Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
“In this case, there was very little evidence left behind. Anyone killing with a knife, particularly when stabbing that many times, usually will cut themselves and leave traces of their own blood behind, but they didn’t. There wasn’t so much as a hair. No fingerprints, no partial sole print of a shoe despite all the blood.”
“A pro,” Stefano said.
“A professional wouldn’t stab someone that many times. He would kill quickly and cleanly. He’d get the job done and leave.”
Geno took another long look at the woman slumped in the chair, looking fragile and defeated other than those eyes. Her eyes were dark brown, so dark they were nearly black. They didn’t seem to miss much at all. Her lashes were thick and long, very feminine, adding to the dramatic sweep around her large eyes. Already, the lashes were falling, and she once again appeared to be that shaken prisoner, the epitome of a defenseless woman terrified of her captors.
“The second murder victims were Noemi and Caio. It was an exact match of the first one right down to the number of stab wounds and occurred thirty days after the first. Like clockwork, if you will excuse the pun, since it was a clock shop they robbed. No watches or clocks were taken, only the money in the safe. Although I’m not convinced there was money in the safe to take. The safe was open, but that doesn’t mean Caio and Noemi had money in it,” Geno said. “That was the conclusion the police came to, that it was a robbery.”
“What makes you think it wasn’t a robbery?”
“I think these are revenge killings, Stefano. And I’m beginning to believe another shadow rider family is involved.”
Stefano sighed. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
“It’s the only way they could get to my parents. Both of them.” Geno indicated the woman slumped in the chair. “I came up with a trap to catch a thief. I believe whoever has been doing the petty crimes is helping the one doing the murders. The petty crimes are being committed to spread dissension and cast suspicion on our family. Unfortunately, I think I may have been outsmarted and brought the assassin right into my home, where she wanted to be all along. She was able to get to my parents, but she couldn’t get to me.”
Stefano studied the woman with his piercing eyes. Unlike Geno, he could step back from the situation and be completely unemotional. “I’m not in the least affected by the woman, whereas it is very clear to me that you are. Have you heard her speak?”
“Not yet. Nor have I seen her shadow.”
“Yet you’re convinced she’s a shadow rider.”
“I think she is, yes,” Geno agreed. “And elite. Cool under fire. She’d have to be to stick her head in the lion’s den. If she came here without backup, without a way to send her family members the coordinates to aid her, she has to believe she can kill me and escape.”
“It’s good you aren’t underestimating her as most men would. It might be a better idea to have someone else interrogate her, Geno. If you’re the target, it would be better not to give her access to you. We need the information she has. Dario can extract it without danger to himself.”
Dario Bosco was one of the few nonriders in existence who knew of the shadow riders and lived. He was also a powerful crime lord holding a vast territory in Chicago for the Saldi family. The Saldi family was reputed to be the number one enemy of the Ferraro family. Emmanuelle Ferraro, youngest of the Chicago Ferraros and Stefano’s sister, was wife to Valentino Saldi, who happened to be head of the Chicago Saldi family. Dario had been Valentino’s enforcer for years and had the reputation for being vicious as well as able to get information from any prisoner.
Geno shook his head; his entire body rejected the idea. Every single cell in his body. He had such a visceral reaction to the idea of Dario interrogating Amaranthe that he knew he was in trouble. Had it been anyone other than Stefano with him, he wouldn’t have said a word, but his uneasiness was the very reason he’d sent for his cousin. Stefano was the one person he trusted.
“I can’t let Dario take her apart, Stefano. I haven’t heard her voice. My shadow hasn’t connected with hers. I don’t even know if she’s a shadow rider, but somehow there’s a connection between us. I don’t know what it is, but as much as I know she’s a definite threat and she has information I need, there is a part of me that feels as if I need to protect her.”
“You know it’s too dangerous for you to be in there with her.”