Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
There was only one explanation for why my father wouldn’t listen to reason. Black had something on him.
“Black works for us.”
I rolled my eyes toward the roof of the SUV. My father’s ego was so great that he believed fear was enough to keep everyone loyal. It was a mistake that would cost him in the end. I’d make sure of it.
“He’s also the one in charge of the girls. If someone’s coming at us, why just the stables? Why not the weapons depot? The shipments? The traps? The gambling spots? Why always the one piece of business we entrusted with the shadiest motherfucker we know? Have you considered that whoever is doing this is after him and not us?”
“It has crossed my mind.”
“So why don’t you do anything about it?”
“Because there are bigger things at play here.”
“What does Black have on you?” I asked because I didn’t like mincing words.
“What makes you think a peon like Michael Black could ever have something on me and live to threaten me with it?”
“Then let me send him packing.”
“No.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Because Black’s useful. He gets the job done, and he doesn’t ask questions. Can you do the same? Find out what is happening to my stables and end it.”
The rest of the ride to Glamis, my family’s sprawling estate north of Black Veil, passed in stony silence. On the outskirts of the city, the motorcade broke up, going in four different directions to confuse any tails. When the twenty-five-thousand-square-foot home sitting on thirty acres of land came into view, I felt nothing.
JJ, my grandfather, decided it was safer for his family to live far out of reach of his enemies but close enough for him to keep an eye on his interests, so he bought this land deep in suburbia once my great-grandfather stepped down. What started as a simple cabin sitting on miles of land stretching in each direction had been replaced by a rustic palace—an oasis. Each generation had added on a new wing as more of our family immigrated here over the years, and I knew I would be no different.
To my father, it was the seat of his power. The crown jewel of the Kilpatrick wealth. It was the walls behind which he decided who lived or died, who got money, and who became made.
To my mother and me, it was where we learned to hide in plain sight, shield our emotions, diminish who we were so that there was less of him to trample. It was how my mother taught me to survive him, but I haven’t been down with that shit in a long time. I started pushing back when I was fourteen, but it didn’t last. Once my father realized he was losing control of me, he started using my mom to re-tighten the leash. And after all he’d done to her, even if my father turned into a saint tomorrow, we were long past forgiveness now.
Once I reached the city, my first stop was to the raided flesh den under Black’s command.
“What the hell happened here?” I looked around at the destruction and the executed corpses of the men meant to protect it. I saw as much as the gas mask I’d been forced to wear allowed. Whoever was behind this hadn’t been simply looking to rob the place.
This was personal.
Fumes from the toxic gas covering the walls, floor, and furniture had made habitation of the underground hideaway impossible.
“What happened? Look around!” Evan, the captean of the Balfour-Young family, shouted. “This is the fourth fucking hit this month! Someone’s been razing our houses.”
“I can see that,” I bit out. “What I want to know is why?”
“We don’t know that yet. The person behind this only ever asks for one thing.”
“Black,” I answered with a nod. “Where is he? He should be here cleaning this up.”
Evan scowled as if only just realizing it. “Don’t know. Haven’t seen him in a few days. Maybe whoever’s looking for him finally found him.”
“If they had, they wouldn’t have done this.” I gestured around the restored historic hotel that was once abandoned and now served as one of Black Veil’s stables and a safe harbor for girls with no other options. “What about the girls? Are they good?”
“The whores are fine.” Evan waved me off as if their well-being was of little importance. The girls who worked the flesh dens did it as much for our benefit as their own and had only asked for one thing besides fair wage—protection. “They’re spooked but ain’t hurt. Except…”
“Spit it out,” I barked.
“I don’t know what those bitches are complaining about. Whoever is doing this isn’t concerned with some whores. They haven’t touched a hair on their heads, but the girls are talking about quitting if we can’t guarantee their safety. Don’t worry, I’ll—”