Page 122 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

“I’m fine.”

It was a lie, but whatever. I needed this evening to be over. Enough revelations. All I wanted was for him to hand over the rest of the evidence so we could leave, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen quite yet.

I wasn’t sure how to deal with the fact that my father had cameras in my room and that they’d been there since I was young. It disgusted me as well as it being an invasion of privacy. What other videos did he have of me?

“How do you have this?” I asked.

“It was on Nick’s computer. I don’t think your father kept any other footage if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

“I’m more disturbed by the fact he even installed a camera in my room in the first place.”

“Your father was a very cautious man. I believe he and your granddaddy knew about your uncle’s predilection. I imagine this footage was used to keep him in line.”

I shuddered.

“Now, you two have some decisions to make. I have all the evidence you need on this hard drive here.” He pointed to something on the desk. “I don’t think you want to see any further videos of your uncle, but I assure you, there’s more.”

I tried not to think too hard on that. More videos meant he’d abused kids and I just couldn’t go there. I was kind of grateful to Rick that he’d never shown me them that day he’d taken me.

“As I said, you can sign your company over to me or destroy everything. And you can take your uncle and your cousin or… you can end him here and now.”

I knew exactly what ‘end him’ meant because my eyes fell on the table in the other room. Sitting in the middle of it was a handgun. I swallowed, looking over at Aiden. I couldn’t read his expression but I knew he’d seen the same thing that I had.

“Aiden,” I whispered.

His eyes met mine. I saw something in them I didn’t want to. It was that cold, calculating look, but this time there was something else simmering below the surface. White hot rage. And it terrified me.

I took a step towards him.

“Don’t, Aiden.”

He shook his head slowly at me.

“Please, I hate him too, but this isn’t the way and you know it.”

His fists clenched at his sides.

“He’s a sick fuck,” Aiden said, his voice low and rough.

“I know, but please, no one else needs to die. Let the police arrest him, please.”

We stared at each other for the longest time. My heart broke further with every second and I knew before he said it that he wasn’t going to listen to me.

“I’m sorry, princess.”

He strode out of the room. I tried to follow him. To stop him, but Rick held onto my arm.

“Let go of me.”

“Let him go,” Rick said.

“No, I can’t let him do it.”

I struggled in his grasp, but he tugged me against his chest and banded his arms around me, pulling me over to the two-way mirror. I watched in horror as Aiden walked into the room with my uncle.

“Who’s there?” Uncle Charlie’s voice came through the speakers in our room.

Aiden didn’t say a word. He moved over to the table, picked up the gun and pointed it at my uncle’s head.

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