Page 24 of Cruel Possession

As I head down the hall, shouting erupts in the dining room. I don’t pay attention to a single word.

They can fight all they like. It’s not going to change my mind about any of it.

It’s time that my family starts remembering who has been keeping us alive for the last several years. The same person who funds their lifestyles. Who keeps them all employed and out of graves.

I shove open the door to my office and shut it behind me, rounding the desk and sinking down in the chair. Turning around, I select a record from the shelf and put it on the player, keeping the volume low.

Unfortunately, my peace doesn’t last long, since after a couple of minutes, there’s a firm knock at the door.

It opens without waiting for a word from me, and Sean walks in and closes the door, twisting the lock in place.

He says nothing as he sits on the couch in the corner with his wine. He glances at the camera feeds showing on the monitor, the screen flickering out and then coming back with the feed of Zoe.

She’s busy pacing around the room, at least as much as she can pace with the shackle on her ankle. Her hands open and close at her sides, tightening into fists. She rolls her shoulders back and tilts her head from one side to the other.

Sean takes a deep breath before blowing it out. “Are we going to talk about what’s happening right now, or are we going to keep pretending that you aren’t losing control?”

“Excuse me?”

“Of yourself, not the organization.” Sean puts his glass to the side, studying me with that look that’s always made me just a little uncomfortable. “When I blended my organization withyours, we agreed on clarity when conducting business. I didn’t know anything about this.”

I glance at Zoe, and she turns at that moment, staring directly into the camera.

It’s like she can see straight through me even though she has no idea that I’m sitting here, watching her right now.

“Aiden!” Sean’s tone is sharp, getting louder and filling the room. “I don’t know what’s going on with you these days, but I‘m starting to think that you’re losing it.”

“I’m fine.”

I haven’t been fine since Noah tortured me. Not even a little bit, but none of them needs to know that. It’s, quite frankly, none of their business.

Sean gestures to the monitor. “This isn’t fine. None of this is fine. You shouldn’t be sitting here and staring at the screen and watching her like she’s a damn caged animal. You need to kill her. Make it public and visible. Make sure the Rinaldos know that we were the ones behind it. Make an example out of her.”

“You’re thinking short term.”

“Then explain the long term to me.”

“It’s none of your business.” I stop the music and get up, going to the whiskey cabinet and pulling out a bottle.

I pour a hefty glass and down half of it, soothing the tension building in my head.

Sean gets up and rips the glass from my hand, throwing it against the wall.

The crystal shatters into a thousand pieces, scattering around the floor.

“Enough of this shit. You need to tell me what the fuck is going on right now. What’s the plan?”

I grind my teeth together, staring him down until he looks away.

I’m tired of the disrespect in my own family, of all of them treating me like I’m the bad guy. Like I haven’t done everything that’s been needed to keep them safe.

I step closer to him, invading his space. “The plan is you all remember who the fuck is in charge and get in line, or things will change around here. And not for the best.”

Chapter Eight

AIDEN

I grinas I pull the door open, stepping into the room and letting two of my men step around me. “Morning, sunshine.”