Page 276 of Redeemed

That pulls a smirk from me. It takes a lot to surprise Charlotte.

She crosses her arms. “A mental breakdown. Really?”

I shrug. “Got the job done effectively enough. I already hired a private security company to bring him home from the police station and watch him carefully. He’ll go stir-crazy quickly enough that he’lllookinsane by the end of the week.”

Charlotte nods in approval. “Simple yet effective.”

“I haven’t restricted his access to technology.”

“As a test?”

I nod.

When Mark gets his phone back from the authorities, I have no doubt that the first thing he’ll do is put out a hit on whoever brought him in. Hell, he might even put a hit out on me and Haven.

I’ve given our people a plausible reason to disobey him. Something to shield them from his wrath. They were simply following orders.Myorders. Who obeys—and who doesn’t—will tell me exactly how many people I have behind me.

“So you’re ready, then?”

Up until recently, Charlotte and I had never spoken directly about dethroning Mark. We’d never had to. If there’s one thing Charlotte is good at, it’s making predictions with one-hundred-percent accuracy. That, and she’s so good at gathering information that it feels like sheliterallyhas spies everywhere.

So she knew it’d come to this.

She’s always known.

“I am.”

“It’s about time.” She doesn’t say it with judgment or irritation. If anything, she lets a touch of tiredness slip through her facade of never-ending strength.

“Do I have you? Even if things go poorly?”

She looks up at me, and I must be imagining things, because her eyes are glassy. “Always, Colton.”

I already knew, but I wanted to hear her say it. Wanted something tangible to hold onto when things look unsure.

“Thank you,” I say softly.

“You’ll have to be bold. Unwavering. There’s no room for error, and definitely not for weakness. Not during the transition.”

“I know.”

“When?”

“As soon after graduation as possible.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Good. And you’resureyou’re ready?”

“I’ve been preparing for this for six years, Char.”

Eyeing me, Charlotte tilts her head. “Only six? I could’ve sworn it’s been at least seven.”

I let out an amused breath. “Are you really surprised that you picked up on my feelings before even I did?”

She hums. “No, I suppose not.”

“Who else do we have with us?” I already know, but I want to go over it with her one last time.

“Bradford, definitely. Smith as well. Obviously, you have Gerard and Brandon. Hartley has always been a fair-weather friend, so as long as you’re effective enough, he’ll be yours.”

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