Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
I’m not going to correct him for any of this.
“But I also understand that you know how this world works. You know that, as far as criminals go, I’m not the worst man to be in charge.”
That’s hardly something worth bragging about, but he’s correct. Giancarlo Conti, unlike his son, has always let business dictate his actions rather than perversion or obsessions. He’s nothing like his son.
“You helped Lucian escape from prison,” I say.
“You know I can’t comment on that.”
“Get to the fucking point, then.”
“Most men would be too afraid to speak to me like that,” he says coldly.
“Yeah,” I grunt. “I’m sure they would.”
“But you’re not most men?”
“Nope.”
He laughs with an edge to it. “Fair enough. I’m not calling to tell you to spare my son. I know he’s been bothering you and some girl up there.”
“Some girl,” I repeat. “He took everything from that girl. Ruined her life. He should be rotting in a cage for the rest of his life for what he did… or fry in a fucking chair.”
“That’s why I’m calling,” Giancarlo says pointedly. “I wanted you to know, if you happen to… do what you do, and if my son goes missing because of it, then there won’t be any fallout with the Contis. Lucian has overstepped the mark too many times. He’s always been different from his siblings. He’s always been… wrong. I will hurt a man if it has a purpose. But Lucian’s purpose is to hurt. Do you see the difference?”
“Yeah, I see it,” I snarl. I share the same philosophy, but it’s not like I’m going to start bonding with a mob boss.
“That’s it,” he goes on. “No fallout. Full permission.”
“I never asked for your permission,” I growl.
“But you’ll take it anyway,” he says, laughing softly.
I can’t lie. Knowing that I can end Lucian without risking a fallout with the Contis does make all this easier, but I was going to do it anyway and face the damn consequences if they came.
“I’ll do what needs to be done,” I snap.
“Which is what you always do, isn’t it? I’ve heard good things about you.”
“That means a lot coming from you,” I grunt.
Another laugh. “Be warned, Rhett. Lucian has always been clever, especially when it comes to technology.”
“Yeah, I’ve experienced some of that myself.”
“He’s always been invested in the latest developments in… well, everything.”
“Okay,” I grunt. “Are we done?”
“We’re done,” he replies. “If you do this, do it cleanly. Do it quietly. Don’t make it so that I’m forced to act. If he disappears without a fuss, I’ll tell everyone he left the country. No one ever has to know.”
“Giancarlo,” I say before he hangs up.
“Yes?”
“I was going to do this with or without your blessing.”
“I’m sure you would have,” he replies. “But now you’ll be able to live the rest of your life without looking over your shoulder.”
“Hmm.”
I hang up, leaning against the kitchen counter. That was one of the most surreal phone calls I’ve ever been part of. I didn’t even think about the possibility of his father knowing about this and coming after me for revenge…
Which is stupid in hindsight.
As messed up as this is, it’s a good thing.
“What are you smiling about?” Elle says, walking into the living room in a bathrobe and a towel on her head.
“I just got a call from Lucian’s father.”
Her eyebrows shoot up as she walks to the counter and grips the edge of it. “Okay…”
“He says he’s not going to come after us for what we’re going to do,” I tell her, still a little shocked. “He’s going to look the other way. As long as we do this quietly. We’re not taking out a mob prince, just taking out the trash.”
She nods, her eyes wide with a hint of relief. “Then let’s do it.”
I shrug. “There’s not much to do tonight,” I say. “I can’t rig the place in the dark.”
“Rig the place?”
“Set traps and barricades in your house. We’re going to need to get you…” I trail off, feeling sick.
She walks around the counter and stands in front of me. She takes my hands and holds them firmly, looking up at me full of certainty. “What, Rhett?”
“A bulletproof vest,” I grunt. “Protection. You’ve got him fooled, which is good, but we still need to take precautions. This would be easier if I took him out—”
“Please, Rhett. We’re going in circles.”
“You distract him, lead him outside… I’ll pull the trigger and drop him before he even knows it. It’s cleaner.”
“But it’s not what I want,” she says fiercely, sliding her hands up my arms and sinking her fingernails into my shoulders. “I think that’s who you are, Rhett. I know it hasn’t been a very long time. I know we’ve got a lot to learn about each other. But I know this. You’re the sort of man who gives his woman what she wants.”