Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“No, Papa. I'm fine. I'm here because I want to be. With… with a friend. An old classmate. Emily Hawthorne.” Our story is paper thin. He's not going to believe this, is he? I wouldn't.
“Hawthorne? Kurt Hawthorne's daughter? Why does Dario believe you’ve been taken? Is someone making you say this?” There's some scuffling in the background and my pulse races. If word has already reached his desk, all it will take is the wave of a hand and our chances of preventing a massacre are zero.
“It's true. I swear. I'm fine. Emily reached out because she wanted to show me how important it is for us all to put the past aside.”
“I don’t know that I approve of this, but let Dario see you. He won't leave unless he knows you're safe.”
He won't leave until he’s dead or someone forces him, if I know him right, but maybe a direct order from Papa will do it. “Yes, Papa. I'll go out there. Have someone let him know before he shoots somebody.”
Papa harrumphs into the phone. “Cazzo. He's ambitious, but hot-headed, like his whole family. Lucas,” he orders away from the phone. “Call the Fabbri boy and tell him to stand by until I tell him otherwise. If he shoots first, I'll see to his punishment myself.”
I shudder at the veiled threat in Papa’s tone, but maybe this will work after all? Emily watches closely, probably trying to guess what's going on at the other end of the line. I give her an uncertain shrug.
“Alessandra, he is waiting. I'll hold.”
“Right. I'll be out.” I put the phone on mute and put it down on the couch. Izzy grunts unhappily when I hold her out to Emily, but she’s sleepy after all the excitement and a belly full of milk. Her eyes are glassy and she's sucking gently on her fist. “Can you watch her while I go out there?”
She looks at Izzy like I'm trying to hand her a ticking bomb. “You want me to what?”
“You're going to have one of these in a few months. You wanted tips? Hold her like you'd cuddle Jupiter. She's about to fall asleep. You'll be fine. Consider this on the job training. If anything happens… I don’t know. Keep her safe for me, okay?” My throat closes up. This has to work.
“But—” Emily takes Izzy and pulls her close until she's comfy, nuzzling against Emily's sweater.
“See? Just fine. I'll be back soon.” I pick up my phone. “Papa?”
“Are you outside yet?”
“I'm going out now. Make sure Dario knows not to do anything crazy.” I step through the door, leaving Izzy in Emily's hands. It aches to leave her behind, but this is the last and most important part of my secret. The one keeping my little girl safe.
At the gate, things are tenser than I imagined. Bear and Viking have their guns out, both of them aimed at Dario. Dario's focused on Snark, who unlike how easygoing he normally is, looks like he's one bad move away from taking someone’s head off. Hawk has his hand at his belt, but he hasn't drawn yet. His expression is so hard it could shatter rock.
To the side, Eagle-eye's urging Dario to not do anything stupid. He's backed up by Emily's three guys, and a bunch more grizzly men with hard expressions, just waiting for an opportunity to open fire. On the opposite side of the gate are Dario's men, using the SUVs' armored doors for cover. Only the guys up front actually have their weapons out, but no one's hands are far from their guns. This is going to hell in a handbasket.
“Papa, I'm outside. What do I do?”
“A moment.” He speaks to someone. “I will speak to Nicholas.” The phone disconnects.
Nicholas, Dario's second in command, who's standing right behind Dario with a phone at his ear, nods once then taps Dario on the shoulder. He points in my direction.
When Dario sees me, his expression grows stormy and ugly. His gun hand twitches just a moment before he steadies it, keeping it trained on Snark's head. “You motherfuckers let her go before I level this shithole to the ground.”
“Dario,” I yell as I come down the stairs, feeling super exposed. There are some barrels arranged on the lot in front of the club house. I pencil them in as potential cover if things go south. “Put the gun down. I'm fine. Nobody’s kidnapped me.”
He shakes his head. “Baby, they're making you say that. I know these assholes.”
“No, you don’t.” I hold my arms out. “But I’m here so that can change. I'm free. I can leave if I want. No one's forcing me.”
“I don't fucking believe it. Prove it. Come back to the Tower with me. It's where you belong.”
“Dario, that’s not your decision to make. I'm not yours, and I never will be. But I'm not in danger either.”