Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 109086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Me: And you didn’t drop her a line to get the girl to apply at your place?
Ashton: There might’ve been an incentive given, but we can thank you for bringing Creighton Lane to our awareness earlier than we might’ve otherwise known. Having eyes on his one weakness is smart business. She starts in two days. Would you like her schedule? All this was finalized an hour ago.
I gritted my teeth, hating this. Hating everything about this life, but I replied to him. He moved fast.
Me: Yes, but if I can take her before then, I will.
Ashton: You’ll need help setting up the meet with Lane when he reaches out.
I knew he was right. I probably would, but I really wanted to tell him to stick it. There was a smugness Ashton shoved down your throat when he was “helping out.” In this situation, the truth was that I was doing him a favor. Lane would more likely kill me for taking his woman, but I had no other options. He was too insulated for any other meet.
Me: Yeah. I’ll be in contact.
Ashton: One last thing, your cousin’s been showing up in our club lately. She’s usually high.
There was only one cousin he could be referring to. Vivianna.
This was also how she and I were both entangled with the West and Walden families.
She knew Ashton from when they were younger. Both were on the modeling circuit for a short time. I wasn’t sure when she started hanging out with Trace West’s sister, but at some point their paths crossed.
Ashton: Trace kicked her out the last time she came back with his sister. She’s becoming a problem. We can handle Remmi, but how do you want your cousin handled?
Me: Already handled. She’s in rehab.
Ashton: She’s out then, because she was in Katya last night.
I froze, staring at my phone, because there was no fucking way I was reading that right. She was out—but of course she was out. She would’ve walked in. Waited maybe six hours before signing herself right back out. She did it to avoid a drug charge.
I was going to murder her myself.
Actually. No. I had a better idea. Cousin Viv was officially no longer my problem.
Me: You do whatever you want with her, short of killing her.
Ashton: Are you sure you want to do that?
I knew the twisted delight he was going to take from this gift I was giving him. Just because they might have known each other at some point in their lives, that would not give Vivianna any safety if Ashton deemed someone a problem that needed to be handled.
I almost didn’t want to know what he’d do, but I had no doubt my cousin would not be a problem at any point in the future.
Me: Yes. I’m done with her.
Ashton: Now I’m the one thanking you. How did you know my birthday was coming up?
It was probably nowhere close to his birthday, but I didn’t reply. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed again. This time it wasn’t Ashton.
Uncle Toby: We need to talk in person. It’s urgent.
Yeah, right.
Me: The next time I see you, I’ll be putting a bullet in your forehead.
Uncle Toby: It’s family business. I told you what you wanted to know.
Me: Do not give a fuck.
Uncle Toby: You’re considered our Head. Only you can make the decisions we need before moving forward. The longer we wait, the more it’ll hurt business.
Me: I’ll send a representative. They’ll be in contact and they’ll pick the time and place for the meet.
Uncle Toby: It has to be someone in the family.
Me: I’ll send someone I choose. If you have a problem with who I send, I have no problem coming up early. Who knows. Maybe I’ll bring our new cousin with me. We’ll clean house together. The family business can be taken over by the women.
He didn’t reply so I settled back, listening to Sawyer and her family’s voices below again.
It was a long time later when my phone buzzed again.
Uncle Toby: Fine. Who will you be sending?
A very cruel and victorious smirk came over my face because I was going to enjoy this, so very much.
Me: You’ll know when they reach out. Do not forget my promise.
Uncle Toby: Fine. What did you do with my sons?
Another faint smile tugged at my face. That meant he hadn’t been notified yet. He would.
I wished I could be there when he found out.
Me: No.
I waited, but no more texts came from him and after twenty minutes, I sent another text to Ashton.
Me: My family needs my decisions about some items. I can’t go myself. I would like it if you went to represent me.
I fully knew what I was doing with this move. Ashton was the head of a rival Mafia family, and one where my family slaughtered members of his. This was not a favor I was asking of him. This was a gift I was giving him. He was helping me with Lane, and this was my thank-you.