Lewis was part of my nonexistent shadow team, the one that watched and listened from the underground and reported anything of value back to me.He was the most expensive pair of eyes and ears on the entire planet, but he was well worth it.Out of all of them, Lewis had proven to be the most reliable, which meant any time he called, there was a sixty-five percent chance he was calling with bad news.
“I’m listening.”
“Word has reached the ears of some of the other families and syndicates that you have lost your bargaining power,” he spoke quickly.“They’ve been told that whatever evidence you may have previously held over their heads has gone up in flames with the destruction of your server farms.And because of this, they plan to rise against you.”
My silence at his words did nothing to ease the tremor in his voice, and like the anxious little fuck he was, he continued to talk.
“Even worse, sir, another rumor has also spread that the Duvalls were framed for your mother’s death.That she orchestrated the entire war against them to save you and your brothers from your father’s influence.As you can imagine, this belief has caused much disarray, and only further motivates their intentions.”
I suppressed the growl that was ready to erupt from my chest, willing myself not to crush my phone in my hand.Instead, I forced myself to focus on gathering as much information as I could from Lewis.I would need to prepare for the impending bloodshed that was likely headed my way if I didn’t act tactfully.
“How soon do they intend to move?”I asked, keeping my voice even.
“I’m not sure.In the next few weeks, most likely.I don’t know the details of the plans yet, but as soon as I do, I will report back.”
I exhaled deeply, releasing some of the tension growing in my chest.If the details hadn’t been worked out, then it meant they had no idea what they were going to do yet.Which also meant there was still time to divert their objectives into something far more profitable for us all.Otherwise, I’d have to orchestrate one hell of a massacre.
“Thanks, Lewis.I appreciate the call.”
“Of course, sir.”
After hanging up, I set my phone down on my desk and rolled the tightness from my shoulders.
“What crises do we have on our hands now?”Scott asked as he stared at me from across the room.
I sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose as a headache started to make itself known.
“The crises we’ve been hoping to avoid since Jaden revealed that goddamn letter.And the other one that our so-called allies stupidly believe makes them all instantly invincible now.”
Scott was silent for a moment before he cursed under his breath.
“How do you want to handle this?”he asked.
I rubbed my hand against my face, dragging my fingers through my hair as my mind raced for a solution that didn’t involve killing every single one of them.Bloodshed could be so fucking expensive sometimes.
“Organize a meeting with all the leaders,” I said.“Bring them all here to renegotiate their contracts and territories, incentivize them that making more money is far better than the cost of spilling blood.”
“And if things go south when they get here?”
If things went south, then there was only one resolution left on the table.
“Then we’ll have the most convenient massacre we’ve ever executed.”
16
ENDGAME
* * *
There had been no funeral for Daniel.In fact, there had been no acknowledgment of his death at all in the last two weeks since it happened.Darren seemed unfazed and just as characteristically preoccupied with his mounting problems that never ceased to end.
No thanks to a certain someone…
The man was all alone now; isolated from his weaning allies, cut off from his family, and disconnected from the very sources that had kept him in power for so long.And still the dominos continued to fall, one by one, beautiful and destructive in their flawless and chaotic design.
But the successes of my influence could not overshadow my greatest failure, the little one that continued to grow inside me—the one I had hoped could be spared this life.
At thirteen weeks, I was now past that vulnerable period for higher miscarriage potential, the likelihood of such hope dwindling a little more each day.