Page 84 of Forbidden Deception

He turns to me and lifts a brow. “Like hard copies of illicit sex tapes?”

Oh, Remo came informed and prepared.

“What about documents proving tax evasion?” I counter with a fake worried frown.

Remo nods. “Good point. I would collect any incriminating evidence and cash first. Unfreezing bank accounts when one is under criminal investigation or being blackmailed is terribly inconvenient and difficult.”

Another laugh spills from Eiran, and my lips quirk up. Remo froze their accounts, too?

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Alister takes a step towards Remo, but Khyros darts forward and pulls him back by his shoulder.

I take a few steps towards him, uncaring of how exposed I am to Erik and Theodore. I lean into his face, and Alister’s eyes skim over my face. His brows are twisted, and malice tightens his lips and jaw.

“Don’t you know how untouchable we are? Why are you making this complicated? You messed up, Alister. You all did, and now you will pay for every sin, every offence, and every mistake you have made.” I pat him on the shoulder while he seethes, his face burning bright red.

“I think time is about up, isn’t it?” I ask Remo.

He nods, the smallest smirk on his lips.

I turn back to Alister and lean into his ear. “You fucked with the wrong man’s woman. Your brother absolutely deserves to be six feet underground, and so do you. And since you love your brother so much, I am happy you will be joining him.” I lean back and walk right past him. Everything that happens in the next few mins will be well deserved.

As soon as I am outside the gates, my brothers with me, Remo’s voice stops me.

“I don’t know what you were here for, but whatever your business was with him, it’s ending today. He isn’t living a second longer.”

A chuckle spills past my lips, and my brothers stop in their tracks. I turn to face Remo and watch him pocket his hands. His jaw is locked, and his narrowed eyes dare me to say anything against him.

“You were practically doing me a favour. I was going to go with something along the lines of an MI5 raid, but you decided to completely wipe the family out. Nice touch.” I shrug.

His shoulders relax a fraction. Is he relieved to hear my side of it? Why would he?

“Good. I would have hated to have another reason to—”

“Love me?” I comment dryly.

Remo sighs, his body turning away from me as if ready to get away. Being this long in my presence must be really hard for him, though this animosity all started because of him, anyway. Or maybe it’s because we both want a position that has been divided equally between us. Remo may have built the Elite circle, but I know damn well what role I play in it.

Remo can threaten me, but he can’t harm me. He can push me aside but never get rid of me.

And he knows that all too well.

He’s currently gracing me with a glare.

“Oh, stop bothering Remo, Rafael. Don’t you know he is all serious and nothing else?” Mikko walks up to me and wraps an arm around my shoulder.

“You Gustav boys will always be a headache, especially when you are hiding way too many things and think holding a knife to my throat will make me compliant.” Remo’s eyes turn hard.

“Won’t you?” I tilt my head.

“Not a fucking chance. You will fall soon, crumble to the ground, Rafael, and I will happily watch you beg at my feet,”Remo says coldly, then he turns and leaves just as flames whoosh up the walls of the mansion in front of me.

I freeze in place and stay that way even long after he is gone while I watch the mansion slowly crumble.

What did he mean?

“What the fuck was he talking about?” Mikko says, his brows pulled down. “He has said twice now. Something is going to happen. Remo doesn’t bluff or spew bullshit like that.”

“I’ll look into it. Eiran, keep an eye on the media outlets, will you?” I say.

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