Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I’m not sure. I have a couple options in mind.”
“If you’re too old, Uncle Marco is too old.”
“No, not him. He wouldn’t want it even if I offered.”
“Then who?”
“Ignazio or maybe Alfio…”
“Yeah, not bad choices.” Both loyal and level-headed.
“But I was also thinking of Tommaso. I promoted him to lieutenant after you left, and he’s done a good job. Not authoritative like you, but he’s smart. He really thinks through every decision, no matter how inconsequential it may seem.”
“Yeah, I like Tommaso.”
“I’ll sleep on it.”
There was a pause between us, and I knew I should head to the hospital so I could be there for Francesca, whatever the outcome might be. If Leo died, I knew she would carry that guilt forever. Not just survivor’s guilt, but the fact that she’d treated him so poorly over the last month. I would have to remind her it was warranted. But I had to finish this. “What are we going to do about the Skull King?”
He leaned back into the couch like the mere question exhausted him. “I don’t have a clue, Wolfe.”
“You haven’t heard from him?”
“He may not even know Icarus is dead. We took out all their men. A couple may have gotten away, but they’ll run off.”
“But in time, he’ll piece it together.”
“Yes, in time.”
“And then what?”
“I thought we didn’t play the what-if game?” he said as he cocked his head.
“Maybe we should make the first move and ask for a truce.”
“We?” He sat forward again. “What happened to wanting out?”
“I do, but I want this matter settled. And I don’t want to look over my shoulder either. I killed Icarus, and if he knows that, he might want revenge. No idea how close they are or if they had a relationship at all. But with the way Icarus spoke of him, it seemed like there was affection there.”
“Icarus was a psychopath. You can’t put any stock in what he says.”
“I’d still like it settled.”
“Going to the Skull King and playing nice might give you the opposite outcome you want, Wolfe.”
I couldn’t deny that logic.
“If we hear anything about his movements, we’ll tell you. But I think going to him and trying to extend a truce shows your hand. It means you don’t want a fight, so he might give you a fight for that reason. But ignoring him after you defeated him gives the illusion of indifference and, therefore, strength.”
“Maybe you are an old man, because you’re awfully wise.”
He pointed his finger into his chest then at me across the table. “I can call myself an old man, but you can’t.”
“You aren’t my boss, so I can call you whatever I want, old man.”
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips as he reached for his scotch on the table. “I wish things could stay the same forever,” he said with a sigh. “Be young forever. Do this forever. Have you here with us.”
I’d enjoyed being in Cosa Nostra during the last decade and all the perks that it came with, but my whole world changed when I looked at Francesca for the first time. I would have deep affection for the past, but I was a lot more excited for the new season of life I’d just entered. “You can’t appreciate something that lasts forever.”
27
FRANCESCA
I sat in the waiting room, which was mostly empty because it was getting late into the evening. Elio and Andre stayed with me, and I knew they were there so I wouldn’t be alone since they didn’t have any affection for my brother after he’d betrayed us. Because the procedure was happening at that very moment, I had no medical personnel to question. I just had to sit there and wait to be notified.
When someone appeared from the hallway, my eyes automatically shifted to see who it was.
Wolfe walked inside in a clean shirt, his eyes immediately finding mine before he headed over.
I swallowed because the sight of him made me emotional. I’d just seen him a couple hours ago, but sitting there in the waiting room made my reality starker. I didn’t rise to greet him, having no strength to do anything.
He regarded Elio and Andre first and spoke to them quietly. “Thanks for staying with her. I can take it from here.” They exchanged handshakes before the men came over to give me quick hugs before they left.
Wolfe took the chair beside me, the two of us sitting in the center of the room. There was a guy in the corner who had fallen asleep lying across a couple chairs. He used his sweater as a blanket. TVs on the wall showed cooking shows and the news, all on mute.
As if we were in the car, Wolfe moved his hand to my thigh and cupped the inside of it.
I immediately hooked my arm around his and rested my other hand on his forearm.