Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 142640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 475(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 475(@300wpm)
The car pulls out and the cavalcade of cars trail behind us. The boys and I exchange scared looks.
I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but it can’t be good.
Two hours later we have arrived in Milan. We travel to the top floor of the Ferrara building; my mind is a clusterfuck of confusion. We have six men with us, all big and burly and I have no idea what the hell is going on.
Once we arrive at the top floor, we walk through a grand foyer and into a large office reception and waiting area. “You boys wait here,” Lorenzo instructs my two friends.
“But…” Val objects, one of the men pushes him into the chair abruptly and he falls back. “Sit,” he growls.
Alex tentatively sits down too, scared for his life.
Fuck.
I’m led into a large office and the door closes behind us, I turn to see two men. “As you know, I am a longtime friend of your parents and you can trust me.”
I nod.
“This is Andrea and Matteo.”
“Hello.”
Lorenzo exhales heavily. “There are some things that you don’t know, son. You have been protected up until now, but with the passing of Enrico Ferrara, you must be told of your heritage.
I frown.
“Your father….”
“Leave my father out of this,” I snap.
He glares at me, unimpressed that I interrupted him. “Your father’s name wasn’t Linden. His real name was Giuliano Ferrara.”
“What?”
Lorenzo and the other men exchange worried looks.
“It’s a very complicated story.” He pauses as if searching for the right wording. “Giuliano, your father lived a double life—one with your mother and you and one with his wife and their four children.”
I frown as his words sink in.
How could that be?
“What? That’s ridiculous!” I scoff. “He wasn’t married to someone else. You have the wrong man; he and my mother were married.”
“We don’t. These are your two brothers, Giuliano.” He gestures to the two men and they nod in a sad acknowledgement. “Andrea and Matteo, I’m sorry that you had to meet under these circumstances.”
My eyes flicker between the three of them. “You’re lying.” I stand abruptly.
Lorenzo stands too, he pushes me back into the chair. “Your oldest brother was murdered; his name was Enrico Ferrara.”
My eyes widen as I begin to hear my heartbeat in my ears.
The floor moves beneath me.
“You have been left in your father’s will to take over management of the Ferrara family empire.”
My face falls.
“It’s okay,” Andrea says softly. “You won’t be alone, Giuliano.”
“We will be here every step of the way to train you and to help you with the transition,” Lorenzo says.
I stare at him as the walls close in.
She’s my sister.
I drop my head as the sound of my heartbeat rings loud and hard in my chest.
No….
Through my daze I see that Lorenzo leaves the room and then returns with a man. “This is Mario,” he introduces him. “He is our lawyer, he will explain things in greater detail.”
Huh?
I’m so confused.
“Hello, Giuliano,” Mario says as he puts his hand out to shake mine. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”
I shake his hand as my manners take over. “I don’t understand.”
“You will.” Mario takes out a large leather box and opens it, it has a folder inside. “Your father has left a very specific and detailed will, in the event of his and then…Enrico’s death.”
I stare at him.
“You have been left the entirety of the Ferrara businesses.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You own everything now.”
“Like what?” I screw up my face. “What are the Ferrara businesses?”
Mario begins to read from the folder, “Ferrara Sports Cars valued at nine billion euros. The Flamingo Bell Football League side and the four football stadiums.”
What?
“Seventy-six million euros worth of real estate.” He slides his finger over the assets as he reads them out loud. “Five hundred and eighty-three high-class brothels. One hundred and twenty-six VIP strip clubs. Nine casinos worldwide, valued at an estimated fourteen billion euros.”
I slump back in my chair. “I don’t understand. How in the fuck did my father own all this without me knowing?”
Mario exhales and takes his glasses off. “Son….” He pauses as if choosing his words. “You have been kept out of the family business on purpose, but in the event of Enrico’s death, it has been decided that you will take over and lead.”
My eyes flick to the two men sitting in the room listening.
“I don’t…. I mean.” I gesture to them. “Why…what do you mean?” I’m tripping over my words as I try to make sense of all of this.
“Enrico was to tell you this when you turned twenty-one, he was going to train you up and have you working alongside of him. As it turns out our hand has been forced to bring that forward.”
I blink, shocked. “Did he know about me?”
“Yes.”
“How long for?”
“He found out about you when his father died.”