Page 60 of Cruel Revenge

How did Zoe know that Kalani and I were coming in today? How did she know the laundromat was reopening?

Given the way the Rinaldos have been able to intercept drug storage and shipment, I’d hazard a guess that someone high up is helping her.

Zoe doesn’t flinch as I approach.

Kalani tucks her gun into her waistband.

“Sit, Kalani. Might as well make ourselves comfortable while Zoe here is trying to shake us down.”

“This isn’t a shake down.” Zoe reaches for the mug of coffee beside her. “If it is, then it’s the most amicable one I’ve ever seen. Your associate here even brought me coffee. Very courteous.”

Kalani snorts.

I lean against the counter, crossing my arms. “If you had gone to anyone else, you would’ve been dead already.”

“I know.” Zoe smiles over the edge of the mug before taking a sip. She sets it to the side, her gaze calculated. “But you’re a cold bitch who likes to play the long game.”

“You’re not just avoiding Aiden, then?”

“As you said, he would’ve killed me the moment I walked in here. Probably would’ve made some spectacle of my body too. You’re not like that. You see the bigger picture, and you manipulate it.”

“What bigger picture should I be seeing right now?”

“One where I’m going to destroy you and your family.”

I arch an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at the corner of my lips. “You wouldn’t do that. Your sister and your niece are part of the family now.”

Zoe shrugs one slender shoulder. “Gia will see sense once there’s nobody left.”

“You know that’s not her.”

Her foot bounces as she sits deeper into the chair. “We have business to talk about. I suggest you make your backup leave if you want this to be a peaceful conversation.”

Kalani’s gaze locks with mine, and she gives another small shake of her head.

Though she’s right and I shouldn’t be alone with Zoe, nothing is going to get handled if either of us has anyone in the room.

I jerk my chin to the door, and Kalani sighs but goes, the lock thudding into place after she’s gone.

Zoe claps her hands together and stands. “It’s nice to know that there’s one Lynde who isn’t distrusting and spiteful.”

“If you think that’s me, then you’re clearly talking to the wrong one.”

“I know all about Ellie and how she’s the sister that’s the most removed from the life.” Zoe circles the counter like a shark circling the water.

I turn with her, never taking my eyes off her. “Yet, you still came to talk to me. So, what do you want?”

Zoe hums along with the soft music playing through the speakers as she walks down one of the aisles of machines. She peeks into the office back there before turning to me with a smile.

“It seems like you think we can trust each other, don’t you?” Zoe hauls herself up to sit on top of one of the dryers, her long legs dangling. “I’d like to think we can, at least for this meeting.”

“We’ll see.” I round the counter and head closer to her, leaving several feet between us.

“Look, I know that your family thought we were going to be sitting down to negotiate. You were trying to do that with Noah for weeks before you killed him, and maybe if you hadn’t murdered my brother, things would be different now.”

“We both know it wouldn’t.”

Zoe stops swinging her legs and looks at me as if she can see straight through me. “Fair.”

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