Page 85 of A Shade of Evil

I type into my search engine and bring up the glorious downfall of Judge Lucas Stevenson in glorious pictorial form.

We stare at the screen of revenge. The result of our planning has never appeared so magnificent, and Kyle laughs out loud.

“This is the sweetest victory.”

I nod and read some of the headlines.

Judge, jury, and downfall.

Judge Stevenson and his sister-in-law.

Judge Stevenson and the affair with his sister-in-law.

Two decades of infidelity.

Judge Stevenson steps down from his position amid scandal.

Judge Lucas Stevenson, the disgraced adulterer.

Jet Star’s family betrayal.

When a family breaks.

“That’s my favorite one.” I say with a wicked grin and Kyle says with concern. “How did Allegra take the news?”

“Better than expected. She says they deserve it, and her only concern is her brother and father.”

“Has she spoken to them?”

“Yes. She’s meeting her brother now at his apartment.”

“Of course.” He nods. “I sent Sam and Vincenzo to guard her.”

I think about how strong Allegra has been through this whole plot to bring her family down, and she has surprised me repeatedly. She is strong. Stronger than most and I love that her main concern is for the innocent ones in her family. There is nothing I don’t love about her except her desire to carry on working. She is enjoying running my campaign and likes working with her assistant. Evangeline is happy because her agency was credited with the success of a campaign that lit up the socials like a firework. We have sold out our first masquerade night with a waiting list to fill several more.

It drags my thoughts back to this evening and I say sharply, “Is everything in place for tonight?”

Kyle nods. “All invited and their welcome arranged.”

“Good. This has been a long time coming.”

I stand and set my inner bastard firmly in charge and say with a wicked grin, “Then we should get to business.”

* * *

We goin convoy to the warehouse near the city docks I use as an office of sorts. It’s a legitimate import business that also doubles as an office for the visitors I prefer not to sign in on my guest book.

We head through the warehouse; a silent army of menace, and I note the workers avert their eyes as they pretend there is nothing happening out of the ordinary.

There isn’t. It’s business as usual in the Vieri household and even my brother has decided to join us for the occasion. It’s a rare sighting indeed, which is why security is at an all-time high.

Killian Vieri, mafia don in waiting, prefers to run the respectable side of our business, leaving me to have all the fun. Not this time. He is particularly pissed that it’s taking so long and wants answers, and fast.

I reach the office and note his right-hand man, Saint, talking to one of their guards and he nods with respect as we join them.

“Shade, Kyle.”

He points to the office. “Kill is inside checking a few things. He asked you to join him.”

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