Page 60 of A Captive Situation

Me: Yes. I’m done with her.

Ashton: Now I’m the one thanking you. How did you know my birthday was coming up?

It was probably nowhere close to his birthday, but I didn’t reply. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed again. This time it wasn’t Ashton.

Uncle Toby: We need to talk in person. It’s urgent.

Yeah, right.

Me: The next time I see you, I’ll be putting a bullet in your forehead.

Uncle Toby: It’s family business. I told you what you wanted to know.

Me: Do not give a fuck.

Uncle Toby: You’re considered our Head. Only you can make the decisions we need before moving forward. The longer we wait, the more it’ll hurt business.

Me: I’ll send a representative. They’ll be in contact and they’ll pick the time and place for the meet.

Uncle Toby: It has to be someone in the family.

Me: I’ll send someone I choose. If you have a problem with who I send, I have no problem coming up early. Who knows. Maybe I’ll bring our new cousin with me. We’ll clean house together. The family business can be taken over by the women.

He didn’t reply so I settled back, listening to Sawyer and her family’s voices below again.

It was a long time later when my phone buzzed again.

Uncle Toby: Fine. Who will you be sending?

A very cruel and victorious smirk came over my face because I was going to enjoy this, so very much.

Me: You’ll know when they reach out. Do not forget my promise.

Uncle Toby: Fine. What did you do with my sons?

Another faint smile tugged at my face. That meant he hadn’t been notified yet. He would.

I wished I could be there when he found out.

Me: No.

I waited, but no more texts came from him and after twenty minutes, I sent another text to Ashton.

Me: My family needs my decisions about some items. I can’t go myself. I would like it if you went to represent me.

I fully knew what I was doing with this move. Ashton was the head of a rival Mafia family, and one where my family slaughtered members of his. This was not a favor I was asking of him. This was agiftI was giving him. He was helping me with Lane, and this was my thank-you.

I was out. Officially and completely.

Before the contract was put on my head, I had considered going to Maine to sort out what was going on with my family. I wanted to get to the bottom of why they chose me as their new head. That was all done.

The family could burn for all I cared. I just needed to decide how I wanted to make that happen.

Ashton: Happy fucking birthday to me, hmmm.

Me: Don’t say you never get a gift from me.

Ashton: When and how?

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