Page 25 of King of Ashes

"One week," I say, changing the subject. "We announce our return to Boston with a wedding that no one will forget."

“What about those who helped us? Seems like we should do something to show our appreciation,” Blaise says.

I nod. “Let’s have a dinner. Tomorrow. Rileys, Donovans, all of them. It will give us a chance to let them know our plans.”

“Short notice,” Flint says.

“I’ll take care of it.” I decide I’ll personally invite the families and make the arrangements. It’s the least I can do to thank them for how quickly and effectively they responded to take down the Keans. Moving on to the next topic, I ask, “What's the latest on the law enforcement angle?"

Flint pulls out his phone, scrolling through messages. "My contact at BPD says they've been building a case against Hampton for months with help from information Lucy was able to deliver. Tax evasion, money laundering, murder and arson.” He glances up. “They’re pinning Marshall’s murder on Ronan.”

“Lucky son of a bitch,” Blaise quips. And it’s true since Flint is the one who killed the police superintendent a year ago. He did it to protect Lucy who was about to be killed by the man.

Flint flicks his glance toward Ash. “The cops and Feds could put Hampton away without us having to get our hands dirty.”

I lean back in the chair, possibilities spinning through my mind. "How reliable is this information?"

"Very.”

Ash’s gaze jerks between Flint and me. “No. Hampton is mine.”

Flint shrugs. "If Hampton goes down legally, it creates a power vacuum we can fill without looking like we orchestrated a coup."

"It's cleaner," I admit. "Less blowback from the other families."

"And it gives us plausible deniability," Flint adds. "We just happened to return right when Hampton's empire was crumbling."

“No one will believe that,” Ash argues, looking at Blaise for support.

“We said we’d do things differently. More like Dad,” I say.

Blaise scoffs. “Dad wouldn’t have mom on her knees ready to suck his dick?—”

“That’s different,” I snap.

“Yeah,youare different.”

I shift in my seat not liking the disappointment I see in Blaise’s eyes. He and Flint have always looked up to me. It doesn’t sit right that I’m losing their respect.

Again, I change the subject. “How soon would they be able to arrest them? I want Hampton to watch his daughter marry me before they take him away."

Ash's laugh is sharp enough to cut glass. "You want him to watch the ceremony? That's your big revenge plan?" He stalks toward the desk, planting his palms flat on the surface, leaning into my space. "Hampton Kean doesn't deserve to live another week, much less rot in a cushy federal prison."

"We've been over this?—"

"No, we haven't." His voice drops to a dangerous whisper. "You've decided, and we're supposed to fall in line. Like always."

The tension in the room thickens. Blaise and Flint exchange glances but stay silent.

"What happened to Hannah wasn't just business," Ash continues. "He put a gun to her head while she was carrying my child. He ended up shooting her."

I meet his gaze steadily. "I understand?—"

"Stop saying that!" Ash slams his fist down, sending a pen holder crashing to the floor. "You don't understand. None of you do. You think this is just about our parents, about reclaiming what's ours. But it's more than that now."

He straightens but looks at me with the same disdain as Blaise. "Every day Hampton breathes is another day he could have someone come after us. After our families."

"We have him locked up," Flint interjects.