Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Huck,” the man behind the desk said, and the scary man eyes swung over to him.
“It’s okay,” Sebastian said beside me, causing me to jump. I had forgotten he was there. “That’s Storm’s cousin. He’s family.”
He looked nothing like Storm, but I nodded anyway and tore my eyes from him to look back at the man behind the desk. He was watching me as if he wasn’t sure what to do with me. I wasn’t sure what to make of him either.
Why was he here, and why did I get the feeling that he was in charge? Who was he?
“Have a seat, Rumor,” the blond man told me. Although he didn’t sound angry or demanding, there was something about the way he spoke that made me feel as if I had to do what he said. He expected it.
I took a seat across from the desk in a leather high-back chair. Stellan and Ronan stood on either side of the desk, as if they were awaiting orders themselves. This was all very odd. I was starting to wish I had waited for King to return first. He would explain all this. Sebastian had told me nothing about the strangers in the room. Had they hired security? Was that what this was? If so, then the beast in the corner made me feel very freaking safe.
No, wait. The beast was a cousin. But maybe the cousin worked for a security team.
“I’m sure you have questions, and I’m going to give you the answers you need. Along with an option,” the man said.
I looked at him, relieved to hear he was going to explain things.
“My name is Blaise Hughes,” he told me. “You’ve been here under the protection of the Shephards and Salazars due to my order.”
His order?
“I’ve been told that you’re afraid the Mafia, who broke into your home and shot your husband, will come for you now that they’ve killed Churchill.”
I nodded once. Hearing him say the Mafia had killed Hill sank in deeper. I hadn’t known for sure how he had been killed. Yet he knew. Had King known the details and not told me? Was that his way of protecting me?
“That is the first thing we need to clear up. You are not a target for the Mafia. They will not kill you. They don’t want to kill you. The day when they broke into your home, they knew you were there and left you alone. Churchill Millroe was our only target.”
Our. I stiffened and replayed his words in my head. Had he meant to say our? Had I heard him incorrectly?
“You’ve been protected by the Southern Mafia,” he said, waving a hand, as if showcasing the room. “Churchill Millroe stole from us. From me. No one steals from me and lives,” he said, then stood up. “When you fled your home that day, King had been outside waiting to see what you would do. From you battered face he realized you’d been abused by your husband. So much so that you didn’t want to help him. Instead you chose to run. Take your chance to escape. I have a wife, Rumor. One I worship. She was mistreated by the only family she had once too. I don’t like men who use their strength to hurt the weak and innocent. Not to mention, if Madeline, my wife, found out I had left a woman in your situation and didn’t help her, she’d put a pistol to my head.” He smirked then, as if that was funny to him.
There were so many things running through my head at the same time that it was hard to focus on any one thing. And as much as I should be in shock right now, it all made sense. Everything this man was saying made complete sense. The things that didn’t add up, they fit. Except…Maeme. That didn’t fit.
“Churchill was stealing from several people, it seemed. He wasn’t a smart man. The Insantos gang is a powerful underworld drug trafficking empire. We stay out of each other’s way. Always have. Until now. They believe you can lead them to Churchill and their money. We’ve not shared that we tortured and killed him. As for their money, I am working out something that might end this without a war.”
Blaise walked around the desk and stood in front of it, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’ve been under the protection of the Georgia branch of the family. I live in Ocala, Florida, and control this branch, as well as the other Southern Mafia branches. I’m the boss. Everyone answers to me. Even King. That being said, I don’t want to take your control from you. That’s been done enough in your life. I’m going to let you decide now that you know who we are and how you got here. You can stay here. Move back into Maeme’s cottage and live there as long as you’d like. She’s taken with you. Claimed you as one of hers. Kudos to that, I might add. She’s a tough one to win over. Or you can go with me. You’ll be out of the line of fire. I can give you a job, help you get settled in your own place once this is done, and you can start a new life. Like I said, the choice is yours.”