Page 31 of Concealed Deception

I’m a ticking time bomb.The never-ending silence enhances my every need for annihilation.

“Umm…” Tony’s hesitant while he hands me his cell.“You need to see this.”

“Get me the fuck home, Vince!”My voice holds no room for argument.As I feel the car pick up speed, I reach for my own cell to call Doug.

“You better tell me you’re in my parking garage, Doug!”My voice rises.“Do.You.Have.My.Girl?”I’m on the edge of my seat, yelling down at my phone, when his muffled voice becomes distant.

I listen closely to what’s happening, when he starts yelling Ava’s name.I hear heavy footsteps as if someone’s running, and that’s when it dawns on me that he might be chasing her.

Tony snatches his phone from my hand.His expeditious tapping means he’s in the zone and will hopefully have answers for me before it’s too late.

Right on cue, he shoves the screen in my face, pointing to one of the four squares with garage footage on them.There, I just make out Ava ducking under the door before Doug comes into view.

I’m watching the events unfold in front of me, and there’s nothing I can do to stop them.I can only hope she gets somewhere safe, where I’ll be able to find her later.

I’m yelling into my phone, hoping Doug can hear me so he at least puts it on speaker while he runs after her, but when his voice comes back on the line, it has my entire body freezing.

“He has her.He has Ava.Alexander, William got her.I’m so—” I cut the line before he can apologize.I’ll deal with him later.Right now, I need to know where the hell he’s taking her.I need to get to her before he does anything to her.

“Boss, I’ve contacted Griffin.He’s getting a guy to run plates against traffic cams to see if he pops up.I’ve got nothing else that can help until we’re back at the office.”Tony’s quick-witted actions could be what helps to save my treasure.

“Xander, I know you want her back and you’ll burn the city down for her, but we need to think smart.I know there’s something you’re not telling me.For this to work, you need to keep your head in the game.We need the notorious Alexander Lamont leading the way.”

I don’t like having a weakness.

What Tony voices is true.I need to channel all my anger and need for revenge to get her back unharmed.

“Vince, take us to Envy.”

It took less than twenty minutes to get to our destination, thanks to Vince.

This is the one place I can rally my allies.Once we know where William’s taking Ava, I’ll be able to rain hellfire on all those who lay a finger on her.

“Knox, I want you to bring me Doug.I need all the information I can get.While you’re out, Vince, check on Camille.Make sure she’s safe too.I want you both back here in half an hour.”

As I enter the building from the back, a sour scent hits my nostrils.Something, or should I saysomeone, has managed to get back in my building while I’ve been preoccupied.Instead of taking the door to my office, I walk through to the bar where an unwelcome guest is seated, cozying up to a client.

Standing over her from behind, I wait for the member she’s with to give my position away.He not only does that but gets up and walks away from her, leaving me to deal with her.

“Jackie, a word in my office.Now.”I have no room for fuck-arounds.I know she’ll follow.She’s always shown more interest in me than I should have allowed, and it’s time to put an end to that.

Making it to my office first, I make sure Tony’s hidden on the balcony, while we have a chat.The only time anyone can see you on it is when you allow them too.That’s why I made it the darkest area of the building.

The door closes behind me and I round on the bitch before she gets a word out.My hand wraps around her throat.I’ll have great pleasure in squeezing the life out of her if she doesn’t listen.But instead of listening, she wheezes through gritted teeth, “I knew getting rid of her would bring you to me.”Her eyes become alight, like this is some perverted game to her.“I’m better for you than that slut.”

My grip tightens until she’s gasping for air.My hands are murderous weapons that will happily take her life.The blood rushes to my head, and with it, the rage is unleashed.“Tell me what you’ve done, Jackie.I swear, if you’ve done anything to help William, I’ll kill you right here.”

“She needed… to go.He came… looking… for you.I told him… about slut… you were… with.”

The words come out as splatters, but I can make out enough of what she’s saying.I reach into my waistband and pull out my pistol, aiming it at her head.Her eyes are now wide with fear, which makes the demon within excited to play.

I don’t hesitate as I step back and pull the trigger.

As her lifeless body slumps to the floor, Tony steps into my office wearing a killer smile.“Jealousy never suited her.”He has a laugh to himself.“The cleanup crew are on their way.Best you get changed before we leave.I’ve done what I needed to, and Vince and Knox are waiting for us out the back.”

I head to the attached bathroom.I knew Jackie would cause me nothing but trouble the moment she saw Ava.I should have killed her then and there, instead of firing her.

I punch the bathroom mirror at the mess she created.I’d rather feel the pain from my own actions than the tightening ache inside my chest that Ava has unknowingly created.

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