Page 90 of Alpha Chained

There’s a chuckle, a mirthless sound. “Well, I wouldn’t call him a good man. But a useful man, no doubt.”

“Hard to find a useful man these days.”

A dry laugh rumbles in response. “And more importantly, a profitable man.”

The air takes on a quiet tension, broken only by the song of birds and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze.

“Yes…” There’s a heavy sigh. “The profits will be missed.”

“So you’ll be setting up again?” Well-worn leather creaks again as the occupant of the chair shifts in his seat.

“Not now. Not with the elections so close.” Smoke plumes into the air. The wind wafts it away.

“Ah. Yes. Can’t afford another scandal.”

“No. Can’t have too many more of those.” A glass is set down on a nearby table, ice melting in the late afternoon sun.

“Still…it’s a pity.”

“Yes. A pity.”

There’s a slow exhale of breath, a sound of contemplation. “Hard to forget that there’s a small fortune roaming around the streets of that godforsaken town.”

“You’re right. That’s an untapped well. But never fear; there’ll always be another Parker. And we still know where they are.”

“Yes. We’ll always know where they are.”

The quiet descends again, heavy but not oppressive, as two powerful men enjoy the sun on their faces and the sound of the wind and contemplate all the things they are about to do next.

The End

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