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One hour before the meeting at the Gentleman’s Club...

Sitting at my desk, I leaned back and watched the city that never slept come alive for another night of debauchery. Everything was going according to plan, and no one was the wiser.

I needed to ensure that everything stayed that way until I got what I wanted.

Then and only then would I reveal the cold, hard truth.

I planned everything down to the letter.

Left no room for mistakes.

I thought of every possibility and when that wasn’t enough, I thought of more. The time had come for payback, and I wouldn’t stop until everyone involved was dead or rotting in jail.

Seeing my phone blink, I picked it up and answered, already knowing who it was. “Good evening, Mr. Graves. How may I help you?”

“Is that offer still on the table?”

Shaking my head, I smiled. “And what offer is that?”

“Protection.”

I smirked. “It was a onetime offer, Mr. Graves, and you passed.”

Graves stuttered. “I made a mistake.”

“Yes, you did, and now there is nothing I can do.”

“I can give you Iris Hughes.”

Intrigued, I leaned forward and asked, “And why would I want her?”

“Because she’s Steele’s old lady and has ties to the Russian Bratva.”

“I already know that information, Mr. Graves.”

“The Soulless Sinners are going to kill me!”

Sighing, I inspected my nails. “Yes, they are, Mr. Graves.”

With that, I hung up the phone.

Leaning back in my chair, I looked at the photo on the small table.

A homage of sorts to a time when we were all alive and happy. Before our pasts showed up and destroyed us once more. When I started down this path, I made myself a promise. That nothing or no one would stop me from exacting my brand of justice. Tonight would mark the beginning of a long line of deaths, and everyone associated with her disappearance would soon realize that they feared the wrong devil.

They should have feared the devil he created.

THE END