Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
The wall of the village came into view with the beige buildings, the cathedrals visible. We drove inward and found somewhere to park the car before he walked down the winding streets until we reached the outside of a restaurant that appeared to be closed.
“I can’t promise you won’t get shot when we walk in there,” Salvatore said.
“No one can promise that.”
He nodded, and we headed inside.
The restaurant was empty of customers, and the men seemed to be gathered in the back of the dining room, paintings of the region all over the walls, with the flag of Sicily mounted. Cans of a hundred-year-old tomato sauce were on the shelves on the wall like antiques.
Don Mancini’s voice was audible. “You’re the only one who has access to Gallo—at least, in a way we don’t. I need to get to the bottom of this. I’m tired of shaking a man’s hand while he stabs me in the back—”
“Don.” Elio stood up and immediately reached for his gun on his hip.
Don Mancini went quiet when he looked at me.
Leo didn’t get up, but his eyes narrowed like he wanted to shoot me on the spot.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Don Mancini looked at Salvatore.
“He said—”
“I know who stole your guns.” I grabbed a chair from a different table and pulled it up to join the gentlemen. “And I’ll get them back for you. Just need some backup.”
Elio kept his hand on his gun, but when he noticed that Don Mancini was actually intrigued by my statement, he removed his hand.
Salvatore moved to a chair across the room, got comfortable, and crossed his ankles.
“How do you know about the guns?” Leo immediately sat up, a toothpick hanging in his mouth like they’d just finished lunch.
Don Mancini stared me down like he wanted to know that answer as well.
I didn’t answer the question. “Lombardi’s men took it. The first time, as well as the second time.”
“And how the fuck do you know this?” Leo snapped.
“Because a lot of people still owe me a shit-ton of favors,” I said. “They pretend to be your partners in distribution, but in reality, they intend to absorb your business into their own. Slow and steady, so you don’t suspect them. Their drug empire has weakened because the Skull King has cut off their channels. The Skull King isn’t interested in arms, so your product is the only safe commodity.”
“Unless you stole the guns and now are turning us against our own ally,” Leo said.
I shook my head. “I don’t play games. If I wanted your shit, I would just take it and leave bullets in your brains. Now, come on. Let’s go.”
“We need proof,” Don Mancini said. “We aren’t going to walk up to Lombardi and shoot him in the head without reason.”
“I’ll give you all the goddamn proof you need. Now get off your asses, and let’s go.”
Leo was in the passenger seat next to me, probably instructed to shoot me in the head the second I tipped my hat. We arrived in Port Gela shortly after midnight, where all the shipping berths were lined up along the dock. Customs was fifteen miles north, so they moved the guns a short distance along the sea to wait for the scrutiny to pass and they could get the items into the hands of their customers.
Leo looked at the building. “This is a tuna factory.”
“Did you think Lombardi was going to put it in a warehouse with the word guns written over the top?” I looked across the street and saw the armed men through the large windows, keeping an eye on the perimeter from the windows on the top floor. “Come on.”
“This feels like a setup.”
“Then I’ll fucking do it. I’ll leave the heater on for you so you don’t get cold.” I slammed the door then moved to the back of the truck, taking one of the sniper rifles before I mounted it on the ground between the cars. I took a knee and lined up the shot.
Leo watched me in the rearview mirror.
I fired one shot and hit the guy in the window before I took out the other guy on the opposite end. The sound of the shattering windows was louder than the silenced gunshots. I tossed the gun back into the truck then grabbed the AK-47 to go with the handgun and the big knife on my hip.
I ran across the street, moving quickly before the guys inside had time to scramble a defense. I ran up to the enormous double doors that connected to the street, grabbed a hand grenade, pulled out the pin with my teeth, and I threw it at the doors. Before it exploded, I shot the large padlock in the center of the handles, destroying it just as the explosion shook the doors and knocked one off the hinge.