Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
I lift my drink to my lips and move closer to my grandfather to talk close to his ear. “Dario is getting ready to be a father, but he doesn’t know this yet. On top of that, I need him to leave with you for Sicily ASAP. I’ll get into why later. Let’s just say he has a rat and alphabet problem here that I need to snuff out.”
I pull away to find a stern look on his face. I know I haven’t been filling him in, but I’ve got this one. I’m handling my brothers.
“Tell me what you need from me.”
“I’ll get to that, but first, I have a question. Are you guys aware of an Irish situation I should know about? I’m hearing my name is in someone’s mouth.”
His frown grows. “The Don doesn’t want you worried about that,” he says firmly.
I lean back into his ear. “Ma can shove that bullshit. I’m not going to be blindsided. What don’t I know?”
“Non qui.”
“Then where?”
“Send a car for me tomorrow. We will talk then.”
I nod. He pats my cheek and strolls off.
Chapter 38
The Whole Truth
Gio
I narrow my eyes as soon as the three of them walk into my office at the Dollhouse. A sour taste fills my mouth. I’m not in the mood for this, but I need the lies to stop. How do they expect me to win when I have missing pieces?
“Why are you always here when a bomb is about to be dropped? I swear you’ve been around more bad news than you’ve been in my life as a father.”
“Good afternoon, Gio,” Lucas says.
I wave a hand and purse my lips. I flick my wrist to look at the time. We have a meeting with Blake, and I want to get to her before life does. This needs to be quick.
I return my gaze to the men standing before me. “Don Ferrari. How you doing?”
I move to kiss his ring, softening my disrespectful tone. Not that I give a fuck at this point. They’re lucky I don’t go on a killing spree and say fuck all this shit. I’m tired of them chopping my steps in half. The fact that he’s here shows me they’re all playing games.
“I know this look,” Nonno says as he opens his jacket and takes a seat on the couch before me.
“Then you know I’m at the end of my rope.”
“Yes, I see this. I have one question for you.”
I frown, open my jacket, and take a seat in the accent chair. Once seated, I gesture with my head for him to continue. My father comes over with glasses and a decanter of my brandy.
“Why have you not told your brothers of the moves you are making in their lives?”
My frown deepens. “Because I want them to be their own men. They can’t know of my hand in their lives.”
Nonno gives me a pointed look. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I haven’t taken years from their lives—”
“Are you so sure about that? Bethany? Your father? You have chosen these secrets for Dante. I don’t disagree, but these are things you asked me to ignore, just as I was asked to ignore a few details you don’t know.”
“When your mother was alive, she made some enemies before she ever became Donna,” Don Ferrari starts.
I force myself not to roll my eyes and correct him. He still doesn’t know my mother is alive and well. I guess I shouldn’t feel so bad here.
“She ran into some Irish heavy hitters. It’s not by chance she targeted the Thompsons for friends. I advised her to make friends who hit harder.
“The Kelleys had some beef with the Thompsons and Steven and Kington put the fear of God in them. Ava used them to keep her problem in line. It wasn’t until Steven’s death that she found out Frances’s goomar was the sister of the Kelleys, hence the source of her problem,” Nonno explains.
“You take your place. I’ll handle the Kelleys if they lift their heads,” Don Ferrari finishes.
I stand and button my jacket. “I see. Thank you,” I say, dismissing this meeting.
Dad stands and leads Don Ferrari out. Nonno moves to tug me into a hug. He leans into my ear.
“I wasn’t expecting the company for this visit. He’s checking in. What you need to know is Ava has plans for the Kelleys that’s why she didn’t tell you about them. That’s her endgame, not yours. Capisci?”
“Capisci. But you know, if they come at me, I’m putting them down. She has to know this too.”
“Lei fa.”
“Bene perché ho smesso di giocare. Quando avrò finito questo. E 'fatto.” There will be no one left that I don’t want standing. No one.”
I mean every word. I’m done playing. When I’m finished, it’s done.
“Capisco. Now before I go, tell me what you need from me with Dario.”