Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
We find her mother and father sitting together at a table. He looks old and worn, probably as tired as Allie is from all the talking and bickering. But her mother interests me more. She looks so much like Elias.
Allie’s other brother, Dom, is in the pool, lazily swimming laps.
“I have to thank you again, Dragon Cardone, for holding the negotiations here on your property. I know you had a lot of renovations to do after what happened.” Allie’s father is always so formal and stiff. But at least he shows me respect.
“It’s my pleasure, Mr. Russo. I was just going inside to pay a visit to the hospital ward. How’s it going in there?”
Her mother answers. “Same as usual. Which isn’t a bad thing.”
“No, it’s not.” I nod at them and continue past into the building.
Allie keeps pace. We meander through the structure, taking our time, holding hands and enjoying the relative peace. The jungle is quiet today and the heat isn’t too bad. When we reach the Fortress, I take her down to the west wing and enter the old familiar code into the lock.
The door pulls back.
But the room is completely different.
Gone is the New Jersey-style living area. The wood paneling was ripped down, the couch trashed, the television scrapped. Now it looks more like an average hotel suite, save for the big hospital bed.
“Must be my lucky day,” Gabe says from the couch. He’s leaning back with his feet up on the coffee table. Football’s on TV. Some game from last night. “My parents visit and now you two.”
“Don’t act like you’re not happy.” Allie sits down beside her brother. He shrugs, grinning at her.
“I’ll be happy when I get out of here.”
“Won’t be long,” I tell him. The surgery to save his life took hours and it was almost worse than the assault itself. Allie was a wreck the whole time. But in the end, the doctor saved him, and now he’s been here recovering for months, thanks to a couple of unlucky infections. Although I suspect he just likes hanging around and pestering my staff.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Gabe’s head tilts curiously as he mutes the TV. “Our grandfather’s Dragon position is still empty. Do you have any idea who will take it?”
“Medved was the best candidate. Now, I can’t be sure. There are a few men with the resources to step up. None have tried yet.”
“What exactly does it take?” Gabe’s expression grows eager. “Taking the position, I mean? Now that Elias is dead, how does it happen?”
I exchange a look with Allie. She shakes her head slightly. “It doesn’t matter,” I tell him and move back to the door. “I’ll leave you two alone to visit.”
Allie says something that makes Gabe laugh as I step out into the hall.
For a moment, I enjoy the silence. But it’s quickly broken as the sound of footsteps echoes nearby.
Lucy comes storming over, her face buried in her phone. “Did you hear about what’s going on in New Zealand?” Her nose wrinkles with disgust. “An entire shipping container was confiscated. Dragon Zohran is pissed.”
“Zohran can handle it himself.”
“It was a shipment from us heading to his ports.”
I sigh, rubbing my face with one hand. “The problems never end.”
“You’re a Dragon, Mass. That’s your whole life.”
Can’t argue with that. I stretch and glance over my shoulder at the door to the west wing. Once it held my greatest secret and a good friend. Now it contains my brother-in-law, a man far too ambitious for his own good.
“Let’s handle it then,” I say and let Lucy lead me to the command room.
EPILOGUE: ALLIE
Six Months Later
I kiss Mass hard and squeeze his face between my hands. “Stop giving me that angry possessive look, alright?”
“I don’t like this.”
“I know, but it’s family. I can’t say no to family.”
“You could try.”
I kiss him again. “Stop it.”
“I can’t.”
“Do it anyway.” I kiss him a third time and release his cheeks. “Watch Rosie for me, will you?”
“I hate this city.” Mass stares out the penthouse window down at New York. “Filthy place.”
“Oh, stop it. You just miss your private little island and your comfortable fortress. You’re kind of a homeboy.”
His eyes narrow. “I’m a Dragon.”
“A Dragon who loves his own bed.” I kiss his cheek. “I love you. Be back soon.”
“Love you too,” he mumbles, already scooping Rosie up into his arms.
I leave them reluctantly. In the last year, I’ve left the island only a few times on business with Mass. This trip is supposed to be something like a vacation—visiting old friends, seeing my family, that sort of thing—but I have one little piece of business I have to handle.
The call came as a surprise two days before we left. Gabe’s voice was slightly garbled like the connection was bad. “Where are you right now?” I asked him.