Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Rinaldi’s spy was dead. He was able to remove all the man’s fingers, a few teeth, and had even taken a hand before he gave up Rinaldi’s plot. The key point being Anastasia’s death.
Galkin ran a hand down his face. “I know of her wealth. I’m guessing Rinaldi is desperate.”
“On paper, the man is broke and running up debt faster than anyone I have ever seen. I have never known anyone to get like this. I believe he thought at his wife’s death, he would inherit it all. From what I can tell, prior to her death, to keep him away, Evelyn paid him. Between his very luxurious lifestyle, and that of his current wife and all his mistresses, he cannot keep up.”
“Killing him will bring about a war,” Galkin said.
“It is one we will win.”
“But at too high of a cost. I will not risk the lives of our men for some petty war with this man,” Galkin tutted, tapped his fingers against his side, and sighed.
“What else can you do?” Bogdan asked. He knew the risks of not taking Rinaldi out right now. Anastasia’s life hung in the balance, and that he couldn’t have.
“There are always things that can be done.” Galkin turned toward him. “Dante Rinaldi is not a man who is going to stop willingly. The man has already killed his wife’s family, and now he is attempting to kill his daughter. Attempting to poison her at a nightclub is incredibly risky.”
And one Bogdan was pissed about. It was cowardly. It pissed him off that Dante would even attempt it. “I’m not going to use my wife as bait.”
“We won’t have to. Desperation will drive him to act quickly. It is quite simple, Bogdan. If you would like to have a free life without your wife, then simply allow Dante to have Anastasia killed. I will take care of the rest. If, however, you would like to stay married to your wife, then keep her at your side at all times, and take care of any threat Dante sends your way.”
“And let me guess, you take care of the rest.”
“Dante is a pest. Not only to us, but to his whole family. As a Capo, he is irresponsible and I already know he has made a great deal of enemies. It will not be challenging to remove him. All you have to do is tell me which one you would like.”
Bogdan stared at Galkin. “You’re the one that wanted me to be married.”
“I know, and I also know marriage is not for everyone. There are men that flourish with the love of a good woman, and others that quite simply cannot hack it.” Galkin shrugged. “Tell me which you are.”
When he’d been told he was to get married, he would have gladly given her to someone else. Glancing out into the gardens where his wife was laughing, enjoying times with Galkin’s kids, he knew he couldn’t just turn his back on her.
“Make the arrangements. Anastasia is staying,” Bogdan said.
“You cannot go back on your word.”
“I won’t.”
He knew his responsibilities, and there was no way he was ever going to put Anastasia in the line of fire.
Galkin slapped him on the shoulder. “Why don’t we go out and enjoy our women?” It was not a suggestion but an order. One Bogdan had no problem with complying.
They left the privacy of his office and stepped out into the yard. Anastasia was dancing in a circle with Galkin’s twin girls. They were all laughing.
“She is a natural,” Galkin said.
He stood on the lawn and watched Anastasia with the two girls. Two of Galkin’s sons were also close, clearly wanting his wife’s attention. She was a natural with children. He wondered if she would be quite so loving with their own children. Glancing down her body, he couldn’t help but wonder what she would be like pregnant with his children.
This was like a slap in the face of reality. Not once in his life had he ever considered children. Before his father’s death, his old man would often tell him that children were the bane of a man’s existence.
He never took it personally. After his wife died and left Bogdan with him, his father had to do everything, which included raising him as best he could. They didn’t have the greatest relationship, but it wasn’t the worst. Without his old man, he would not be who he was today, and he was proud of that.
Anastasia stopped turning around, and with her laughing as well as the twins, they fell into a heap on the floor.
“The world is spinning,” she said.
Bogdan walked over to his wife and stepped into her line of vision. “Have you enjoyed too much apple juice?”
She laughed. “Not nearly enough.” She held her hands out toward him, waiting for him to take them.