AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She cups my chin. “You are indeed perfect for him.” Kissing my cheek, she nods. “My son did well with you. Now, I need a nap.” A finger goes to her lips. “Don't tell my sons. I'm not getting old. I swear. I was up late last night reading until the early hours.”
Once she's gone, I sag into the sofa and wonder what I'm going to do with myself. A book sounds good. I stand only for a maid to appear in clear distress.
“Miss?” She whispers the word.
“Yes. Is everything okay?” Hoping it’s not a household emergency that I have no idea how to fix.
“There's a kitten stuck in one of the pipes the workman left behind. It's hissing, won’t let us near it. Could you please help?” Her eyes are hopeful.
A kitten? “Of course.”
Chapter24
Milos
Aleksander sighs,pinching the bridge of his nose. “Very slowly. Don't leave anything out. Why is Manuel Rodriguez going to kill me?”
Richie’s second, Vinny, who believes as soon as Richie is dead, he’ll become capo throws back his whiskey—his second since we arrived five minutes ago. “Richie knows you want him dead. It's why he didn't show for the meeting you guys set up for him. Not because he's sick the way he's telling everybody, but so he can hide from you. He was trying to find the Fed after the guys lost her and came up with your marriage license with her. When he saw it he freaked. Then, as you know, you disappeared the men who beat your woman. He figured out he was next.”
Aleksander meets my eye. We had wondered if Richie managed to figure it out. Up until now he was a dependable if not all that smart ally. Him not showing or calling to explain why was unusual.
“So anyways, Luca Sabatini snatched Manuel's fiancée off a truck on account she was running. Manuel didn't know she was forced. He didn't want a forced wife but he does need a mom for his kids. Like yesterday because his wife died. Luca and Dominic Sabatini went to Ritchie's daughter and asked her if she was willing, on account of her mom got deported back to Colombia and it's where Manuel lives. Richie is forcing his daughter to marry Manuel. Once the contract is signed off, he's going to have Manuel kill Aleksander. Since Manuel is good at making people disappear, he thinks no one can track the hit to him. He can't go to the Outfit for protection after the heist you guys did. He didn't clear it with Carlo or give his cut.” He pours another whiskey and swallows it loudly.
Fucking hell. I consider if Manuel will do it. “Richie hasn't asked yet.”
Vinny shakes his head so hard, I wonder if it hurts. “No. They are negotiating the contract today. Even though Luca intended to pay Richie for the bride price, Manuel refused. Wanted to be the one to settle terms for her. It’s obvious Manuel wants to get between the girl’s legs. Richie wants to give Manuel time to look forward to marrying his daughter—the only way he’s going to fuck her for a few days. He's going to ask Friday in case Manuel wants to make it happen as soon as Saturday when he gets to your engagement party.”
I motion to him he can leave.
The moment the door is closed behind him, Maxim sighs. “Women.”
“Shut the fuck up, Maxim. Unless you have something constructive to add to the discussion, I don't want to hear you bitching. You are not getting out of a marriage. If you don't pick for yourself within the next thirty days, Vasily will do it for you,” I warn him.
Looking to Aleksander. “We have four days. It's enough time. Nothing more than a pain in the ass to keep it clean. He has to disappear. No mess left behind the Outfit can tie to us.”
“Why not go to the Outfit? Tell Carlo what Richie did. He is your father-in-law now. Turn Ritchie's plan around on him,” Damien suggests.
Aleksander shakes his head before I can. “What he did was bad but doesn't warrant death in the Outfit. Add in we already killed two Outfit members without permission, and Carlo will be pissed.”
“Exactly, it could cause an unnecessary breaking of ties.” I sigh as I go over the interactions I've had with Manuel Rodriguez over the years. The man is the classical definition of a psychopath. He doesn't feel any emotions. No fear, anger. Not a damn thing. Admitted once his pain tolerance was so high he'd been shot and hadn't felt anything until the bullet moved next to his lungs and he started coughing blood.
I’ve told Aleksander of my interactions with the man. I can feel him thinking of them too. The answer comes to me. “He won't do it. Manuel might not feel emotion, but his father laid down an honor code to keep him in check. We talk with Manuel and tell him how this started and what's at stake. He won't kill you. But he will probably kill Richie without hesitation and he might not even hide it.”
Our eyes meet. Aleksander agrees. “I'll throw the announcement of our marriage into the paper for tomorrow and make sure it gets out over the internet today. Which reminds me I need to get back to her—it's been a few hours.” He stands. “The announcement will help with her too. She thinks she can walk away.”
“I'll handle it for you, get back to her,” I tell him.
Once the door closes behind him, Maxim sighs. “Women.”
“Fuck you, Maxim,” I growl.
Milos
I wantto go home for dinner. To see Celia, hold her, feel her body against mine. But this cannot wait. The announcement on Alexander's marriage to the FBI agent has been out for several hours now. Richie’s second called an hour ago, the marriage contract has been signed. It's time.
Manuel answers the call yet says nothing. “I was wondering if you were free for dinner tonight. My restaurant?”
“I am hungry. Twenty minutes.” He disconnects.
