Page 43 of Cruel Savior

"There might be a secret Mazzeo male heir."

"Excuse me?" My blood had gone past cold and straight to frigid at those words. I'd known no matter who we were dealing with they were a psychopath, but add in those genes as well? This situation had just gone sideways.

"That's impossible," Mandy interjected. "If Frank Mazzeo had any other children, either living or dead, we'd know about it."

He assumed theweshe referred to was the covert government faction she'd belonged to. On the outset it had appeared that she worked for the FBI, but my perception on that had changed quickly.

"Nothing's impossible," JD replied. "And I think, at some level, we all either knew or suspected that the perfect storm was brewing. Now, it's about to explode."

I had so many questions I didn't know where to start so I started with what I thought was the most obvious. "Why do they think there's a male heir? Izzy never mentioned any siblings whatsoever."

“I don't know why we didn't think to look up the bastard's will. I guess we all just assumed everything had gone to Izzy."

JD shoved a folded-up piece of paper into my hands. "What is it?" I asked as I opened it and read, my eyes going wide as I did.

"It's a copy of Frank Mazzeo's signed, notarized and fully executed will and testament. The lawyer had done his due diligence with Izzy and read this to her in its entirety, but he failed to notify anyone that the named heir had actually come forward.

I read it again, just to make sure I'd understood it correctly.

I, Frank Mazzeo, leave the entirety of my estate to my sole, living male heir. In the event he is no longer living or cannot be located then the entire estate is bequeathed to St. Francis church.

Holy shit.

"I didn't realize he left nothing to Izzy. What an asshole. But who the fuck is this male heir? We don't have a name."

"Keep reading. Specifically, page two." Tel practically vibrated with excitement. Apparently, he'd found something no one else knew.

I kept reading, but my eyes were beginning to glaze over through all of the legalese. I hated this shit. Why did they have to write their documents in a way that guaranteed almost no one without a law degree understood them? What exactly would be wrong with a plain language will? I give so and so this and I give so and so jack. Easy peasy.

It wasn't until I got to the very end, near where the signatures were located when I finally hit the jackpot.

Legal male heir has been located and verified through certified and independent blood typing. See attachment A. Franklin Mazzeo Jr. has come forth and proven to the full extent of the law that he is the sole known male heir to one Franklin Mazzeo and thus this will is now fully executed and filed with the King County Superior Court blah blah blah. There was more information about dates and places but nothing was as important as the name I had in my hands.

Fucking Frank Jr.

Until I turned the page and saw the grainy picture.

I couldn't make out the face of the man getting into the back seat of a dark sedan, but I didn't need to.

That's when I knew instantly, down to my bones, that he was the man hunting Amanda Turner.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Amanda

Since I hadzero chill and little to no patience, I'd started to examine the paperwork in Axel's hands while he read. I didn't have to ask how they'd gotten a copy of a legally filed court document so fast. I'd witnessed first hand how good Tel was as a hacker. At this point I believed there wasn't a computer made that he couldn't get into.

Yes, I was impressed, but I was also terrified. Cyber crimes were high on the priority list these days and one slip up and the MC would be back at the top of the list when it came to investigations. Domestic terrorism was at an all-time high, and the government wouldn't hesitate to link their crimes to any potential incidents.

Now this.

Mystomach cramped at the idea that a Mazzeo would once again helm the crime syndicate in Seattle, allowing it to continue with barely a blip. It made what I’d been through feel futile. Although if he had his way, I wouldn't live to see it. Apparently, this asshole had made it his personal mission to avenge his father's death. Fucking great.

And if this one was anything like his father...

I shook my head of those morbid thoughts. Now was not the time to dwell on personal feelings. I needed more information.

"What else did you find about him? Where did he come from?" I was prepared to continue but paused long enough for someone to give me something—anything.

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