Page 83 of The Revenge Plan

“I told you he’s not here.”

“Tell him to come. Tell him to come from wherever he is.” I almost wanted to laugh. I doubt I could make Caiden do anything. “What do you want Bryce?”

“What’s owed to me. Make the call.”

“Whatever is bothering—” he pointed the gun straight at me. Fuck. He was serious. I typed a text with shaky hands. I was surprised that I was even able to. I showed him the text. “See.” And prayed Caiden wouldn’t see it. Just my luck, Caiden called. “Answer it.”

“No.” The phone rang until it died.

“Why the fuck are you protecting that motherfucker! You seriously did choose him over us, did you!”

“It’s not as if you’ve ever cared for me. I’m the sister who killed your mother, remember. I know how you never made me forget that.”

“That’s because it’s true.”

Many years later and it still hurt. It was funny how I never got over the pain they had caused me. The guilt they had piled onto me was still burdensome and painful to carry. Now, however, I realized that they were wrong. “Doesn’t change the fact that she’s dead.”

“You fucking bitch!” he cocked the gun. The sound was small, but it felt like it had reverberated through the room.

“What the hell is going on?” Caiden barged in. He shouldn’t have. What the hell was he doing here? I pleaded to him with my eyes.Get out. Get out now.At the sound of Caiden’s voice, Bryce turned to the side such that he could face both of us. “He’s finally here. The man I was looking for.”

Caiden’s gaze went past him to me. His eyes were filled with concern and something else I couldn’t place. He tried to reassure me and it calmed me in a way. His gaze went to Bryce. “What are you doing here?”

“You’ll find out soon enough. First things first.” He glanced past Caiden, “Did you come alone? Nevermind that.” He pointed the gun at me, “Go stand next to your husband.”

I rushed over to Caiden and took his hand. He squeezed it. Bryce then marched us to the living room and commanded us to sit on the couch. After he was satisfied that he was in control, he said, “I want what you owe me.”

“What the fuck are you talking about.”

“I’m about to be fucking implicated. There’s been charges brought against me. And do you know who’s responsible for that sis?” he pointed the gun at Caiden, “He is. That motherfucker is about to send your brother to jail.”

“I’m sure you’re the one to blame here. Not him.”

“Of course. I don’t know why I expected sympathy from you. Anyway. I want what’s mine. He got me in this situation. He should get me out.”

“What the fuck do you want.” Caiden’s voice was low and had a growling undertone.

“Twenty million dollars.”

My eyes widened. “What for?”

“Ten to start a new life, plus another ten mill for unforeseen expenses.”

Caiden shifted in his seat and squeezed my hand again, “I don’t have that kind of money readily available.”

“Oh, come on now. I know you wanted to buy a nice little present for sis over there. You liquidated some of your assets. Give me the money.” I turned to Caiden in surprise. He looked like he was about to crack Bryce’s skull. Present? What present? It wasn’t my birthday. Far from it. Besides, there was no way in hell he would buy me a twenty million dollar present.

“All you need to do is buy a few Bitcoin and forward it to this address,” he took out a crumpled piece of paper from his jean pocket, “it’s all very secure, you don’t have to worry. Pretend that you’re into the crypto game now.”

54

Bryce glared at me with eyes filled with hatred and spite. You would think he was staring at the devil himself. He looked unstable. His eyes would glaze over, then become eerily focused, as they were now. If it had been any other man at any other time, hell even just him, threatening only me? I would have taken a chance. But not now, when Hailey was in the room. The thought that someone would want to hurt her had not crossed my mind until now.

“What do you think? Fair and square for what you have done to me?”

“No, it’s not,” I said to him.

He chuckled, “You’re right, it’s not. I deserve so much more. I deserve my father back.”

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