Page 132 of Property of Chaos

Circus narrows his gaze on the old guy, approaching until the molester backs up and drops to his seat.

“You gave up your right to take anything of ours when you took our mother’s trust and twisted her loyalty to suit your agenda.” Gage steps forward from the back of the room.

Fuck me.I’d forgotten the guy was here.Our mother?I look to Vanessa, eyebrow raised, to ask,“This is your brother?”

She nods, turning to reassure Evelyn when the woman touches her arm.

“I fucking knew what you did to Ness,” Gage says, pain in his voice. “But I was too young to do anything about it. Too young to stop it.” He huffs a laugh, and my girl goes to his side, linking her hand in his. I’d be jealous, except, “Do you know how fucking disgusted it made me to have to stand by you, day after day, while I learnedeverythingthere is to know about your fucked up foundation? How the stress of keeping up appearances made me physically ill?” Gage spits.

Abraham has the decency to look offended that someone would dare double-cross him.

“I fuckinghateyou, and yet I had to pretend toloveyou so that I could destroy you.”

“What have you done?” Ness asks, peering up at her brother.

I take a step back, giving the guy the floor. He’s earned it.

“Your assault allegations are only a fraction of what I have on this sick fucker, sis.” He gazes down at her with nothing short of regret, with the eyes of a man who doubts his worth. “Mom was the final straw. I couldn’t stick it out anymore, but it doesn’t matter.” He shifts his focus to their stepfather. “The shit I have on you would make the worst of criminals look like novices. I could fucking ruin you with one carefully worded email to the right publication, but you know what?”

“You’re too spineless?” Abraham provokes.

Circus slaps the asshole around the back of the head, ruffling his perfect gray hair.

“The hell?”

“I’m a better man than you are,” Gage states. “Unless Vanessa wishes otherwise, the content I have on you will remain a promise of what’s to come if you so much as step a foot out of line again.” He points to the flabbergasted lawyer. “Take note of this: the foundation is dissolved, as is the Wings of Faith. All thecompanies go public. And the property portfolio is sold back to the previous owners at seventy-five percent of market rate with all proceeds going to the charities I nominate to support abuse victims.”

“You’re fucking mad,” Abraham shouts, as he ducks to pre-empt another possible hand to the head. “You think I’d just hand over everything I’ve gathered over the years because you tell me to?”

“If you don’t want to find yourself backed against a wall in a high-security prison, you will.” Vanessa raises an eyebrow.

I’d fuck her on the spot if nobody else were here.Good girl.

“This is preposterous,” he cries, rising to his feet.

Circus pushes him down again.

“I learned from the best,Dad,” Gage sneers.

“Gimme that.” I wiggle my fingers at the will, approaching the lawyer.

He hesitates, eyes the men in the room, then hands the document over. “This isn’t the end of all this.”

“I fucking hope not.” I circle a finger in the air, signaling the guys to leave. “Come on, babe. You don’t need to give this fuck another second of your time.” I glare at the asshole. “He’s wasted enough years as it is.”

Vanessa’s hand slips into mine, her arm brushing my bare skin as we head for the door. It’s perfect.

“You deserve this,” Evelyn hisses at Abraham as she allows Highway to guide her from the room with his hand on her back. “All of it. You did this to yourself. Remember that when you look around and realize you have nothing andno oneleft.”

Vanessa holds out her hand, taking her aunt’s and guiding her from the room.

I let my girl go. Let her have this moment of victory. And watch her exit the building before I turn back to the two men left vibrating with rage and indignation in the room.

“Best remember,” I seethe. “I don’t have to lay a fucking finger on you to make you bleed.”

Abraham opens his mouth, yet the lawyer fuck beats him to it. “Threats to a person’s life are a chargeable offense.”

“I know.” I lift the phone Vanessa handed me and wiggle it in the air. “Pity your friend made so many of them, huh?”

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