Page 101 of Captured

Snorting, he gave a quick glance to Rico. “Well, Gideon was starting to breathe down my neck and when he told me he was planning on running for the same office I’d already announced, well, I couldn’t allow him to take away my glory. He always thought he was better than I was. I had plans on putting a bullet in the man’s brain until you pulled that little stunt. Shame on you. I would have allowed you to keep your prize had you not done that.”

“Here I thought I’m the deranged one. You’re completely nuts if you really think you could get away with such bullshit.”

“I not only think it. I know it. While I’ve been forced to have Gideon arrested, altering my plans, that doesn’t mean he won’t die a horrible death behind bars at my direction. He’ll suffer. I’ll watch then act like it’s a horrible crime.”

“And I would care why?” I could feel Axe and the other men were right outside, knowing to wait until I gave the sign in need of their assistance.

“Oh, I’m certain you don’t. It’s a shame you couldn’t come to me. Maybe we could have worked something out.”

He was enjoying playing a game. “What is it that you want, other than my death of course?”

“Want? It’s what I’m going to give you before I put a bullet in your brain. I figure our special… relationship means you deserve that.”

“My, oh, my. You’re afraid of me.”

He laughed again, but there was a distinctly different sound to his tone that I couldn’t put my finger on.

“You’ve simply become an attachment that I won’t tolerate since I will be the front runner for the nomination in the next few months. Some would say your very existence was a threat to me. In case you haven’t figured it out. I will be the next president of the United States.”

“You’re forgetting one vital thing, my friend. I have some pertinent information that will be released from my attorney to the FBI and to members of the press if anything should happen to me.”

He laughed and slapped his hand on the desk. “I assure you that I’ve already taken steps to discredit you. Soon, people will know about the notorious Talon and his ugly deeds. And I think you’re going to want to learn some news before you make the determination.”

At least the person responsible for telling Mickey about my true identity had been revealed.

I could tell the man was getting angry. Why not push him a little further? I took two giant steps forward and the three bastards he was with directed their weapons at my chest. Bully for them. “What news do you have to tell that would matter to me in the least?”

He stood, taking another puff before stubbing out the bright red end of the cigar on my desk. Fuck the bastard. I couldn’t care less about things. “I know who killed your wife and son.”

I don’t know what I was expecting but that wasn’t it. My wife’s death had been only a year or so after Emily’s mom had been killed. My father had been openly brandishing his brutal power, my two brothers along with my father actively challenging our enemies while thwarting the police.

Or so we’d believed.

My father had developed more enemies than I could count, including Gideon. At the time, Martin had gained more power over the Boston police than my father had simply because his actions were more brutal, including refusing to grease any palms, something Gideon had excelled at.

I shifted my gaze outside as I tried to think things through. And in those few moments, I remembered a conversation I’d overheard, one that involved an unknown player. It had been a threat made to the family when we least expected it. Of course, I’d mistakenly believed that I wasn’t included since I’d been out of the business for years.

When I lifted my gaze once again, his smile was all I needed to confirm what I’d been too fucked up to see before.

“You!” I hissed. There was a startling change in my body temperature, my vision suddenly cloudy.

He nodded, as gleeful as could be, thoroughly happy that he’d managed to shock me. I did what I could to resist pulling the trigger just yet. I even lowered the weapon, watching his soldiers who were eyeing me carefully.

“Yes, me. Surprised? Now, I will admit that Gideon had a hand in making the suggestion. But he wanted it off the books so to speak. At that point, we were still good friends. Then I find out he’s nothing but a fucking traitor.”

As he babbled on about what he’d done, my thoughts drifted to Mary. Her laugh. Her face. The giggles of my son. And a cold shiver trickled down my spine a split second before there would be no way of holding me back. The moment I lifted the weapon, I pulled the trigger several times.

But so did his three men.

Bullets came from almost every direction, several slamming into me as I bellowed not from pain but rage. As I was pitched right then left, everything slipping into slow motion, a bright light appeared in my periphery of vision. The sweetest images of the life I’d shared, the one I’d lost spiraled out of control, allowing me to see a moment of peace and Mary’s outstretched hand. As if she’d been waiting for me.

As the sounds of continued gunfire began to fade, I hit the floor.

The rush of memories was gut-wrenching.

Meeting Mary.

Our first date.

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