Page 27 of Generation Lost

“That’s for all your beautiful minds to figure out,” he smirked. “I’m scheduled to go fishing with Matthew and Sven. I can’t refuse.”

James left the men standing there, smiling at him as he walked back toward the docks to get to the other island and Matthew. Nine nodded at them.

“He’s right. Let’s get all these beautiful minds together and see what we can come up with.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“My sons are missing,” she said, slamming her fist against the table. The men in the room all stared at her, tired of her temper tantrums and ego.

“Your sons are grown men who can take care of themselves. Perhaps if you weren’t so insistent on vengeance for an old woman who beat you at your own game, you might find your sons. You have plenty of cash available. Buy another home. Build another home. You don’t need that one.”

“Don’t speak of my sons, and that was my home,” she said, glaring at DiBenedetto. He laughed at the woman, shaking his head.

“You either want to speak of them, or you don’t. We can’t do both. They are grown men. They will return or not. We have all suffered losses. Yes, it was your home. Just like those homes belonged to those elderly people. You weren’t concerned for them or where they would live, and they have no money. You should have stuck to the plan, but you did not. Let’s move on to other business.”

“No! I say when we move on,” she said, slamming that hand against the table again.

“You’re going to break your hand,” said Xi. “If the table doesn’t break it, I will. You do not say when we move on. You are not in charge of this organization. In fact, you have no say whatsoever in what we do any longer. We will use your resources, and that is it. You no longer control the mortgage company, which we needed.”

“I will buy more,” she said urgently.

“You will buy nothing. You were reckless with your cash assets, allowing your sons to play with their food.”

“Please, just help me to find that old woman! I just know that she’s behind all of these issues in some way.”

“One old woman responsible for all of this? I doubt that was the case. What was this woman’s name?” asked St. Pierre.

“Robicheaux. Irene Robicheaux.” The men all looked at her, then at one another. St. Pierre stood to address her in a superior position.

“You will not find her. You will not find them, your sons. You should be lucky you are not dead. We will not help you, nor shall we go after her. Neither will you.”

“Wh-what?” Marie was shocked. Normally, if she were assertive enough, she would always get her way.

“Leave it alone,” said Varovski.

“No. No, if it were your sons, you wouldn’t leave it alone. Absolutely not! I don’t need you. I don’t need any of you.” She started toward the door, but the two men blocking it refused to move. “Get out of my way!”

When they were utterly immovable, she turned to see Xi with his pistol pointed at her.

“You cowards,” she scowled. “You don’t have the balls to do what I do.” The silencer kept the noise to a dull, muffled roar. He looked at the two men and nodded.

“Dispose of her and strip her home of anything that might lead back to us,” said Xi. They nodded, tossing her body over their shoulders as if she were a sack of potatoes.

“Now, where were we?” asked DiBenedetto.

“We might be onto something,” said Jean, staring at the others.

“What are you onto, Mr. Jean?” asked Victoria. He smiled at the beautiful young woman who was all grown up and contributing in ways none of them could have imagined.

“This mystery with the mortgages and everything else. We think they might be connected,” he said.

“Oh. Yeah. They definitely are,” she nodded, turning to walk away.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” he said, grabbing her arm. “What do you mean they definitely are?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

They all stared at her with raised brows, and she nodded, realizing it was a common mistake she made, assuming others thought in the same way she did.

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