Page 142 of Unravelling The Beast

"I've been playing a game, and he has no fucking idea what shitstorm is about to hit him."

I look at her with suspicion and elevate my chin.

"Why the fuck now?What's suddenly changed?"

She responds as she walks around her desk again.

"Your father has done many cruel things, but he did something completely unforgivable quite some time ago. Since then, I've realised he doesn't deserve to fucking live anymore, and he needs to die for us to be at peace."

I observe her as she takes another seat and I speak.

"And what the fuck was that?"

She shakes her head and rests her hands calmly on the desk in front of her.

"It doesn't matter right now; it's done.All I know is that this cannot continue; he is out of control and must be stopped before things escalate. We used to be a team, Arlo. Every decision was made as a family, but your father appears to believe he is the only one who has power now."

I take a deep breath before responding.

"So, what's your plan?"

She reclines in her chair and takes a moment to think carefully.

"Your father has made the decision that if he is murdered, we as a family will lose everything.No money, no house, no businesses, nothing."

I close my eyes, rage sweeping over me because the motherfucker had the audacity to do that to us. When I reopen my eyes, they swiftly meet hers, and I sit forward.

"We don't need that cunt, mom. I've got enough money and contacts to take over the entire firm.”

"It's not that simple anymore, Arlo; it used to be, but not anymore."

"And why the fuck not?"

She takes a long breath before responding.

"He is already in talks with all of the elites and investors, and if he is murdered, it will be his son's fault.You understand what that means, don't you? If you kill your own father without justification, you will never be accepted or trusted as an elite again. You and I will never be able to work in this game again, Arlo."

I stand up swiftly, frustrated and angry, and shout.

"Snakey motherfuck! Mom, I need to kill him! I can't be stopped!"

"I'm not saying you can't be the one to kill him, Arlo. I'd be pleased if you did."

I just stare at the woman who dragged me into this cruel world. She is not your typical mother; she raised me to be a cold-hearted animal.

Whenever I got into fist fights at school, she was the first to show up and watch. If I ever went underground at 16 years old to bare-knuckle fighting against full-grown guys, she would be the first to see it. She wouldn't cheer me on as any normal mother would while their kid was playing baseball; she’d just stand there waiting for me to win, and if I didn't, she'd send me back in there to take another fucking beating until I learned how to win. My mom was never maternal, and unlike Sara, I never got cuddles and fucking kisses before bed.

I was raised to be the man of the family and business, alongside my dad. On their leash, I was nothing more than a dog, and if they released that leash, I would attack like an untamed beast on both of their orders.

I'm not sure whether to hate her or love her for it because it not only made me the nasty bastard I am today, but it also made me strong enough to face what I had to deal with when Bridge was murdered.

I raise my chin and speak sternly now.

"So, what are you expecting me to do? Allow him to fucking take her."

Before she responds, she lets out a sigh.

"I have an outside investor, and we have everything in place to do this properly. I'm not going to let you storm into this with your temper and screw everything up."

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