63
Exodus
Ace
I’ve never felt this relaxed before. If I have, I don’t remember it.
I lean against the wall as I take in the view.
Mikael is in his normal, solemn isolation. The only difference is the violent look in his eyes. I’ve seen that look in a mirror. He’s barely holdin’ on.
Jake’s expression is wiped clean of emotion. His cold, shark eyes are starin’ with an intensity that cuts.
Cade is calm, watchin’ the stairs expectantly.
I hear the door open and the steady tread of someone walking down the steps.
Gabe appears in a full suit, lookin’ ready to do a deal. Manda said he was a demon lookin’ for a soul once. I can see it now.
He straightens his cuffs and moves to stand in front of the woman tied to a chair.
“Judge Fullerton.”
The old woman stares up at him, spittin’ fire from her eyes. Her gray hair is a tangled mess around her face. The giant black bruise over her temple, courtesy of South, makes her look paler. From her messed-up makeup and torn clothes to her diamond-ringed hands, she’s a real mess.
I got no idea what Gabe is plannin’ to do to her, but I’m here for it.
She was unconscious when the docs put the IV in her. Otherwise, it would have been a waste. A sure sign that this is gonna take a while.
Fullerton struggles for a second, trying to yell at Gabe from behind her gag. I glance at the stairs, suddenly afraid Manda is goin’ to come down them to tell her to shut the fuck up.
“She’s asleep,” Gabe mutters and pulls something from the inside pocket of his jacket. It clanks like there’s metal in there. All wrapped up in a velvet cloth.
He crouches and sets the kit down, unrolling it with a quick flip of his wrist. My brows furrow at the instruments inside.
Needles. Six inches long with tiny ends on the to hold. The other side looks sharp as fuck.
I glance around to take in the confusion on everyone else’s faces. Not one of us has seen this little kit before.
Gabe calmly pulls one out of its nest and flips up Fullerton’s skirt to reveal her knee. Somethin’ in my stomach twists as I think about what’s gonna happen next. Then, my lips turn up in a satisfied grin.
He’s fuckin’ pissed. Enough that his rules have fallen behind, along with his mental lock-up.
The precision he uses sliding that needle into her knee is like watchin’ a surgeon work. The metal wedges behind her kneecap while her muffled shrieks stain the air. He does the same on her other knee.
A single fingertip gets placed on each one to shift in the smallest movement.
Fullerton passes out.
“Wake her,” Gabe says calmly.
Mik grabs a rag soaked in rubbing alcohol and presses it over her face. A few seconds later, she wakes and looks around in confusion. When Mik rips the tape off her mouth, she screams. As if that’s the worst pain she’s ever felt.
“Let me explain,” Gabriel stands up, regaining her attention. Her smudged red lips curl in a snarl. “You’re hooked up to an IV with antibiotics, so I can take my time. Weeks if needed. We have ways of waking you if you pass out. I want the names of everyone involved in the sex trafficking. Drug suppliers. And anyone that paid.”
Her mouth opens, ready to spew out curses. Before she makes a sound, Gabe leans forward and shifts a needle. I watch her kneecap press against her skin, bulging.
Now, all she has breath for is a scream of agony.
“Jake, take notes,” Gabe crouches down and starts pulling out more needles.
It might be sick as hell, but I’ve never been so proud of him.
Gabriel
I make it up the stairs feeling lighter somehow.
Fullerton gave us everything, including any other bank accounts that have money in them. I’ll give her the night and make sure she’s being honest tomorrow. I don’t want to miss any details.
The doors close behind us, leaving Fullerton and a few doctors in the gym. A maid steps out of a doorway, looking pale.
“Mr. Matthias is here,” she informs me, unable to meet my eyes. “The sitting room.”
Even the staff knows how bad I take knowing my father is nearby. They’ve heard the phone calls.
This time, I nod and dismiss her without the normal frown. She seems a little surprised as she hurries away from me.
“I got this,” Ace tries to pass me.
“No,” I tell him with a resigned sigh. “I have this. Everything is ready.”
Everyone looks at me in surprise as I pace away from them.
As soon as I pass the threshold of the room, he begins. He’s seated on the same couch he used before with the same guards behind him. I move the armchair around until we’re facing each other as he rants. His words mean nothing to me now.
“You used Amanda as bait to draw out the rats in your midst,” I interrupt him without tone.
I unbutton my jacket and sit down, meeting his eyes without flinching.
“That wasn’t wise.”
He blinks in surprise, caught off guard by my flat accusation. I speak again before he can.
“All of your agents hidden throughout town have twenty-four hours to pack up and get out. They’re burned.”
Jake and Cade walk in with bright smiles. Cade drops a stack of sheets onto the coffee table between us.
Father’s eyes move to it, his brows furrowing. When he sees the list of names, his eyes widen and dart back to mine.
“Did you think I was idle while this was going on?” I ask with a raised brow.
Any names I couldn’t dig out, Tera found easily. That woman has a gift with computers. I owe her. And Shade. The man that’s never had cover when pain rains down. I’ll be that umbrella. I have way too many people in this town that need it. I’m ready to take on the job.
“Do you think you have the manpower for that?” Father settles back on the couch as if he is in control of how this is going to go. His two guards are staring down at him with dark expressions he can’t see. Even if he did, I doubt he would care.
“You’ll go back to New York and cut all ties with your children. Publicly. The only person affiliated with you who will be allowed back in my town is Shade’s mother. I’ve already informed her that she will have support here, even if she decides you aren’t worth sticking around for.”
“Who do you think you are to give me orders?” He laughs loudly, the sound echoing in the room.
Mikael and Ace come in next.
“My Mother’s son,” I acknowledge softly.
It makes his laugh get louder.
“And a Jefferson,” I gesture to the two guards.
“A what?” Father scoffs.
When the guards grab him by the arms and pull him up from the couch, he’s startled. I enjoy the look on his face enough that I wish I had a camera.
I stand, rebuttoning my coat as he blusters through his forced escort from our home. I follow along with my real family trailing behind me.
“Stop shoutin’,” Ace barks in a quiet voice. “Manda’s asleep.”
“Fuck your whore!”
Mikael wrenches Father out of their grip and picks him up. The two guards freeze up, eyes wide at the display of strength. When Mik’s hands begin to squeeze without mercy, I hear a subtle pop.
Ace slides around to his front and starts punching any piece of him he can reach.
“Outside,” Jake reminds them with a happy grin.
Cade pulls Ace away as the front door opens. When Mikael throws him out, he bounces on the grass, staining his clothes.
I turn to Kit and Aspen.
“Make sure he gets back. I want the announcement made Friday at the latest and a heads-up before it airs.”
“Yes, sir,” they reply with broad grins.
“Let the others know they can scatter.”
They nod, descending the steps to grab Father’s biceps. They start dragging him across the grass, grinning at each other like children.
“What the fuck are you doing?” He screams at me, spittle flying.
“Disbanding your current operation. Over ninety-eight percent of your people are now under my employ. The rest will be dead soon. Have fun rebuilding,” I give him a smug smile and flip him off.
They have to knock him out to get him into his damn limo.
“That felt good,” Jake eyes me with a smile.
“It did,” I agree and pull out my phone.
“What?” Shade asks in a resigned tone.
“I got you an early wedding present,” I chuckle.