Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 115964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
The US was the golden ticket. They paid the most for their product.
No.
I was right.
Marco was coming. He would come for me first.
He had decided to move against Roman, probably hearing how the family had been thinned. Or that was how he thought.
“Why are we in Boston?” I knew what I’d have to do, even if Roman didn’t give me the order. I was going, but I needed to know where my boss’ head was and Boston wasn’t the ‘where’ we had eliminated his brothers for. This wasn’t the targeted location.
“We’re in Boston because it’s open right now.”
I frowned.
“The family that was controlling Boston moved to Chicago. They’ve had their own changes in the past years. That’s why I reached out. There’s been skirmishes, but no one has stepped up here. I want to take over. I already have Philly, DC, and the rest of the East Coast except for New York.”
“You reached out?”
“I can’t fight Estrada, but you’re right. I think he did the hit, and I think he’s planning on moving north. His first order of business will be to send sicarios after you.”
“You’re sending me after him.”
It wasn’t a request. Roman’s nostrils flared and I knew he checked me.
His eyes went flat and his mouth thinned. “I send my best soldier after him, I could lose my best soldier. I need you alive.”
No.
“You have to send me after him.”
“No, Cla—Raize. No, Raize. There’s another player here. I want to send you north, to Canada. Kai Bennett. He controls almost all of Canada. He’s not big enough to take on Marco and neither am I, but together, we could.”
It wouldn’t work.
None of this was going to work.
They needed a lone wolf, or a lone group to go in and assassinate Marco. It was the only way to stop him.
“He has too many men.”
Kai Bennett would not team up with Roman. Roman was too new. He’d just assassinated his two brothers. That was a bold move and it would be perceived as risky. Kai Bennett did not take risk, but Roman was set.
“The Bennetts are a family organization.”
Roman’s head reared back, a small inch, but he was listening.
“You just took out your two brothers. That goes against the grain of who Bennett is. Sending me to him to make a connect for you is a waste of time. It won’t work and you’ll lose that time for a surprise assault against Marco. Send me, just me, and I’ll get it done. I know the area. I know Mexico. I can get in and get it done.”
“I could lose you.”
“It’s worth the risk.”
Roman’s eyes flashed and he leaned forward, his palms going on the desk. He leaned over, his head toward me. “Not to me!”
Downer moved to stand between us, at the side of the desk. He had a hand on his gun, but his eyes were trained on me.
I was the wild card here.
I stepped back. I needed to use reason. That’s what Roman would listen to, only reason. I needed more of it. My mind was trying to think.
“Send me to kidnap my sister.”
The room’s temperature dipped and I knew I had them. Both of them. They shared a look.
I explained, “She’s the only person Marco cares about. I can go down, get her, and bring her back. He’ll be tormented and he’ll want her back. He’ll lose time and energy trying to get her back. Sending me to Kai Bennett is not going to work, not yet. He doesn’t work with others and if you want to recruit him, you need a solid and stellar reputation. Send me to take Marco’s sister and that’ll get back to Bennett. It’s a move he might appreciate. It’s not expected. It’s a mental tactic.”
Roman was regarding me again, his eyes narrowed.
He was thinking about it.
Downer noticed it, too, and he threw his hands up. “Are you kidding me?! You’re actually considering this? This is insane.”
Roman ignored him, asking me, “If you can get in and take your sister, why wouldn’t you be able to kill Estrada then? You’re taking the same risk.”
I shook my head. “I’m not. I can get word to her. She’ll tell me where to go and the best time to take her. My sister begged for my life before. If she’s still alive, she’s not stupid. She’ll know Marco ordered the hit on our mother. I guarantee that my sister will want me to come for her. She’s his blind spot. We need to use that.”
My pitch was done.
Now I had to wait.
Roman needed to think it over. He needed to come to his decision, but I laid it out as best as I could.
“I’ve heard what your woman can do.”
That surprised me. It wasn’t what I expected from him.
I frowned, but didn’t comment back.
Roman pushed up from the desk, going back to the window and he reached for his phone. He turned his back to me. “Go. Get your sister and get back here, alive.”