Total pages in book: 206
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
“You, my dear, have the misfortune of being a pawn in a game, I’m afraid. But you’ll be safe here, provided the Ferrano family meets my demands. They are not known for bargaining, so I hope that you mean something to that fiancé of yours.”
I would’ve gulped, but my throat was so dry I couldn’t.
“Please have tea, something to eat.” He poured tea into the cup and glanced at his wristwatch. I didn’t know what else to do so I shakily spooned sugar into the teacup.
Pop had agreed, without hesitation, that we needed to get her back. They had demanded that he, not me, come down to negotiate tomorrow. But I was already there so we were pushing back.
I still didn’t know why he picked this specific girl for me, but he clearly wanted me to have her because he was on board with getting her back, no matter the cost. He didn’t try to talk me out of anything.
At first, Dare ranted about the fact that we didn’t play these games with our enemies and that if we negotiated not only would we appear weak but Tia would then become an ongoing liability because our enemies would know that she was a weakness. I thought I’d have a fight on my hands with Pop, that he’d wave his hand dismissively and tell me to let Castillo do whatever to her.
But Pop was on board with getting her back and gave me the green light to do whatever it took. “This is the mother of my future grandchildren,” he said in retort after Dario protested. “She’s already part of this family. Yes we don’t usually play these games but what if this was Luciana or Contessa? You’d pay any price. This girl is your brother’s so now she’s your sister, too. Besides, if we don’t take care of our own what will that say to people who trust us? Tommy, you’re all but boss now so you have my full support, whatever you have to do to bring her back. As soon as she’s back we plan the wedding and then you are in full control. Me and Monalisa are retiring to the Caymans.”
I knew that if I didn’t get her back fast they wouldn’t kill her. No, they’d do worse. They’d use her. Then when they had sucked out her soul and left her a shell of a person she’d be sent off to a Mexican brothel where she’d get addicted to blow and where she’d eventually die, either from an overdose, from suicide, or because a John had been too rough. They couldn’t have her, couldn’t ruin her. She was mine. The thought of “mine to ruin” was in my head, but I pushed it away. I actually didn’t want to ruin her. I hoped I hadn’t already done it.
We were going to play ball to get her back and then I would systematically destroy that cartel. I would tear Castillo limb from limb with my bare hands. If he dared let anyone touch her, I would take even longer ending his life. I couldn’t even begin to think about what I’d do to Earl for his betrayal. He knew how we operated. What would possess him to do this?
“We don’t play these games. What are we even fucking doing talking to the fucking pedo?” said Dario, again shaking his head, when he and I were on our way inside the airport.
I’d snarled at my brother and threw him up against the wall. “Dario!”
He hadn’t said a word to me since, but when I’d responded that way he looked at me and something flashed in his eyes, a knowing look. I think it must’ve hit him then that she meant something to me and his whole demeanor, his body language shifted. He left me to stew and plot and seethe throughout the flight. He dealt with our guys, with clean-up back home, too. Dare also confirmed arrangements with our people on the ground. He just let me be. Now he stared out the window of the car that was taking us to the meeting place, looking deep in thought. A van followed behind with eight of our men. A car followed behind that one with six more. We were going in to negotiate, but we were protecting ourselves, too.
We were established here. We had a safe house and we had people and muscle in this area on standby as well. All this was news to me, but whatever. Castillo was small-time compared to some of the other players in the game and this had been a bold move. Too bold. I didn’t understand the point of this. We’d crush him.
“So,” the man said, “I’m Juan Carlos. Your name is Athena, correct?”
I nodded.
“You been engaged to Ferrano not too long.”