Page 1 of Cruel Revenge

Chapter One

SKYLA

Kalani’s endof the call is silent for a moment before shouting begins.

She sighs. “The cops are hauling everything out of the laundromat.”

I resist the urge to suffocate myself in my pillow. “Kalani, this better be some sick fucking joke.”

She scoffs as shouting continues in the background of her end of the call. “I’m telling you, it’s not. I got here to take over for the night crew and get things ready for the day, and I was about to cross the road when I saw the cops going in. A bunch of DEA agents are swarming the place now.”

“Fuck!” I toss my duvet to the side and climb out of bed, the floor cold against my feet.

Is this about the family? Or have they finally come for me?

Because as much as my family might have to hide, my secrets run deeper. So deep that even my family isn’t willing to accept the truth. Or me.

I’ve been taking care of myself for as long as I can remember, since no one else ever wanted to. Alone in a full house.

I was too much for Mom to deal with, and all Dad cared about was his mistresses and teaching us about the business so we could carry on his legacy.

I always knew I was different, the odd one out. And I learned early on not to depend on anyone but me.

But when my dad died two years after my mom passed, it was up to me and Aiden to pick up the pieces. He took over the business, I took over the house.

But the urges never stopped, and the secrets kept piling up.

The sheers flutter in the breeze coming through the open window as I drag out my desk chair and drop down.

After putting the phone on speaker, I unlock the computer and pull up the security feeds.

“Which laundromat are you at today?”

“The one on Thirty-First.” Kalani pauses before shouting begins again, and sirens wail. “They’re arresting Hank now. He looks terrified. Poor kid didn’t even know what he was involved in.”

Sighing, I shoot off a message to one of my lawyers. “I have someone who’ll be meeting Hank down there, so don’t worry about him. What I need you to worry about right now is whether or not the money was moved off-site when you left last night.”

“Of course.” Kalani sniffs like I’ve offended her.

I log into the feed for the laundromat she’s at and watch as agents pour out the front door with a vending machine being towed behind them.

She scoffs. “Is this for real? Are you watching this right now?”

“Yeah. I don’t like it. I’ll be on my way down there soon. Don’t let them see you, and if they do, don’t answer any of their questions. Lawyer up.”

I end the call, shoving the phone across the desk before raking my hands through my hair.

This is one hell of a way to start a Monday.

Right now, I should be in bed, wishing for the crisp Vermont air instead of the smog-clogged fog that drifts through the windows.

Living in a brownstone always seemed like my dream, but these days it’s more of a headache than ever.

People call me when they don’t want to deal with Aiden, and I’m getting tired of it.

I should be left to my own end of the business while he deals with bullshit like this.

He is the boss, not me.

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