Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Hawk simply nods.
“I told you once,” Falcon says, “that I don’t regret what I did for you eight years ago. That I would do it again. But I don’t think Hawk or I will be there for you if you fuck up again. So whatever’s going on with you and Scarlett Ramsey—”
“Nothing,” Eagle says. “Damn it, I don’t know how many times I have to say it.”
I put my arm around Eagle’s shoulders. My baby brother is now so much bigger than I am, the broadest shoulders of our bunch.
“I’m here for you, E. I should’ve been here for you then. I’m sorry I wasn’t, but I’m here for you now. Whatever you need.”
“Thanks, sis.” He turns me toward him and places his hands on my upper arms. “But I agree with the others. I want you concentrating on yourself.”
“Part of my healing,” I tell him, “is being a member of this family again. Focusing on someone other than myself. Trust me. It’s what I need.”
“All right, Ray,” Falcon finally says. “If this is what you need, you do what you feel you can.”
“I absolutely will, no matter what any of you say.” I hug Eagle, and then I rise. In turn, I look each of my brothers in their eyes. First Hawk, who’s still standing, and then Falcon, seated on the couch. Last, my baby brother Eagle.
He nods at me, gives me a slight smile.
The first time I’ve seen him smile since this all started.
“Now,” I say. “We need to trust Vinnie to get done what he can get done. But if he can’t? We need a Plan B.”
12
VINNIE
I go into Grandfather’s office the next morning, determination etched on my face.
“I need some names from you,” I say
He raises his eyebrows. “Oh? What names?”
“Anyone you’ve got in the federal government. Specifically the EPA.”
He frowns. “What the hell for?”
“Look. You want me to take over. I’m taking over.”
“Really?” he scoffs. “How’s Giacomo Puzo doing?”
I strive to keep my face noncommittal. “It’s being taken care of.”
“I see.”
A lightbulb goes off in my head. “Puzo is why I need the Fed connections.”
He nods. “I see. So you’re going to frame someone in the Feds? Why not just shoot the bastard? It’s how it’s done.”
“I’ll be doing things my own way,” I say.
He sniffs snidely. “No, Vincent. You’ll be doing things my way. You think you can waltz back in here after seventeen years and change it all?” He pulls a pistol—complete with a silencer—out of his desk and pushes it toward me. “This is the gun you’ll use to kill Puzo. It’s unregistered, and I’ll know if the bullet came from it.”
I shake my head at him slowly. “No.”
“Yes.” He rises slowly from his chair. “Or do I have to show you how powerful I am once more?”
I laugh at that. A sarcastic chuckle. “I’m not eighteen anymore, Grandfather. I’m thirty-five, and I’ve seen the world. Probably more than you’ve ever seen. And trust me. You’ll never lay a hand on me again.”
“Maybe I won’t,” he says. “But I’ve got goons who will.”
I scoff again. “Your goons wouldn’t dare lay a hand on me. They know who’s going to be the boss when you’re gone. And quite frankly? I’d be more worried about what I’m going to do to you with that gun than what you think I’m going to do to Puzo.”
For a split second, my grandfather’s face has a look of shock on it.
But he’s good.
He hides it quickly.
“You’re forgetting who’s still in charge here. Everyone’s on my payroll, not yours.”
This time I pick up the gun and point it straight at my grandfather’s head.
Again, I see him shudder for a split second. But he’s good. He regains his composure quickly.
I gently lay my finger on the trigger. “I could end your life right now. No one would be the wiser. As you say, this gun’s unregistered.” I frown. “But is it really? Do I trust you? You think I need to gain your trust. What about mine? For all I know, this gun is registered. Perhaps it’s registered to me, and if I shoot you with it, I’ll go down.”
“Perhaps,” he replies with a smirk. “But it seems you fail to remember I’m the only one who knows where all the bodies are buried. And let’s say even if you do trust this old man and the gun is indeed unregistered, what’s your next move? What’s your plan after that, Vincent?”
“I’ve thought about that,” I say slowly, lowering the gun back onto his desk. I don’t really have a solid plan yet, but I wasn’t going to let him see that doubt. After all these years, my poker game has gotten quite good.
“I figured you’d want me to have some grand master plan right away,” I continue. “I’ll tell you this: it involves not just survival, but growth. And loyalty. Unforced loyalty.”