Page 19 of Obsession (Dark Revenge)
“I knew Alison had done some questionable things, but she did them to protect herself,” I whispered.
“I am aware. However, it appears that none of the money she used to acquire all those luxuries was earned honestly. Or perhaps it was earned, but it came at a cost in blood.”
“Her father? Really?” I asked, my disbelief evident.
“Yes, but he doesn’t operate alone. He is just one among many, and you must track them all down before they gain too much influence.”
“Fuck!” I exclaimed, pushing away from the desk.
I had no personal connection to her father. I had never even spoken to him, but I had seen him, and he always seemed like the stereotypical wealthy father who enjoyed spoiling his daughter with whatever she desired. She was the apple of his eye and all of that, and that part might still be true, but it didn’t change the fact that the money he spent on her had not been earned legally. It came from exploitation. Her father was deeply entrenched in the criminal underworld, more so than I had ever imagined. He appeared so... ordinary, but as Vince had pointed out, they thrived by blending in seamlessly. It was the perfect camouflage. You never saw them strike, and now I had to eliminate her father to ensure my own survival and Vince’s.
I turned back to Vince, and although his expression remained unchanged, I could see beyond his poker face. I could see that he understood the gravity of this situation for me. While I had been prepared to shatter Alison’s perfect image completely, I had never expected that I would have to kill her father.
“Is it a problem?” Vince inquired.
I crossed my arms, contemplating his question. It shouldn’t be, right? The man held no significance to me and was obviously earning his money through trafficking and prostitution. He was scum, and Alison was cut from the same cloth. So why should it matter if I killed her father? It would be a mere step in the cascade of actions I intended to take against her.
“No problem,” I finally replied.
“Are you certain?”
“I’m sure, but it will have to wait until I’m finished with her.”
“I expected as much, and it can wait. You can focus on the rest,” he told me, reopening the folder and indicating the namesof the men involved in this criminal network. “Don’t worry. You’ll have the wolves at your disposal.”
I groaned. That was far from welcome news to me, and Vince took notice.
“Jared, you have to learn to collaborate with them. You’re going to lead them someday,” he reminded me.
“They’re damn savages, and they infuriate me,” I snarled.
“Then assert your dominance over them.”
That was a challenging task when they had witnessed me pleasuring their cousin like an obedient servant at his mistress’s command. I had already lost their respect, and regaining it would be an uphill battle.
“What?” Vince asked, noticing my agitation.
“Nothing,” I replied, withholding my true thoughts.
“You’re concealing something, son. Will it be a challenge to reestablish control over them?” he probed.
“Not at all.”
“Jared,” he cautioned.
“I just believe another dinner with them is in order,” I suggested.
“I was considering the same,” he concurred.
“Good. Is there anything else?”
“Eager to return to your pet?” he inquired.
“I only have two weeks left. I want to make them count, which means I’ll be going back to the house.”
Vince sighed, appearing somewhat displeased.
“But then I will return here,” I assured him.
