Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“There are easier ways than this,” he says rubbing his jaw. “I’ve been in talks with a few of Paulie’s associates. A lot of them are looking to cut ties,” he adds, looking around the room and ending on Kai. “I’m not sure if you know Rauel,”
“I know of him,” Kai confirms.
“Then you know he controls most of the drugs that come into the United States. Paulie’s been one of the only people Rauel will deal with. He trusts no one. He’s paranoid and cautious. That was, until Rauel found out Paulie’s son was skimming off the top. You see, Rauel had a son around Paulie’s son’s age, and when Rauel found out his son was stealing from him, he killed him himself, with no remorse. Rauel lost respect for Paulie when he didn’t personally deal with his son. If you want a takeover, I have no doubt Rauel would follow you faster than anyone.”
“That isn’t my life anymore,” Kai says quietly, studying Aedan. “I made a promise years ago to my great-grandfather that I would put our family on a path to redemption, and I intend to keep that promise.”
“You’re giving me something for a job I was going to do anyway,” Aedan replies just as quietly. “Paulie’s son raped my sister; then, he beat the shit out of her and left her for dead,” he says, and the room goes silent. No one even breathes. “Paulie didn’t give a fuck when I brought what happened to his attention, and unluckily for me, someone got to his son before I did. I don’t need your property. I’ll help you no marker needed.”
“Aubrey,” Kenton rumbles with his eyes on Justin, and my eyes go to him, seeing him looking at his lap with his hands fisted tightly and his jaw hard. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me this shit?” Kenton asks, and Justin lifts his head to look at him.
“You know I couldn’t do that,” he whispers harshly.
“I wanted her to have an abortion,” Aedan says, looking at Kenton. “He fucking raped her. She never even had a boyfriend, and he fucking raped her and put his kid in her. My sister ran away. I did that. I pushed her too hard, and when Justin found out there were people looking for her, he contacted me, and I told him to keep who she is to himself. Aubrey’s safe. No one knows she exists, and I want to keep it that way. My sister has too much heart for this life, and she’s happy where she is and has made it clear she’s not leaving Justin. Not that I’m happy about that part, but I want her to have what she wants. She deserves to be happy.”
My eyes move to Justin, wondering what the fuck is really going on and who the fuck Aubrey is to him.
“You know I’ll always take care of her,” Justin assures, looking at Aedan.
“I know,” he mutters then looks around the room. “Paulie knows people are gunning for him. He’s not stupid, and ending him won’t be easy. Since his son’s death, his security has doubled and he’s no longer taking meetings.”
“We have an in,” Justin says, and Aedan’s eyes move to him.
“It seems there’s a lot you haven’t shared,” he says quietly, studying Justin.
“You know the important shit,” Justin replies just as low.
Aedan lets out a long breath and asks, “So what’s the plan?”
“I’ve been doing some digging. Paulie has a mistress. He’s been seeing her for the last four years. His wife doesn’t know about her, but I’m guessing if she did, she wouldn’t be happy,” Justin says, and I cut in.
“I don’t know what you heard, but Paulie’s been stepping out on his wife for a long time. No way a woman, any woman, could miss it. My guess is she just doesn’t give a fuck what he does, as long as she gets to live the high life.”
“You’re right. She couldn’t care less about the others. But this woman is different, and I have a feeling she won’t like what’s been going on,” he says, pulling up a picture on his phone of a young girl with long blonde hair, blue eyes, and giant fake tits. “Her name is Anita Lynn. She’s twenty-six. Paulie met her at a club she was stripping at and moved her into a better place right away, only to move her into a bigger place four months later. Her house is twice the size of the one he shares with his wife, and he just recently found out she is pregnant with his child. Paulie’s been moving money around so that when he asks his wife of the last thirty-two years for a divorce, she won’t be able to take him to the cleaners.”
“You’re right. She won’t like that,” Kenton murmurs, handing Justin his phone back.