Page 84 of Captured

“Be true to yourself and your memory, Styx. That’s all I ask.”

I sensed he was tenser than usual, his mind elsewhere. This time, I moved away from him, my heart in my throat as I walked toward the doorway, stopping and turning slightly so I could see his face. There was a moment of reverence for my statement combined with surprise and something else.

A brand-new level of respect.

It was about time my father paid for his miserable sins.

If only I could be the one to pull the trigger.

CHAPTER 22

Styx

Kill him.

My angel’s words shouldn’t bother me in the least. After all, in a crazy way, I think I’d wanted her to be just like me. Now I knew I didn’t.

I wanted the light back in my life.

With her.

However, I still had my own acts of revenge to accomplish first. Maybe I’d fall into silent partner mode with my brothers after the dirty deeds were done, living in the lap of luxury with the only woman I could fall in love with.

Her words had been profound, affecting me more than I thought possible. That had allowed me to formulate a plan after she’d left, heading to the bedroom. I’d walked the estate for two hours, drinking cognac and smoking another cigar while I’d contemplated what could be done without the use of violence.

Then it had come to me like another beacon of light, a nod from the heavens. Yeah, right. However, if the plan I intended on putting into play worked, I could stay back and watch joyfully as it unfolded, the world crumbling around a significant percentage of Boston’s most powerful men. I was shocked that I liked the idea as much as I did.

Who said chivalry was dead?

I took a deep breath, longing for another taste of her. My sweet salvation. Maybe the whole reason for the change in my thinking was that I wanted a normal life back. Whatever the hell that meant. What I did know was it involved the lovely Emily, the only woman who’d managed to dig me out of the darkness, clawing her way straight into my heart.

“You okay back there, boss?” Axe asked as he glanced into the rearview mirror.

“Doing just fine. Eager to get the evening going.”

And I was. I glanced out at the bright lights of Boston’s downtown, enjoying the peace before the storm.

As Axe pulled toward the valet on the curb, I glanced out the window at the glistening windows and twinkling white lights adorning the entire entrance. I wasn’t yet out of the car and I could easily sense a festive atmosphere.

The seeds were planted, my act of revenge taking on an entirely new level. While there were a few outstanding pieces and I couldn’t rule out my need to feed the demon inside of me, the only way to ensure a life spent with Emily was to turn over a new leaf.

Oh, wouldn’t my mother be proud, my father spinning in his watery grave?

I did want to learn who’d dared attack my compound, but even if I secured that information, what point would it serve? The best way to take out all my enemies was with one swift stroke of a pen. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

“This should be interesting, Axe,” I said more lightly than I thought possible.

“If you say so, boss.”

“Stop worrying, my man. We’re going to have some fun tonight.”

“How so?” he asked.

“We’re going to stop corruption from making its way to the top of the leader board.”

I sensed he was perplexed, turning his head slightly. “What should I expect, serious gunfire?”

“Not necessarily. Something my father was never good at was learning the art of utilizing the blackmail information he’d gathered. I, on the other hand, am very good at doing so. Any news on the planes?”

---