by Ruby Vincent
“He had six possibilities on the list. Richard La Roche was number three,” he said. “La Roche approached him with information he shouldn’t have, and pressured Angelo into making the deal that eventually made us all rich. Angelo never got a chance to learn if La Roche was a run-of-the-mill blackmailer and con artist, or if he was the legend himself. La Roche held all the cards either way.
“But I didn’t have that problem. There’s nothing about me in that ledger. I went to every man on the list and bluffed them. Threatened to hit send on an email to Channel Five News. La Roche flew over his desk to stop me.”
I looked to Killian—speechless.
Visions of that night in his office swam in my mind. Visions of every moment with that man came back to me.
Means. Everyone gives him means to destroy them.
To note in his little black book.
We sat down before Kieran himself and bragged that we’d reveal him and steal his ledger in two months. So soon after Enzo’s discovery, he couldn’t know if we were playing some kind of game, or bluffing him.
I bet he decided right there and then to take us out.
I skipped the obvious conclusion and assumed La Roche’s man tried to kill us for Enzo, instead of under Richard Fucking La Roche’s orders.
And he still almost got what he wanted. The guy nearly killed me—the woman dubbed Killian’s weakness—and La Roche used his rage and guilt to twist Cash’s mind on the wrong man and send him into this club with only days to prepare and even less time to consider the truth.
“Oh my gosh,” I breathed.
“Look at that, she’s got it.” Enzo’s taunts burned my ears. “You’re not just a pair of tits.”
“Richard La Roche has the ledger.” As I said it, I felt its truth in my bones. “Thank you for that information, Mr. Bianchi.”
The grin twitched. “Whoa. Wait—”
I shot him between the eyes.
“Hey!”
I took off, boots splashing in the water, and rapid footfalls on their trail.
“Adeline!” Killian shouted. “Stop!”
“Sorry, baby. I can’t let you get to him first.” I threw open the door. “I still love you!”
Slamming it behind me, I focused on the Merchants whose guns were aimed at my head.
“It’s okay. The bosses. I’m their girl, Adeline,” I rushed out.
A hard body hit the metal, nearly popping me off my feet.
“Help me!”
“Oh, sorry.” They sprang into place, straining to keep their own boss in.
“The Merchants are doing cleanup,” I said, backing away. “Don’t let anyone out unless they do the ‘Shave and a Haircut’ knock.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Thump!
“Also, I need twenty dollars.”
A confused banger handed me the bill. I hurried across the street, concealing the gun at my side. The boys were so nice to line their cars in a row, making it easy for me.
“Still love you,” I said.
I shot out their tires.
The Merchants rushed out the upstairs door as I flagged the taxi—Killian and Brutal faster than their injured counterparts.
“Bye,” I called. I hopped inside. “Leighbridge. Prescott Avenue.”
My driver sped off, leaving the guys as shouting, shrinking figures in our wake.
I was on the literal edge of my seat the entire ride. Head between the driver and passenger seat, I willed him to drive faster.
After years of searching. After all my father and I lost because of and for Kieran. The ledger was twenty minutes away from me. It would be in my hands, and I’d set things right for everyone I loved. I’d return my world to its natural course with Sinjin, Mercer, Brutal, and Killian by my side.
Once they cooled down.
I called Gianna on the way.
“Addy, where are you?! I’m at the club. I see a bunch of bodies but no you.”
“I’m fine,” I said. “I had to run out of there, G. The ledger. We found it.”
“Wait, what?”
I told her everything, collecting strange glances from the driver the whole time.
“Meet me here. The Merchants are behind me and it’s better I drive off in your car tonight than there’s.”
“I’ll get there as fast as I can.”
“Here we are,” the driver said as we turned on Prescott. “Where should I—”
I tossed the twenty at him. “Keep the change.”
Car still moving, I got out and ran down the sidewalk to his mansion. Rushing through the gate, I skidded to a halt and tripped on the front steps.
My blood ran cold.
Richard La Roche’s door was open, held ajar by the foot jammed in the entrance.
Stiffly, I righted myself and climbed the stairs. I pushed on the wood, knowing even before it swung open on their bodies who I would see.
La Roche’s bodyguards.
Their unseeing eyes followed me as I stepped lightly up the stairs, gun tight in my grip.
Halfway up, I stopped.
I turned and went downstairs.
Where did La Roche keep his treasures? It wasn’t in his office.
I was soundless through the gilded path of priceless paintings, antiques, and furniture. Kieran fashioned himself a life of endless luxury on the backs of people coming to him for help.
Most of that illegal or vile help, but still.
He didn’t deserve the power of the ledger. At least I wouldn’t squander my time blackmailing gangsters into making me richer, and playing around with thieves and forgers. I had real plans for this city.
The gallery entrance loomed ahead.
Plans to reform it from the lawless pit-stain on the fabric of America to a shining city.
I paused on the threshold.
Plans to succeed where you failed.
La Roche slumped on the floor.
Blood painted the hills of La Libertad, dripping from the ruin of his head. It looked like his attacker beat him with it. Smashing the frame over and over on his skull till finally making him wear it—his head stuck through the hole in the forged masterpiece.
Beside him, the safe room invited me in.
I went inside.
The place was a disaster. Pieces of the shattered busts littered the carpet. Paintings slashed. The television tipped over. The only thing still intact was a portrait of a young woman, resting harmlessly on the couch now that her secret was revealed.
The vault within La Roche’s vault was empty. The ledger was gone.
Time to go. I can’t be found here with three corpses.
I stepped out of the vault...
...and into the hands of Sinjin.
“Urgh!”
Sinjin wrestled my arms to the side, holding me captive as Mercer gagged me with his tie. I bucked in his grip.
“Easy, Bunny.” Saint licked my ear. “It seems a little couples counseling is in order. The five of us are going to have a long fucking talk. Don’t worry, I kept your cage clean and polished for you.”
If you’d like to read the next book in the series, Brutal, click here.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ruby Vincent is a published author with many novels under her belt but after taking a fun foray into contemporary romance, she found her love of saucy heroines, bold alpha males, and weaving a tale where both get their happy ever after.
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