Page 84 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

“I think we need to pay Robert Bassington a fucking visit.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?”

I shook my head. It would never be wise to go after any man with power in this business, but I had to find out if that sick piece of shit had arrived back here. And if he had my fucking girl.

“Aiden, you can’t go battering down doors on a hunch. What if he tells Chuck you paid him a visit? He’s already suspicious of everything to do with you and Avery.”

I drummed my fingers on the desk. Doing nothing felt fucking wrong. Going around Robert Bassington’s and beating the shit out of him was also wrong. Fuck.

And there was something else fucking nagging me. I looked up at the man next to me. His willingness to talk this through with me. To work out why Avery was gone and who had taken her. Those things didn’t add up.

“Why are you helping me, John? Don’t give me any bullshit. You must know how much I hate the Daniels and what they represent if you know what happened to my mother. I don’t work for them out of fucking choice.”

He leant against the desk and folded his arms over his chest.

“I’ve been involved with this business too long. Let’s just say I’m not averse to seeing the empire crumble. It’s not something you can do cleanly. More blood will be spilt. I’m okay with that. If it means I can walk away from this shit finally, then I’m in.”

I stared at him for a long moment as if seeing the man for the first time. I couldn’t honestly say I ever expected him to want to leave this life behind.

“How do I know if I can trust what you’re saying is true?”

“You can’t, but I know things about the Daniels you don’t. Hit them where it hurts the most and the rest will fall.”

“Hit them where exactly?”

I was curious about his take on all of this. Curious if he’d come to the same conclusions as me. If he knew how to win this fucking war.

“Their relationships with each other are built on mutual trust. They know too much about each other. Plant the seed of doubt. Play on the fear of exposure, they’ll rip each other apart like a pack of wolves.”

I really did see this man in a new light. Could he really be my ally in this sorry fucking mess?

“And you’ll help me achieve this?”

I’d already started on this path by killing Mitchell, but John didn’t know that. They were already out for each other’s blood. Things within Mitchell’s inner circle hadn’t been the same since that day. I could tell from Chuck’s erratic behaviour. He was under a fuck ton of pressure and all the shit which had gone down with Avery hadn’t helped him in the slightest.

I was fucking glad of it.

“I want out. I’ll help you if it means I can leave this godforsaken island behind and not worry about looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.”

I wasn’t sure I trusted John, but then again, he had kept my relationship with Avery a secret.

“Okay. You have yourself a deal. Double cross me and you’ll be leaving this fucking island in a body bag. Understood?”

He smiled.

“From you, I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

John had seen me rough a fair few people up. He knew what I was capable of.

“None of that matters if I can’t get Avery back.”

“Leave it to me.”

He pulled out his phone and dialled. He whacked it on speakerphone so I heard it ringing.

“John,” Chuck’s deeply irritating voice sounded through the phone.

“Boss, we have a little problem.”

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