Respect An Infidelity Standalone Novel Author:Aleatha Romig A stand-alone INFIDELITY novel. — You know bits of his story... — ?Oren, you?re family. My Angelina, she loves you. Lennox, he?s family.? — ?Yes, family,? I confirmed. — Carmine nodded. ?Trust, Oren. I?ve trusted you with Angelina, but you see, I?m not convinced that you?ve made her happy. Will you make me happy?? — ?Sir, our marriage is healthy. I l... more »ove Angelina, and her happiness is my goal. Sometimes she is?feisty.?
Carmine?s laugh filled the room, echoing from the bookshelves to the walls. Being an interior room, it lacked windows. I?d never thought that was by accident. ?Feisty?good word. She?s a Costello. We?ve been called worse. Oren, I have a job for you. You do want me to be happy, don?t you??
He has a job?
?Sir??
?I want you to accompany Vincent to California.?
I clenched my jaw and immediately regretted the knee-jerk reaction. Perhaps if I relaxed it, my tension would go unnoticed.
Carmine?s eyes widened. ?Or are you too busy to take a trip with my son??
Of course it didn?t go unnoticed. ?No, sir, I?d be happy to go to California.?
?I?ve never asked you to help the family before, but, son, I need to know where your loyalties lie. After all, you have been negotiating with others and not with me.?
Loyalties?
?I assure you that my loyalties??
?Words. It?s all words until I see evidence with my own eyes.?
?May I ask,? I began, ?what this job will entail??
Carmine shrugged. ?It isn?t a family connection. It?s a debt?a favor. A man who once helped me asked me for assistance. That?s what we do: we help our friends. Right, son??
?Yes, of course.?
?This man,? Carmine said, ?has a problem and asked that we help him get rid of it.?
My pulse raced. His words between the lines were louder than the ones he spoke. I?d lived around it, even before Angelina. After all, my father worked the docks. I knew the score. I knew what was done, but I?d never participated, not in anything of this magnitude. I?d arranged money laundering, even allowing my reputable business to service those needs. I?d collected debts?financial debts?but never had I participated in murder.
?Son, you want my help. I?m requiring yours in exchange. After the jewelry stores, there will be other businesses, other endeavors. I?d like to offer my allegiance. I need to know it?s reciprocated. Is that a problem??
The knots in my stomach painfully twisted. ?No, sir. No problem.?
It's time for the story of a reluctantly made man, Oren Demetri.
From a teenager working the docks to a wealthy businessman...the path wasn't easy, nor for the faint of heart. Through it all, Oren Demetri gave and earned...RESPECT.
This stand-alone novel may be read with the INFIDELITY series or alone.« less