Chapter 29 #2
I get it. They don’t know me, and this town is riddled with mafia connections. Owning a casino is a dangerous job, one marred by family businesses.
He leads me into a clean, minimalistic office. One side of the room is covered in a light-green painted bookcase, but there’re very few books on the shelves. Mainly titles like One Path to Victorious Living and Get Rich and Keep Your Money. Family pictures line the row behind his desk chair.
My heart squeezes at a picture of a younger Ashlyn with her dad standing behind her.
She’s probably around the age of fifteen…
and it’s summer. Ashlyn wears a brave smile.
Ace beams, hands on the shoulders of his daughter, holding her in front of him.
But behind her eyes, I can see pain. Because she probably just returned from Crest. And because I know that look from the one I had every time I’d glance in the mirror.
“You know Ashlyn?” he asks, waving to a couple of chairs near the floor-to-ceiling windows in the back of the room.
They look out onto a giant covered pool that takes up most of the backyard.
A separate glass building features a full boxing ring and gym nearby.
The room smells like expensive cologne and new leather—the kind that’s never seen a scuff.
“Yeah, I do. And that’s what I wanted to discuss.”
He kicks back in his armless chair, shorts riding up.
Tank top showing off his cut biceps. Ink spread all over his body.
White-blond hair pristine and frozen in place like he has a personal barber waiting to style it every morning.
Dressed as if this is vacation weather and not the beginning of winter.
“I heard a rumor, Aiden Cardell…”
“What’s that?” I ask, placing my helmet on the shelf next to me. With some hesitation, I drop into the chair across from him.
“You’re a good fighter. So good, in fact, your name came up at the Lodge this week. I think I’m recalling that topic now.”
I lean forward, elbows resting on my widened knees. Narrowing my gaze, I make sure to hold his attention. His blue eyes sparkle with mischief, like his daughter’s.
“You heard correctly. I now own about thirty-six percent of your company’s shares…and plan to gain over half.” Yeah, I’d done some more bargaining to get what I could from various shareholders. Bargaining is probably the wrong term.
I think it’s called blackmail.
His cheeks grow red. I’ve seen the same reaction in Ashlyn and now know where she gets her temper. “What’s your aim here, kid?”
“I want her. I want Ashlyn. To be married to me, appointed to me… I want all of her.”
Ace’s jaw shifts as he contemplates me. “So you’re bargaining for the shares of my business for my daughter. I guess you’re more than a pretty boy, huh? A slick snake in the grass, too.”
He shoves off his chair, aiming toward a gold mirrored bar cart in the corner. But the thing is loaded with bottled water. No alcohol in sight. Grabbing a glass, he pours some fancy sparkling stuff into it and tosses it back like it’s vodka.
“She’s supposed to be appointed to Talon Moretti. It was arranged with his family previously, since she and he—well, since they were in high school.”
“I don’t give a shit. End it.”
He swivels around to face me, some of the pretense gone. “Look, I don’t like the squirrelly kid. Too whiny for my taste. A little bitch, if you ask me—”
“Me, too.”
His lips pinch like he’s trying to hold back a smile.
All he gives me is a subtle nod of agreement.
As if we now connect on some level. “But the unfortunate thing for you is that now the POT, that Northview committee, is in charge of the orders, I can’t change anything.
And his family and I have made a deal. A family deal. ”
I stand and close the distance—not to loom, but to make the case.
“But if Talon were out of the picture, if I could get the committee to change their minds…would you agree?”
“To you, manipulating me for my daughter’s hand?”
“Yeah.”
His palm rubs through his hair, as if shoving it into place. But there’s not one wayward strand. “How does she feel about you?”
My eyes drop. I’m not even sure what to tell him. Because I don’t know. But it must be written on my face.
“Fuck,” he says, rubbing his jaw. He stretches his thick neck. “She’s really into you. Sneaking around, I guess. How long have you two been—”
“Since Crest.”
Some level of understanding comes over his expression, and his eyebrows stitch together. “Crest…”
When he reaches for me, I flinch, and he slaps my shoulder, harder than I was expecting, but with a practiced hand that keeps it from truly hurting. I don’t grunt out loud.
“If you get the committee to overturn it. Get rid of the Moretti situation, including what I owe his family, then I’ll agree. Ashlyn can be appointed to you. For the shares.”
He crosses to the desk, lifts the shotgun, and rakes the pump once. “You’re extorting me, Cardell.”
“No,” I say, chest tight. “I’m investing.”
His eyes narrow, the same daggers Ashlyn saves for me. “You make her sad for a day,” he says, voice low as gravel, “and I will beat you to death with my own hands.”
And with that, I head out the front door and back to my bike.
In the driveway, engine idling, I check my messages.
Deadbyte
pulled NU ledger. Dean’s transfers -> acct labeled GNU-009
recurring wire to shell Co — $1.2M last quarter
Me
GNU? What’s that?
Deadbyte
looks like secret project. ties to NU and Society enforcers. not only medical funding.
Me
So Twinston’s funneling POT money given to him by the university into something called GNU?
Deadbyte
exactly. misappropriating university funds to pay his personal debts as well as servicing this GNU account. I’ve attached the transaction log.
Me
Good. That’s all I need for now. Format it into a single PDF, timestamp it, and send it to my secure inbox. Keep digging on GNU. I’ll present this at the exact right time.
It’s a dark and silent ride back to the Theta Manor. The entire way, my mind is racing, plotting, scheming. I used to feel Dad would be on my side, no matter what. He’d probably say I’m the one who rebelled. And I did.
For her.
But I also think he believes it’s impossible for me to get what I want without endangering our family. Without me losing my mind. That Ashlyn will leave me like she once did, standing there with a crushed heart and a decimated soul. But that won’t happen again. Because I know one thing…
She’s never getting away from me ever again. Even if it takes handcuffing her to my body, she’s not leaving.
I’ve made up my mind. Ashlyn Iyla Donovan has always been and will forever be…
Mine. And anything that tries to take her pays in blood, money, or both.
After I park the bike in the garage and head inside the manor, one of the pledges catches me in the entry.
“Sir, Hailey Twinston brought this by. She waited for a while for you, but left when it got too late. I told her you weren’t coming back tonight.”
He hands me a white envelope with a card inside. Giving him a nod, I climb the stairs to my room while opening it.
My heart pounds against my rib cage as I behold the words inside…
You’re invited…
Engagement party…
Aiden Isaac Cardell to Hailey Lauren Twinston
Fuck.