I don't care if Dario exposes the debt anymore. We'll deal with it, as long as you stop Dario. It's not worth Alessa's life. Or your lives. If she hasn't said it, Alessa loves you guys. And if she loves you, then I care—even if that sounds ridiculous in this situation.” She's wringing her hands again and chewing her lower lip.
“We know.”
Feeling done, I leave Beatrice behind to sob in the chair. The front door squeaks as I push it open. I need some fucking air. There isn't much I can do right now anyway while Eagle-eye is negotiating and Viking is organizing. They know I'm ready for anything, anytime.
I wasn't lying to Beatrice. I know Alessa fucking loves us. The only reason my gun was out there was because she took it. Was she trying to trap Dario? Take the fucker out? I'd be fucking proud of her if I wasn't so fucking worried that she got hurt. The gunshots had sounded like a full magazine, but according to Bear and Snark there was no blood. Just a wall that'd been chipped to hell by bullets.
She'd better be okay.
I haven't told her that I fucking love her yet.
32
ALESSA
“Where are we going?”
I don't know this part of the city like the guys do, but I know we're not heading to the Tower. Then again, Dario’s not allowed there, is he? But the Fabbri family home is in the same direction, so we're not heading there either.
“I'm on a bit of a break from the Family. Nothing big. Nothing that won't be sorted in a few days. Papa won't dare alienate the whole fucking Fabbri family. Cazzo. Truce. What the fuck is the old moron thinking. It's time for a change of leadership, if you ask me. The city doesn't fear the Giordanos anymore.” He looks over at me where I'm squirming uncomfortably in the passenger seat. “They would fear the Fabbris though, I can guarantee you that.”