Page 131 of House of Payne
The older woman pushes herself off the counter and sighs. “We definitely need something stronger than tea. Hold on.”
She disappears under the sink and returns with a bottle of vodka. “You’re going to need this; trust me.”
I begin to protest but stop when I see the look on her face.
She’s right.
I need something strong enough to burn away the memories.
I tip back the glass and catch the look on Miss Deveroux’s face.
She knows the fate I’ve chosen.
As the night wears on and my head grows fuzzier, I realize she might be right.
I’ve doomed myself by doing the one thing I swore I wouldn’t do by allowing myself to get attached to Mason Payne.
And I’m not even sure I want to go back.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Mason
I lift the binoculars to my face and frown. “Unfuckingbelievable.”
“What do you want to do, boss? I can take a few men over there to send a message.”
I lower the binoculars and turn to face Carlisle. “Let me think.”
Barging in there will do more harm than good.
I’ve already tried threatening to harm anyone who attends these meetings, and I’ve gotten my point across a time or two.
Clearly, that isn’t enough.
With a frown, I lift the binoculars again and study the docks. Michael Everett and Lance Fitzpatrick are facing each other, silhouetted against the setting sun. I look away and spot their security detail patrolling nearby. When I think one of them sees me, I exhale and turn to Carlisle.
“I need your men to spread out,” I bark through gritted teeth. “I don’t like surprises.”
I have no intention of going in there unprepared like last time.
If they want a fight, I’ll give them the fight of their lives, but I have every intention of sorting this out on the docks.
This won’t spill over into other aspects of the business if I can help it.
Carlisle pauses. “What about the inside man?”
I run my fingers over the outline of my gun. “Find out what you canand then we’ll take care of him. I don’t want any loose ends.”
I can’t have anything tying this back to me or my men, no matter how useful or loyal our mole has been.
Once a mole, always a mole.
Turning on my enemies is one thing, but I won’t give him a chance to do it to me.
His reward will be a quick and painless death.
Carlisle nods.
