Page 36 of Twisted Contract

“I’ve heard everything I need to,” Jack says. Fieri ends it.

“Espinosa, you have one opportunity to redeem yourself. I don’t ever want to see your face again. You need to skip town and stay gone because I can’t trust your motives. Anyone that works with my father can’t be trusted.”

His eyes are shocked wide open. A newfound sense of relief. “I understand. I understand. I won’t let you down. Thank you for another chance.” He bends and nods, thanking us several times.

“Take him to a secured area and let him go,” Jack tells Johnny, and then we take the evidence and stare at each other.

Jack cracks his knuckles. “We need to decide how we deal with our father.”

“Yes, we do.” I want to put a bullet in his head. He hadn’t truly cared about any of us.

“Sir, there’s a fire at the estate.” Vince comes into the vacant room.

My phone goes off at the same time as Jack’s.

“What?”

“Sorry, I know the signal’s jammed in here, but the alert came on.” We ran out of the property, and I immediately regret letting Espinosa go.

“Call Claudia.”

I dial my wife’s number, and she answers. “Connor, they’re moving us to a secure area. What’s going on?”

“There’s a fire on the estate. Where are you?”

“I was at Nora’s.”

“Okay. So you’re all safe?”

“Yes. I just got back from delivering the cupcakes when Ian arrived and your father left.”

“He left?”

“Yes.”

“Baby, is Ian there?”

“Yes. He’s right here.”

“Ian. What the hell is going on?”

“It’s Dad’s garage. It caught fire, and the fire department are on the way. I’m just making sure the women are safe until it’s all clear.” A loud boom goes off in the background.

“Fuck.”

“What the hell was that?” I roar.

Jack answers, “Dad’s house.”

“The bastard.”

“Keep our families protected.”

“I will.”

“We’re on our way, and we need to talk to you.” The entire time my mind is on getting back to the house. Jack rode in with me, so we’re riding back together and he calls Nora to see how she and John are doing, but I’m not focused on their conversation since my mind is reeling with thoughts of murder. If Espinosa has anything to do with this, he’s a dead man.

“Okay,” Jack says, and then ends the call.

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