Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Two guards stand in the front room. Both are in black suits and have conspicuous guns at their hips. Neither smiles as I nod to them in passing; I get the feeling their pay is docked if they ever act friendly. Deanna’s hand tightens in mine as we’re taken into a very large dining room dominated by a massive conference table, plenty of seating, and several more men talking amiably in low, comfortable tones over glasses of whisky.
“Gentlemen,” Carbone says, grabbing everyone’s attention. I’m very aware of the scrutiny we’re under from the most powerful men in the Fontana outfit. But I don’t worry about Deanna: I know they’re seeing a beautiful, intelligent woman.
It’s me I’m worried about.
Especially when I spot him sitting at the far end of the room.
I can’t pay attention to anything else, not even when Carbone’s clearly talking about me. I stare at old man Augustus like I’m spotting a real unicorn in the wild. He’s wrinkled in a hard way, the tanned and leathery face of a man used to laboring outdoors. His suit is plain, almost simple, and his eyes are dark brown. I wouldn’t look twice at him if I saw him on the street, but in this room, sitting with these men, he’s like a totem I can’t turn away from.
All my plans instantly vanish. All my carefully composed ideas, my painstaking thought, it poofs away like the mist of Shawn’s blood that night. Augustus Fontana’s here, barely fifteen feet from me, smoking a short cigar like he has a right to keep breathing. My childhood friend is decades in the grave while this old bastard grinds on, dragging his brittle bones to these haunted proceedings, and the hate I feel is like a blade in my heart.
I don’t care what me and Deanna agreed to before.
I’m going to kill him today.
“We’re happy to have you join us today,” Augustus says, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve been told you bring a very interesting proposal.”
“We hope so,” Deanna says, sounding nervous. She’s been covering for me, but I manage to find my voice and smother my face in my best, most charming smile, doing my best to brighten an otherwise dour proceeding.
“I hope none of you mind that my wife is here. She’s the head for numbers. I’m just the good looks.”
A younger man to Augustus’s left laughs loudly. “If he thinks he’s the looks, I’m guessing he’s never actually seen his wife!” Frankie Inzerillo howls with joy at his idiotic joke. I smile along, but make sure to add his name to the list.
Bastard shouldn’t talk about my wife like that.
Carbone. Frankie. Augustus.
All dead men.
We’re seated at the opposite end of the table. Carbone takes his position near Augustus and folds his hands like he’s preparing for an actual business presentation. And for her part, Deanna hands out the materials like we discussed, passing around folders with charts and projections.
It’s not even bullshit. We agreed that if we were doing this, we’d go in with a serious proposal. Everything’s veiled in vague language, listing only the product and never putting anything incriminating in writing, but it’s a damn good show regardless. I can tell the old crooks are impressed as Deanna clears her throat and begins to run them through the numbers.
Her part’s easy. First, we establish the foundation of my success. This is all the legitimate side of my operation. Deanna knows it better than anyone and she explains our debt, cashflow, and expenses while tossing in a few jokes that land better coming from a pretty face. Meanwhile, I should mentally prepare for my part, but I’m too busy paying attention to Augustus.
It’s strange how this man has driven so much of my life. I’m sure I’m barely beneath his notice. I’ve been nothing but a thug for a long time while he’s been living at the king of his little empire. Even as Stellan began to take control of the city, the Fontana operation survived mainly because it keeps to itself and isn’t typically expansionist. But there are always rumors about them, about how they took a big hit when gambling was legalized, about how they’ve been struggling to pay some of their lower-level people. It’s never a good sign when the people who do the real work aren’t getting checks.
Deanna stops talking. She steps away from the table, gesturing at me. “And now my husband Prime will take over. He can answer any of your questions.”
“Ah, come on, I’d rather keep staring at you, sweetheart.” Frankie beams to himself. Nobody else laughs.
Augustus ignores his lieutenant. “Thank you, Mrs. Spadaro. That was very helpful. Would you mind stepping out of the room now?”
Deanna looks at me. I don’t like the idea of her being out of my sight, but I don’t see how we have any choice here. I nod and she straightens.