Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
It’s an excuse. I know it is. Lizzy doesn’t seem to be interested in Jacob, but I want Gio to back off, I have enough on my plate.
“Thanks to me?”
“Yeah, you. You’re the one who introduced them.”
Gio rolls his eyes. “Fine, I’ll get rid of him.”
“Are you crazy? Do you see the numbers he’s bringing in?”
He shrugs. “There are always several ways to handle a situation. If a man wants something that’s already his, he should go after it.”
Jace scoffs so hard I have to look to make sure it was him. The look he gives Gio could kill. Without turning, Gio says, “When did I ask you anything? We leave in five. Go handle the chef.”
Jace grunts but gets up to leave. I shake my head and turn my attention back to the screen. There’s more to this. For Gustloff to call death down on himself, there had to be some reward.
I send a text to Mitch to have him meet me for this visit. Kaling comes to mind. I expected his wife to inquire about his whereabouts by now. Crickets.
****
I step inside the warehouse with Gio and Jace and frown. With each step I take into this funky ass place, I grow angrier. This shithole smells horrible. It smells worse than a whorehouse with no running water.
I’m already aggravated because I don’t know when we’ll be able to get our seafood deliveries back on track. Each day we’re without a supplier, we’re losing money. Dario’s restaurant is known specifically for its seafood menu. This move was intended to hurt.
“What the hell? Did someone kill this fuck before me? He’s never been this careless with this place,” I mumble as I cover my face with my handkerchief.
“That’s probably the next shipment his ass thinks he’s going to dump on us,” Gio says.
“The scent will cover the stench of death when you’re done,” Jace offers.
I grunt. “Who are you kidding? This funky ass motherfucker already smells like death. That’s probably his ass,” I snort.
“Fuck outta here. The way this place smells. That would mean someone gave him some pussy. Rancid, yes, but pussy nonetheless. The bastard couldn’t pay for it, believe me.” Gio chuckles.
We reach the back of the warehouse and Gio moves aside the plastic flaps. I walk through first and move to tap on the steel door to Gustloff’s fake freezer. His office, as he calls it. Someone opens the door, allowing us to enter. At least the stench doesn’t reach back here.
This slob sits playing cards like he’s a king at the round table in the center of the room. There are five others seated with him. I pull both my guns before Gustloff’s guy can come to search me. I tap the one in my right hand against the cheek of the guy seated directly in front of me.
“Get up, you’re in my seat,” I demand.
The asshole looks over his shoulder at me, then back at Gustloff, who nods as he laughs to himself. Yeah, someone has put a battery in this asshole’s back. He has the confidence of a man who runs shit, and this motherfucker can’t run his mouth properly.
The asshole in front of me grunts before he stands. He looks me over and I glare at him to let him know it’s nothing to put a bullet in his head. He runs a hand through his hair and keeps it moving like a wise man.
I place both my guns on the table and smooth my tie down as I take a seat. Little does Gustloff know, I’m about to wipe that smug ass look off his fucking face.
“Tell me, Gustloff. What do you think has changed about me since we made this arrangement between us because the terms of service are still the same, yet you have breached the contract?” I tilt my head and study him closely.
“I remember you were a snot-nosed, arrogant little shit back then.” He snorts and lifts his glass to his lips. “The Di Lorenzo name means nothing to me anymore.” I pull in a calming breath through my nose and clench my fists on my thighs. “Rumor has it your family is about to fall. As you can see, I made a business decision to secure my future.”
“Arrogant I may have been, but you were desperate. That’s why you didn’t take the time to read the contracts. You see, it was never about the money for me, although you’re going to cough up what you owe. Let me tell you why the Di Lorenzo family will outlive you and whoever your new business partner is.
“My grandfather taught us all, know what a man’s weakness is. What he fears to lose most. Then find out how to control it. I owned you from the day I first sat at this table.