Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“If I remember right, you were a pathetic string bean, while I’ve always been a big, strapping lad.”
“You’ve always been something. But it’s stupid, not strapping. Now talk, please, before I have a heart attack.”
He leans back with a groan. “I don’t want to do this, okay? I’ve been resisting it for years, Bianca, and trust me, there has been serious fucking pressure on me. You’re my sister. You’re valuable. And I let you do whatever you want.”
My jaw tightens. “I don’t like that whole let me bullshit.”
“You know what I mean.” He spreads his hands, placating. “We all have to do things for the Famiglia. I’ve asked very, very little of you over the years. Papa indulged you, and I’ve tried to let you find your own way.”
“But that’s changing.”
His hands fall heavily onto the arms of his chair. “That’s changing,” he agrees. “I’ve been in talks with the Whelan Clan. They’re an important organization out of New York.”
“I’ve heard of them. Irish syndicate, right? Pretty serious people?” I tilt my head, trying to remember the names of their core family. “There’s a father, he runs them, and he’s got like four kids, right?”
“Four brothers. Declan, Cormac, Seamus, and Finn. From what I hear, they’re all good men.” He hesitates and looks away. “Well, except for Cormac. But he doesn’t matter.”
“Why are you telling me about these people?”
“We’re expanding. You know that. I haven’t been subtle about it. Our influence over Philadelphia has grown over the last couple of years, and we’ve actually been importing even more product than we’ve been able to move. It’s starting to be a problem.”
“Wow, I’m crying for you over here. Poor man can’t sell his drugs.”
“I know how you feel about what we do, but it’s the family business. I don’t want to get into this argument again.”
“Great, so don’t flood the streets with more fentanyl. You know how many people die every year from that stuff?”
“Bianca,” he says, rubbing his forehead. “Fuck, you’re such a pain in my ass.”
“And you’re a poisoner.”
“We are poisoners. Don’t fucking forget that.”
I grind my jaw. I never, ever do. Not a single day goes by where I don’t look at the women at Grace House and wonder how my family’s business made their lives infinitely worse.
“What do you need? Why are you telling me about this New York expansion?”
“Because you know how these things work. It’s not enough to sign contracts and make promises. The Whelans do business the old way.” His expression is bleak. He looks at me like he’s about to shove me into an oven. Which is basically how I feel.
I know what the old way means. It’s why Adriano married his current wife. The old way is why Luca married Fiorella Serrano.
Now I’m staring down the barrel of the old way, and it’s about to blow my fucking head off.
“You can’t be serious,” I say, feeling very small and very powerless.
“Finn Whelan’s their youngest son. He’s twenty-nine, so only three years older than you. From what I hear, he’s a good man, cares about his family, works very hard, hasn’t done anything fucking stupid. You’ll be safe with him. I have assurances from his father, Padraig.”
I leap up from my chair like something just stabbed me in the ass. “Fuck your assurances. Are you insane, Adriano? You want me to marry that guy?”
“Would you sit back down?” He bangs a fist on his desk. “I know this is hard, okay? I went through it and hated it too. But this is what it means to be a Marino. We don’t get to fall in love—”
“You did,” I snap at him, still standing. “Or did you forget about that?”
“Yes, after the fact, I did fall for Lucy. I got lucky, and you might too, if you give Finn a chance.”
“There’s no way. There’s absolutely no way I’m doing that.” I think of Grace House and everyone there. “I won’t be able to volunteer anymore. I’ll lose everything.”
“We’ll take care of that halfway house—”
“It’s a women’s shelter.”
“Right, and we’ll take care of it. You know that. The organization’s been donating money to them for a while now.”
My hands curl into fists. My knuckles turn white with frustration. I shouldn’t be this surprised and angry, but I can’t help myself. I’d always thought Adriano would spare me this, that he’d realize my mission was good and worth doing, and that he’d let me keep going.
Now he wants to sell me off like a prize breeding cow.
“I won’t do it.” I shake my head once. “I don’t care what’ll happen.”
“Don’t be like this, Bianca. I’m sure you’ll find a dozen worthy causes to get involved with in New York. God knows the city’s got plenty of them.”
“You want me to move in with them too?”
“That’s the whole deal. We’re starting a business, and we need a clean face to manage it. A legitimate business—”