Miles Away (Carrion #1)(68)
“And?”
“As your consigliere, I would think you would seek my counsel before making some ill-favored alliances.”
“I have it under control.”
“Sure you do. A lot of people are going to get hurt because of this. Wise guys getting caught in the crossfire is one thing… Innocent people are going to get hurt. I can’t stand by this.”
“Then don’t. Be a traitor like your brother.”
“Why is he a traitor? Because he went to Mom’s side?”
“And framing him was your idea in the first place!”
“Better than killing him! You’re off your f*cking rocker, old man. You’re on your own.”
Michael shrugged his shoulders. “So be it.”
Shaking his head at his father, Knox stormed from the room, slamming the front door of the Capadonno mansion behind him.
Juan reached for the remote control as he and G settled down on the couch to watch the hockey game.
“Almost game time, bud!”
“GOAL!” G yelled as he threw his hands up in the air.
“Let’s hope so, pal!”
Juan propped his feet up on the coffee table as he waited for the game to come with G snuggled up to his side.
“Think they’re gonna win tonight?” Juan asked G.
“Eh. Maybe!”
“Guess we’ll see…”
Just a few seconds after the game came on the TV, the doorbell rang.
“Hey! That must be our pizza!” Juan said as he pulled himself off the couch.
“Pizza!” G celebrated as he clapped his hands together.
“Just don’t tell your mother, she’ll have my head!”
G laughed as Juan crossed the room to answer the door. Swiping his wallet off of the bookshelf, he quickly opened the front door. As he did so, he was startled to see that it wasn’t the pizza guy at all, but three masked men. Barging their way through the front door, one of the men attacked Juan, hitting him in the forehead with the butt of a rifle. Crashing to the floor, Juan couldn’t move as the men rushed through. Juan could hear a crashing noise as the men ransacked the house. Juan didn’t know what they were looking for, but he was desperate to get to his grandson and get him to safety. Try as he might, though, Juan’s injuries were too bad to let him move from the floor. As G screamed in terror, Juan’s consciousness slipped from his grasp.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
MILES AND LETTY CHECKED into the Taj Mahal Casino and Hotel at a few minutes past four. They took the elevator up to the ninth floor and quickly located room nine thirteen. Sliding the key card in the door, Miles strolled in with their overnight bag.
As Letty walked in the room, she gushed, “This is swanky! How did you afford this?!”
“I had money tucked aside,” Miles said with a laugh.
“Really? Dirty money?” Letty asked.
“No. You know better. I saved up from when I was working at the garage, and I got a small inheritance from my mother.”
As Letty twirled around the room, she noticed a large white box laid on the bed. Picking up the envelope that lay on top of the box, Letty immediately recognized the handwriting.
“What did you do?” Letty asked as she looked up at Miles with wide eyes.
Miles shrugged sheepishly. “Open it.”
Quickly, Letty lifted the lid of the box and parted the red tissue paper inside to reveal an elegant ebony-hued satin gown. It was a simple and classic design with spaghetti straps and delicate ruching across the bodice.
“I think that’s your size right? I picked it up this morning and had Dustin drop it off at the hotel.”
“Umm,” Letty said, clearly shocked at the thought and the beauty of Miles’s gift. “Yeah, this is exactly my size.”
“And you packed a pair of black heels that would look good with it. Try it on.”
In a hurry, Letty slid out of her clothes and pulled the dress over her head. Walking over to the full-length mirror on the bathroom door, Letty admired the dress. It fit her like a glove.
“Oh, Miles! It’s gorgeous!”
“You’re gorgeous. Get done. We’re going out.”
“Okay, where are we going?” Letty asked with a surprised smile.
“That’s for me to know and you to find out… Oh, one more thing,” Miles said as he reached into his pant pocket.
Miles pulled out a red velvet satchel. Untying the drawstring, Miles pulled out a gold chain with a Claddagh pendant attached.
“This belonged to my mother,” Miles explained to Letty as he placed the pendant in her hands. “The hands stand for friendship. You were my friend first. The heart stands for love. You know you’ve always had mine, and that won’t change. The crown stands for loyalty. I think it’s clear where our loyalties lie. With each other. My mother loved you. She loved the man I was becoming with you at my side. I think she’d be honored to know that it’s you who I chose to give one of her most prized possessions.”
Tears filled up Letty’s eyes as she stared down at the pendant. Looking up at Miles, she smiled sheepishly. “Put it on me,” Letty said breathlessly.
“What an honor, Miles. It’s gorgeous. I loved Andie, too. She was an amazing woman. I see a lot of her in you.”