Page 37 of Cruel Revenge

“Still don’t understand why he’s here.”

Joshua shrugs as the cleaning crew pulls into the driveway and pours out of the van. “Believe it or not, I don’t spend a lot of time watching the bodies get cleaned up. I thought it might be fun to see.”

I let out a slow breath, trying to rein in my temper. “Joshua, I don’t have time for whatever the hell this is.”

He circles closer to me like a shark, not caring about the dried blood he walks through.

“Make no mistake, Skyla, I like this little game of back and forth we have. I like the arrangement we have. That doesn’t mean that I’m the kind of man who is going to sit back and take your shit. Which means you’re going to make time to deal withwhatever the hell this isbecause I’m going to be the one providing you with more cocaine at half the cost.”

I grind my teeth, glaring up at him, though I have to admit there’s a part of me that likes the way he stands up to me. It’s not something I’m used to.

Aiden backs down after enough needling, and Royce rarely sees an argument that’s worth his energy. Anyone I’ve dated has thought it was easier to give me what I want instead of fighting back.

And now here he is, standing in front of me and sending a shiver down my spine.

I don’t have time to deal with him, though. Instead, I turn to Royce. “Have the crew deliver the bodies to Zoe’s mother’s house.”

Kalani clears her throat, stepping between me and Joshua. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

Staring at her, I wait for an explanation on why she’s questioning me.

“Gia is your family, and that’s her mother too.” Kalani’s voice is low so only Royce and Joshua can hear us. “You could hurt her by doing this.”

Royce shrugs. “Gia wouldn’t care. I can text her right now and ask.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “No. We’re not going to text her and ask. People we care about are dead. We’re not going to let that just slip through the cracks. We’re going to send the bodies of Rinaldo’s men to Zoe’s mother, and that’s the end of the story. Gia was born into this life. She knows what the score is.”

Royce nods and spins to go deliver the message to the others.

Kalani sighs and pulls out her phone, likely to warn Gia of what’s going to happen.

Joshua looks at me. “I didn’t know you were so cold.”

“Frigid bitch is what the soldiers call me.” I give him a sarcastic smile. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to call my older brother and tell him what happened here, and he’s likely going to go on the warpath, which isn’t going to go well for anyone involved.”

Pacing away from him, I pull out my phone and dial Aiden’s number.

It seems to ring forever as I wait.

I stride back and forth, trying not to look at the bodies that I recognize, their lifeless eyes staring up at me.

I’m having someone arrange for proper funerals. Lump sums of money will have to be sent to their families and then trusts set up to continue to care for the children.

Pain erupts in my temples just thinking about it.

“What is it?” Aiden barks down the line at me. “I’m in the middle of something, and I don’t have time to shoot the shit right now.”

“When the hell do I ever call you to just shoot the shit, asshole?” I bite the inside of my cheek, hiding the tears that prick the corners of my eyes. “There’s been an attack on the supply house in Queens. It’s been torched. Some of the structure is still standing but the coke was burned, and everyone is dead.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. People are dead. The drugs are gone.”

Something breaks in the background. “Fuck.”

“I’m here, and I’m dealing with it, but there’s going to be more to come. Zoe is finally making her move, and it looks like she’s trying to prove herself before someone else tries to take the crown from her.”

He ends the call without so much as another word.

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