Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“Do that,” Fox called as Blade grabbed a bag from the back of the ATV. The three of us got into Fox’s truck and took off for the airport.
“Can you imagine if we’d gotten to fly in style like this in the marines?” Fox asked.
Blade snorted. “I would’ve been happy just to have a real seat.”
“No shit.”
“Anyone want a drink?” Fox asked. “They’re all free.”
I grinned. “You’re very happy to share Lucien’s luxuries.”
“He told me to enjoy myself.” Fox gestured around the plane. “I guess you’re used to this.”
“My father rarely took me on his plane, but I guess I’m used to the idea of it. Lucien’s plane is nicer than ours, though, or at least better stocked.”
I perused the bar, which I’d been too annoyed to even look at before, selected a very fine whiskey, and poured a glass for each of us.
Fox insisted on a toast, but afterward, we all grew quiet. The tension coming off Blade was almost tangible.
He was the first to break the silence. “Do you know what the Marchesis have planned to make sure Carlo’s enemies are dealt with?”
Fox explained some of what I’d heard X say during our meeting at the ranch house. We were going on the offensive. We would confront all the Pisano family’s representatives in Boston and take them out or force them to negotiate.
“He thinks we can win a confrontation like that?” I asked.
Fox nodded.
“There’s no we,” Blade said.
I stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“You shouldn’t be part of this. You should be somewhere safe with some decent guards.”
“I’m not letting everyone else fight this for me.”
“You shouldn’t have to fight it at all.”
“There’s no point in me going to Boston if I’m not going to be involved.” I knew that wasn’t really true. I needed the Pisanos to know I was headed back so they wouldn’t keep focusing on the ranch. We needed this to all come to a head on our schedule.
Fox looked from one of us to the other. “It seems like you two need some time. I’m going to go up to the cockpit and check on things.”
Blade frowned. “I’m sure the pilot doesn’t want you bothering him.”
“Her actually, and I like to learn new things. She can teach me how to fly this thing. I could probably figure it out on my own, but—”
“Go.” Blade pointed toward the front of the plane,
Once he was gone, I turned to Blade. “I’m not sitting at home while everyone takes care of this for me. That will only make my family resent me more.”
“Why don’t you tell them the truth? This isn’t your battle. If anyone should be here facing these assholes, it’s your mother and your brother.”
“Even if they knew, I wouldn’t hang back. The problem still exists, and I’m still a part of this family. I’m not going to turn my mother over to these men.”
“Of course not. She needs to take responsibility for her own actions, but she doesn’t deserve that.”
“I’m sworn to secrecy. There’s nothing I can do.”
“Are she and your brother as loyal to you as you’re being to them? They used you in this scheme without telling you. They brought this down on you.”
I thought about how my mother hadn’t answered my calls since I’d gone to the ranch, how she didn’t offer to give me money. Why was I keeping her secret? Because unlike my father, she’d preferred me over my brothers as a kid and she’d protected me from my father when he was angry? Because she doted on me? Did all those presents make up for the way she used me once I got older? “She’s desperate. She never thought my father would restrict her inheritance so severely.”
“Then she could have asked you or your brothers for a loan.”
I sighed. “It can’t have been easy having to marry my father when she loved another man.”
“No. That sucks, but you don’t deserve to be hurt because of it. None of it is your fault.”
“I can’t change things now. I’ve got to see this through.”
“And if she tries something like this again?”
“I don’t know.”
“Fine, but I don’t like you being involved in this.”
“I need to be part of the solution if I’m going to have a chance to gain respect back from my other brothers and cousins.”
He blew out a long breath. “I’m choosing to fight for you. You need to choose to fight for yourself.”
“Thank you. For coming, for changing your mind.”
“I never stopped caring for you. I just didn’t want to burden you with someone you had to care for.”
“You’re never going to be a burden to me.”
Fox cleared his throat loudly. “Is it safe for me to come back? The pilot decided I was too distracting.”
“He’s a real piece of work, isn’t he?” I asked Blade.
“Yeah, he is.”