Page 16 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

“Fucking sick cunt. All this time. He acted like him and Mitch were the best of friends but really, all he wanted was money. I knew he was a fucking snake. I fucking knew it. He drew up the paperwork for your trust fund personally. Mitch told me so. Fucking cunt.”

He paced away from me, tugging at his suit jacket in clear agitation. I’d known he didn’t like Frazier, but this reaction surprised me. The venom in his voice chilled me to my core.

“What exactly are you planning?” he asked as he turned to me again.

“Frazier isn’t a saint. I’m sure he’s hiding things. All I need is evidence to bury him.”

I didn’t elaborate on the fact I also needed evidence to bury my uncle too. Bury him and my family’s sick operation.

“And how do you propose to get that?”

“I have a plan. That’s all you need to know.”

He shook his head, running a hand through his hair again.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I hoped I did too. I was terrified of this dinner next week. Terrified I wouldn’t make it out of that house alive and unharmed. It was a risk I had to take.

“We’ll see.”

He looked towards the ballroom doors.

“This conversation isn’t over, Avery. I expect you to tell me everything.”

I nodded. He turned and walked back into the ballroom. I slumped against the wall of the alcove. That had not gone to plan at all. What the fuck would Aiden say when I told him Chuck knew my engagement to Tristan was fake and that I planned to destroy the Shaws? That was a bridge I’d have to cross later. I had a party to get through.

I straightened, patting myself down to make sure the knife was still strapped to my thigh.

I was going to be strong even if my mind was running riot.

I stood tall and walked back into that ballroom.

l

Five Weeks Prior

Frazier stood in front of my desk, his eyes shining with glee.

“I cannot begin to tell you how delighted I am.”

I held back from rolling my eyes.

“I’ve thought about it long and hard. This is the right move for our families. It’s what my father wanted and I’d like to give him that even if he’s not alive to see it.”

Frazier nodded, his expression solemn for a moment. I really, really fucking hated this man with a passion. I couldn’t look at him without seeing that awful look on his face when he’d tortured that girl in the video Aiden showed me. Not only that, I had a new memory of him. One of the videos Rick had shown me. It was worse. He’d used a knife to slice into the girl’s skin. Her body was completely covered in small cuts. Each one made his eyes light up further and his erection grow bigger. I hated that I even knew what he looked like naked. Hated that I’d watched him fuck her afterwards until they were both covered in blood.

I swallowed, the revulsion I felt about those memories threatening to consume me. I couldn’t be sick in front of Frazier. Not now.

“Yes, it is terribly sad he won’t be here to see his daughter get married.”

I didn’t want him here. I was marrying the man who’d murdered him and my mother. Anyone would think I was certifiable. It didn’t matter. I knew Aiden and I belonged together. Knew it deep in my soul. We’d fallen hard for each other. Fallen into the pit of insanity we now both resided in and neither of us wanted to crawl out of it. Neither of us wanted to ever let the other go. Aiden consumed me and I consumed him. It’s just how we were together.

“I know it’s a lot to ask… but would you consider walking me down the aisle when we do get married? You were Dad’s best friend. It would only be fitting.”

Frazier’s eyes lit up further. The slow smile which appeared on his face made my skin crawl.

“What about your uncle?”

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