Page 154 of Beautiful Ascension

Wyatt grabs one of the oil containers and then moves to stand in front of Byron. “You see, Glen. Your uncle, here, tried to make it look like you were the one bankrolling the Senator.”

“Ww-hat are you talking about?” Glen’s words begin to slur.

“Would you sh-hut uhpp?” Byron garbles, choking on globs of oil.

Wes starts to pour his bottle over Byron while he responds. “Your uncle made a mess of a paper trail that stopped at your front door.”

“But the jackass forgot two things—one, you’re broke, and two, we have some of the best hackers working with us,” I state, finishing Wes’s explanation and grabbing my own bottle.

Lev opens the door to the incinerator, and the distinct smell of fire fills the room as a wave of heat wafts into it.

“But I-I—it wasn’t me,” Glen shouts. “Please let me go. I only did what he said, then I never did anything ever again.”

Ready to go home, I pour oil over Glen’s head, shutting off his whine. It’s probably hard to cry when a thick liquid is falling into your mouth. “Lie with the dog and all that jazz,” I sigh.

“Plur-rease,” Glen pleads again.

“I could give you the whole fool me once line, but I think I’m good on being quirky today.” I dump the last of the bottle down his back before chucking it.

Lev walks around Glen, emptying his container of oil. “I’m not—there isn’t a cannibal’s chance at being vegan that you or your uncle leave here today.”

I throw my head back and cackle. I laugh so hard that I gasp for air while I grab my side.

Snickering, Wyatt says, “We need to see you like this more often, Lev.”

Sebastian pushes the control, moving them to the conveyor belt. “I’m begging you,” Glen croaks. “He was the one sleeping with that cunt Vivian, not me.”

“I’m not your priest, and this is no confessional,” Sebastian retorts, but there’s no more vitriol at the mention of his cunt of an ex.

We’re all in better places—far better than the first day of senior year when our lives changed in the best ways possible.

Glen’s and Byron’s screams pull me from my thoughts. Wes and Sebastian are cleaning up the tarp we wisely put down earlier. Lev and Wyatt join me to change.

“Never thought I’d see the day where I’m getting spit up and blood out of clothing in the same night,” I quip, smiling.

“Can’t say I’m mad about it,” Wes murmurs, cleaning up.

We all grunt in agreement, then focus on finishing up so we can head back home to where our heart beats.

We’re in the car on our way home when Lev exclaims, “Turn to the satellite news station. There’s an update on the search for Baker.”

“The remains of Senator Matthew Baker and his wife were discovered early this morning. Matthew Baker went from a presidential hopeful to a disgraced senator. Baker was among?—”

I stop listening to the news report and peer over to the guys. “Are they sure she’s dead?”

“We’re waiting for confirmation, but some of her clothing and DNA were discovered,” Lev responds as he continues to work.

Nodding, I refocus on the road before I mutter, “I wanted to be the one to gut the bitch, but a win is a win.”

76

WES

“This reception is ridiculous,” I mutter. “Zo, your grandmothers have zero chill.”

Our daughter looks at me and laughs, and I wipe the drool running down her chin.

“This is not simple. I thought this was supposed to be a small event. This looks like the antithesis to simple” Owen groans, stepping into view. His mood shifts once he notices who I’m holding. “Hey there, Zoey Bear.”

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