Money Devils 1

by Ashley

  “In this folder is your freedom. It contains various video clips of you going to meet an eighteen-year-old male intern. I counted around nineteen times from the months of September through January. It also has the hotel records that were purchased with your credit card for each visit. Not to mention, the raunchy text screenshots and photos of you in drag. You’ve had a steamy past six months, don’t you think? You like them lace panties, huh?”

  Ashton calmly laid out the mounds of photographic evidence of infidelity and homosexuality. She stared at Mr. London and the embarrassment seemed to be almost instant. His pale white face turned plumb red and he quickly flipped over the pictures, nervously looking around. He didn’t want anyone to know his deep dark secrets and for that reason, he was being blackmailed by a complete stranger.

  “How did you find out this information? How do you even fucking know me?” he questioned through clenched teeth as he intensely stared at the beautiful young woman in front of him.

  “That’s information I can’t share, Mr. London. What I can tell you is if I don’t get a money transfer by two P.M. today, all these photos and videos will be on your church members’ Facebook pages. Plus, your wife will get a special delivery. Not to mention the email blast that will be in each and every one of your colleagues’ inboxes. Now, I know you don’t want that to happen; and to be quite frank, I don’t either.”

  “You dirty bitch.” Mr. London sneered as he gathered the pictures and stuffed them into the envelope.

  Ashton smiled. “Here is the bitcoin address that I need the funds wired to. Exactly $400,000, and this problem will go away.” She slid over an index card with a series of numbers and letters.

  “How do I know these are the only copies you have?”

  “You can rest assured that this little problem will go away as soon as I get confirmation of the funds. We have no desire to prolong this any longer than we have to, sir. Once I confirm the funds, all of this will be destroyed.”

  “This is bullshit,” he whispered harshly, hatred in his eyes. Veins formed in his forehead, a mixture of fear and rage all over his face. After an intense stare down, Mr. London broke eye contact and then reached for his phone in his inner jacket pocket. Ashton sat there patiently with her hands collapsed inside one another. She glanced over at her father who studied them closely, watching over Ashton as she committed her first crime. It was his youngest daughter’s rite of passage and entry into the family business of white-collar crime.

  Mr. London snatched the card with the bitcoin address on it and stood. He shook his head just before he exited the café. Ashton closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The intensity of the exchange was newfound territory for her. She looked over at her father. He smiled and winked at her, letting her know she had done a good job. She watched as he slyly stood and gathered his newspaper. As always, he was cool as a cucumber, calm and collected. He neatly tucked the paper under his arm. There was a ding, which prompted him to look at his cell phone. He smiled after staring at his screen for a few seconds. It was a notification the funds had transferred into his ghost bitcoin account. He glanced over at his daughter and discreetly nodded, letting her know that their job was done.

  Almost instantly, Ashton felt relief as she felt the tension in her shoulders slowly begin to melt away. She had just completed her first mission and she couldn’t be prouder of herself. She couldn’t wait to get home and celebrate with her three older sisters and father. Ever since she’d learned what type of business her family was in, she’d wanted in. On that day, she had finally gotten her wish and she couldn’t wait to see her favorite sister, Sutty, and get her approval. Her father’s and Sutty’s approval were what she longed for and in that moment, she felt like she had finally arrived.

  She watched as her father casually exited the place and just as planned, she would wait a few minutes and then leave after him. Ashton heard her phone vibrating and quickly reached down into her Louis Vuitton bag that sat in the chair next to her. She pulled her phone out and saw she had gotten a text from her sister Luna, whose nickname was “Gadget.”

  Gadget

  Good job Ash. Just got confirmation. The bag is in. $

  Ashton

  OMG. That was tense. My heart pounding … smh

  Gadget

  Welcome to the big leagues. Oh yeah. HBD Bitch! Lol.

  Ashton

  Love ya

  Gadget

  ILY too. See you tomorrow

  Ashton smiled from ear to ear and quickly pressed Send to text her sister back. She couldn’t wait to get home and celebrate her first caper with her family. They had a rule to always wait twenty-four hours after a job before they met, just to ensure if they ever were tailed by the authorities or a disgruntled victim, they wouldn’t lead them back to the family. Throughout the years, she had watched her father groom her older sisters into con artists; and because she was the youngest, she never got to participate. However, on that day, she had arrived. It was so hard for her to keep her cool while in front of their target. The adrenaline rush of getting six figures from blackmail was a new feeling for her. She then understood why her sisters were addicted to their family’s secret hustle. Her father, Milo LaCroix, was a mastermind and set up the perfect play for Ashton’s initiation.

  What the fuck? That pale mu’fucka looked like he had smoke coming from his ears, Ashton thought as she took a few deep breaths. She closed her eyes and tried her best to slow down her rapid heartbeat that was caused by the intense exchange. She felt anxiety inside of her chest and felt her internal temperature begin to rise. She sensed her forehead begin to sweat and quickly stood up to go to the bathroom to gather some type of composure. She stood in front of the mirror for a few moments then turned on the faucet, dipped her head, and splashed the cold water in her face. She stared at herself in the mirror as she patted herself dry with a paper towel and felt a sense of pride. She thought about the smirk on her father’s face just moments before and couldn’t wait to meet up at home to get his feedback. She was a daddy’s girl and she wanted nothing more than to make him proud, even if by way of white-collar crime.

  Ashton headed out and stopped at the counter to purchase a bottle of water. The nerve-wracking experience had her mouth dry, her tongue feeling like sandpaper. After she downed the water, she gathered her things and headed out the door. She couldn’t wait until the next day when she could celebrate with her loved ones. She’d sacrificed her birthday for the family business and she couldn’t be happier about it. In her eyes, she had officially become a woman.

  The following morning, Ashton was heading into the upscale subdivision where her father resided near downtown Houston. His home also acted as their hub and meetup spot after a job. Ashton pulled into the circular driveway at her father’s immaculate home. She saw her sisters’ cars there, too, so she knew they were present. As she parked, a swarm of police cars pulled into the driveway. She never saw them coming. Federal agents then surrounded the car, screaming at her.

  “Put your fucking hands up now!” one police officer shouted as he approached the car with his gun drawn and pointed directly at Ashton’s head. Ashton quickly threw her hands up, her heart racing rapidly. She didn’t know what was going on. It all began to make sense when she saw her father getting brought out of the house handcuffed. Two federal agents escorted him, one on each side of him. Ashton was yanked out of the car and handcuffed as well. Just as quickly as her career as a criminal began, it ended. She would later find out that the bottle of water she’d purchased at that coffee shop had linked them back to the crime. Mr. London had gone to the authorities and told them everything that had happened. A small mistake had landed her and her father in jail for years, the job blown all because of her carelessness. If she hadn’t purchased that drink, they would have been in the clear. She gave the authorities a paper trail that led straight back to them. It was the beginning of a domino effect that would crumble their family for years to come.

  * * *

&nbs
p; Milo placed his hand on the glass, knowing what his daughter was thinking about. He saw the guilt in her eyes. Ashton placed her hand on the opposite side of the glass as well, aligning it with his.

  “It wasn’t your fault,” he whispered, as if he could read her mind. His words soothed her, and she took a deep breath and exhaled. She closed her eyes, feeling relieved he wasn’t disappointed in her. A weight lifted from her shoulders. He had taught them so well and she knew better than to leave any evidence or links that would eventually put her or her family in harm’s way. Ashton nodded and tried her best not to drop a tear.

  She had gotten a blocked call from an unknown caller a few weeks before. The caller had simply left a message saying her father needed to see her immediately and gave her instructions on how to do so by using a fake name. A week later, Ashton had received an envelope with a fake ID, as well as a date and time to visit. Milo was a very powerful and resourceful man and had an expert-like skill to get things done, even if behind bars.

  “How have you been?” Milo asked as he studied her face closely.

  “I’m okay … I’m okay,” she said, not wanting to tell him about all she had been through in Miami. She had just left there and had no plans of ever going back.

  “Now, why do I have a feeling that you aren’t being honest with me?”

  “It’s nothing that I can’t figure out myself. How are you holding up?”

  “I’m always good. I’m just reading a lot and working out. Trying to walk this time down,” he answered, referring to the ten-year stretch that he had left. Once the feds had begun investigating him, they found a few more instances of blackmail that he’d facilitated. He had to take a plea to keep his other daughters’ names clear. Ashton was the only one that was directly connected because of her small mistake. However, he couldn’t save her from the wrath of the feds. He felt responsible for sending his daughter to prison, even though it was her mental error that crumbled their operation. He immediately noticed that she seemed to be more hardened since the last time he had seen her. He knew that her prison stint had done that. He could only imagine the drastic changes that she had to go through. He had roots in Miami and word had gotten back to him about who she was associating with. The information that he’d received had him very concerned. He had made it very clear that he never wanted any of his daughters to come and see him while he was imprisoned. This was why he requested for her to come and see him.

  “I see you got some grays since the last time I’ve seen you.”

  “That comes with the territory,” Milo said as he rubbed his hand over his now short-cut, waved hair. He smiled, showing her his infamous smile, and that sight warmed her heart. “I wanted you to come here today because I’ve been hearing some things,” Milo said, shifting the conversation to a more serious tone. Ashton’s mind instantly began to turn, wondering what exactly her father was referring to. She had done so many things since she had been out, specifically in Miami. Her natural instincts prompted her to play dumb.

  “What kind of things, Daddy?” she asked as her mind thought back to her Miami life.

  “Baby girl, I changed your diapers. I was there at your first steps and I heard your first words. I know you like the back of my hand. I know when you’re bullshitting me. I think you know exactly what I’m talking about,” he said calmly.

  She had a wild time in Miami and honestly didn’t know where to start, so she froze, not knowing exactly how to answer him. So, she said nothing.

  “You’re playing with fire. You have no idea the history between our family and the one that you were mixing with. Don’t think because I’m in here that I don’t have my ear to the streets. Your father isn’t as square as you might believe. I was a completely different person before we moved to Texas. It’s a deep, embedded hate between the LaCroix and the Diamonds that spans back years. Things happened that you have no idea about. Things that I would never speak on. I’m going to say this once and once only. Stay away from the Diamond family.”

  “Yes, sir,” Ashton said as she looked in the eyes of a man that she loved but also feared. She couldn’t remember the last time that he had a stern tone with her, so she knew he meant business.

  “That’s my baby,” Milo said as he slowly eased up and began to smile, lightening the mood. “How are your sisters? Have you spoken with them?”

  “No, I haven’t. You know how funny-acting they are. None of them have said a word to me since the incident. Not a letter, a visit, or anything. I think they blame me for mama—”

  “Don’t say that,” Milo said, cutting her off when she mentioned his wife.

  “They just don’t fuck with me, Daddy,” Ashton said, being as blunt and direct as possible.

  “Those are still your sisters. Nobody wins when the family is at odds. Remember that.”

  “I know, but…”

  “There is no but. You have to go and make that right. I didn’t raise you girls like that. We are all we got.”

  “Yes, sir,” Ashton responded as she dropped her head. Just as her father was about to speak again, a guard yelled “time!” Milo looked back, then refocused on his daughter and smiled.

  “I want you to know that I love you with all my heart and I always will. I’m sorry for everything that happened. I have to go, but please know that I think about all of you every single day, and one day, we will all be back together. I have to go now. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Daddy,” Ashton said as she looked at her hero. She watched him smile and place the phone on the hook. He kissed his fingers and then touched the glass. Ashton smiled and watched her father exit the booth. His words hit home. Even though he was locked up, she felt obligated to follow his orders about reuniting with her sisters. Ashton left the prison and knew going back to Miami wasn’t an option. So, just as her father requested, she would head back home to reunite with her sisters. She was unsure about how it would play out, but at that point, they were all she had.

  CHAPTER 2

  “Are you comfortable, Ms. LaCroix?” the driver asked. “Is the temperature okay? You need some music or a water? There’s water if you need it. If you’re thirsty.”

  His eyes found hers through the reflection of the rearview mirror and then bounced back to the road nervously. She was beautiful. A sequined emerald-green dress graced her body.

  She marked him with her stare. “Silence would be nice.”

  Not one to mince words, Sutton LaCroix spoke what she felt. Annoyance. She was annoyed because the driver with wandering eyes was not only putting her life at risk, but he was also distracting her from her thoughts. Very important thoughts, indeed.

  She pulled out her phone and pulled up the group chat with her sisters. She hit a button, tracking their locations to ensure they were in place. Three chauffeurs were a necessity. There was no bubbly being popped on the way, no girl talk and gossip, no fun to be had. This was business. Three drivers for the three sisters in case they had to get out fast and go their separate ways. Sutton always thought of every aspect of every situation. Every possible exit strategy was already mapped out inside her head. Anything that could go wrong had already been expected. “Expect everything, lose nothing” was what she told herself.

  She opened her Chanel clutch and removed the diamond earrings that were inside. Her neck tensed as she held her breath, turning to the side to place each delicate stone in her ears. Gravel crunched beneath the tires of the car as it rolled to a stop. She released her breath then pulled out her compact, opening it to find her reflection was intact before snapping her bag closed as the door opened. She exited and lowered her gaze, smoothing the back of her short haircut down as she walked to the entrance. The cameras positioned above the door would catch the back of her head instead of her face; no recognizable markings were anywhere on her body. Tattoos. Piercings. Those were sure ways for a witness to identify someone; and although Sutton ensured that she would never be under anyone’s lineup, precautions were necessary.

 
“Welcome to Techcon. Fingerprint please, right thumb.”

  The two men stood at the door, clad in black suits and white shirts. Off-rack, for sure. Sutton’s eyes went to the devices that were positioned in their ears and then her gaze slid down to the 9mm standard-issue handguns that were half-hidden behind the suit jackets.

  She smiled as she placed her thumb on the sensor.

  “Melissa Stanford. Welcome,” the man said. Sutton smiled and then proceeded into the dinner. She lifted a hand to the diamond earring on her right side and pressed the back.

  “Two guards at the front,” she said. The faux earrings were genius. With a one-mile radius, she could communicate with her sisters with ease.

  She grabbed a champagne flute from the tray of a server walking by and glanced back at the door.

  “Honor, I said understated. That dress has everybody’s eyes on you, bitch. What is it? Dior?” Sutton asked.

  “Saint Laurent,” Honor answered.

  “I hope you spill something on it,” Sutton snickered.

  “Hating ass,” Honor said, laughing. “You wanted me to distract his security, right?”

  Sutton stood on the second-floor balcony, overlooking the main floor below.

  “Oh, you’re going to distract them alright,” Sutton said. “Are you in?”

  There was silence on the other end for a few seconds as Honor went through the security at the front.

  “I’m in,” Honor confirmed.

  “Me too.” The soft-spoken voice trembled a bit and Sutton frowned. She heard the nerves of her younger sister Luna.

  “Fuck you nervous for? This was your idea. Get your head together. Nerves are the precursor to mistakes. Come on, Gadget. Get it the fuck together,” Sutton hissed.

  “Nobody’s nervous. Shut up, Sutty,” Luna barked back. “Everybody ain’t a fucking sociopath. With your lack-of-emotions-having ass.”