"Good morning, Dad," Antonio said as he sat down with them at the open table. He was all freshened up and his hair was styled immaculately. He had gold rings on almost all of his fingers and a thick gold pendant hung around his neck. He gave Maxim and Giovanni a small nod as he took an empty seat. They sat under a tent-like structure that overlooked a grassy plain. Giovanni nodded in reply. He gazed far off into the distance, at the smooth acres of land. "Do you know just how much land space this estate occupies?" He asked abruptly. The question took Antonio by surprise. "Uh, N-no" He followed his father's gaze and looked out into the distance. Giovanni chuckled, "Neither do I," he said and poured himself a drink. "We should have servants doing this," Antonio muttered as he poured himself a drink. "Hm," Giovanni said, "I was just speaking with your business partner…""Glad to see that you both are getting along just fine," Antonio said. Maxim snorted. Giovanni smiled, "We are g
AN HOUR LATER, the soft whine of a luxury car drove into the estate. Jon was sitting in the main study, he looked out the window and saw that it was two cars. A familiar Cadillac that Vincent normally rode in, and a small fancy Pontiac. That was a lady's car. Jon sighed and stood up from the table. He walked out the door just as Vincent walked in, closely followed by Nicole. Vincent held out a piece of paper in his hand. He handed it to Jon who read it through before looking up. Vincent nodded, "Yeah. It's a document of bail. That thing is coming off." A door on the far end of the foyer opened and Rick and Paxton walked out. Rick stretched and said, "I thought I heard your voice," he walked and took Vincent's hand. "Yeah," Vincent nodded. "I stopped by earlier." "I heard," Rick said, "I came out, but it seemed like you were gone by then." Vincent nodded and said, "I didn't stay for long.""What of Jeff?" Paxton asked. "He stayed in New York," Vincent answered. "What are you doin
"I THINK HE is going to be a problem," Maxim's gruff voice said quietly into the phone. "No, I am not making things up." He snarled, "I've seen the way he looks at me. We need to take Giovanni Orsatti out of the equation." There was some mumbling from the other end of the phone and Maxim listened attentively for almost a minute. He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair before saying, "Okay. I've heard you, Uncle. I'll wait to see if he leaves town, if he does, I'll let him be. But if he doesn't… he'll have to die." He paused and listened, nodding and making sounds of affirmation. "And what of the lady, Nicole?" He asked. His face got red as he listened and slammed his fist into the wall. "What do you mean that you can't be involved with that? She double-crossed me. Messed with my head!" He heard the front door open and the light shuffling steps of Antonio. "I will call you back," he muttered and ended the call. He snapped the phone close and dipped it into his pocket
NICOLE SPED ON the I-60 highway. She was shaking with shock and disbelief at what she just heard from Maxim. Yes, she had always known that he was ruthless…but not to that level. He seemed and sounded like a completely different person like he had lost his mind in the search for power and revenge. And now he was involving her parents in his grand evil scheme. She pressed on the gas even harder. She was almost nearing the intersection that either led to the Residential side of town or out and to the area where the police headquarters were. She was deciding on whether she should head over to the Stone mansion to make a copy of the recorded tape in her glove compartment or she should head directly to the national police district headquarters. She knew that almost all the cops in New Jersey are under the Orsatti – and therefore, Maxim's – payroll. She would not know who to trust. Even the National police, she was going to go straight to the Marshall. To someone who was not looking fo
JON RAN HIS hands along the smooth edge of his large oak table. Lucas had left the office just the way it was. He swiveled in his chair and turned around to face the full glass window. As he stared out, a funny thought about whether the glass was bulletproof stuck in his mind and he chuckled and muttered to himself, "Of course, it's bulletproof, Jonathan." He stood up and looked around.He hadn't been here since the day of his father's assassination. Things had been moving too fast even for him to catch up. He was watching a live coverage of an accident that occurred on the I-60 highway. He shook his head, it was bound to happen sooner than later. He always said that people often oversped on that highway. He turned as the door opened and Oliver came in, "Welcome back, sir," he bowed. Jon nodded, "What have I missed here? How's this place holding up?" Oliver came and dropped a stack of papers on the table. Jon took one glance at it and groaned, "I thought wearied on doing this via em
ALL THE WAY to the hospital, Jon's mind kept on imagining the worst-case scenario. The V12 engine in this car suddenly did not feel fast enough as he sped along the road, overtaking cars recklessly. He screeched to a stop in the parking lot, beside a large ambulance. He ran into the emergency room, stopping a nurse, "I'm here for Nicole Bishop. I am Jonathan Stone." The nurse gave him a sympathetic look and said, "The head nurse will be with you shortly, sir." "Can't you tell me anything? Will she live?" Jon pressed. The nurse rubbed his arm and shook her head, "I can not say anything for now, sir." She said, "Just take a seat. I will bring you a cup of hot chocolate. It helps to ease the stress, and my boss will be with you shortly." She led Jon to a vinyl chair and gave him a small nod before hurrying away. Jon hung his head down and felt hot tears press against his eyes. He clamped his eyes shut, refusing to cry in public. He felt a shadow fall across him and looked up to see
HEADS TURNED AT the loud, guttural sound as Jon's car sped down the street. His phone rang as he swerved into a street, he tapped at a screen on his dashboard. The phone was connected to the car. Lucas's voice came through the speaker, "How's it going, Jonathan?" He asked. "I've left the hospital," Jon replied. "Is she going to be alright?" Lucas asked."Yeah, the doctors said she'll help fine," Jon said. Lucas sighed in relief, "That's good to hear. I'll speak with you when you get back home.""Wait… there's one more thing," Jon said. "Yeah?""She said something," Jon pressed his horn at some people crossing the road. "She said it wasn't an accident." "What do you mean?" Lucas asked. A second later, it dawned on him, "Someone was responsible?" Jon made a sound from his throat in agreement. "Did she say who?" Lucas asked. Jon made that same sound. "Who?""Maxim Ivanov!" Jon spat the name out. His tires screeched as he swerved into another street and accelerated. "Oh God!" Lu
"DAMN, MAXIM. Did you get run over by a truck?" Antonio asked. Maxim snorted and brushed past him. He looked around, the toen wallpaper and untidy corridor had been fixed. "I like what you've done with the place," Maxim muttered. "You should see the music room now," Antonio said, "I would have taken you there but it looks like you have more pressing matters at hand." His eyes went to the ice pack in Maxim's hand. Maxim chuckled. He caught the joke. "But seriously, Maxim," Antonio said, "What happened to you? A truck?" He asked again. "Yeah, more or less," Maxim muttered. He collected the drink that was offered to him and took a small drink before saying, "I was hit by the truck of Jonathan's rage." "Which Jonathan?" Antonio asked. "How many Jonathans do you know?" Maxim snapped. "I met a Jonathan in Madrid last year. Lovely fellow, you know. You would like him," Antonio counted off his fingers, "Then I met another Jonathan in Germany the year before that. Was it Jonathan or ju