Page 65 of Stay Toxic

Markus simply had to wait for her to request another bodyguard from the security firm she’s always employed, and pull some strings to have one of his men assigned to the task.

Officially, we’re here as the PI team she hired to look into Joseph’s disappearance, hence why she arranged the meeting well after official hours for someone as respected as Senator Cole, and with very little security—no one, in fact, save for her new bodyguard.

“Anyone else with her, Duke?”

“Her lover, Carmichael—the ex’s father, I think? He seems fully aware of the situation.”

“He’s a mark, too, then,” Markus decides without hesitation. “And it makes cleanup easier in any case. Ready?”

“The cameras are off according to the schedule, prints have been planted. We just need the man.”

“We have him.”

The whole thing lasts less than five minutes overall. I suspect it would have been even faster had I not insisted on being involved.

By the time we walk into the sterile office, Loretta Cole is struggling against the bindings tying her to her desk’s chair.

“What the hell is this?” she screams the moment we enter. “What do you want with us? What have you done with Bobby?”

Bobby, I assume, is currently passed out on ecstasy, his pants down around his ankles.

I think that if I’d completely left it up to Markus, the bitch would have been asleep too, by now, and never open her eyes again, but I wanted her conscious. I want her to know what was happening to her, and why.

“Is that—” she gasps. “Joseph!”

Markus glances back to the large man, currently supported by Duke and Dez. “Ah, yes. You were looking for him, weren’t you? Job done, I supposed. Don’t forget to tip.”

The senator snarls. “Whatever you think you’re doing, you won’t get away with it.”

She would believe that, wouldn’t she? She’s spent a lifetime treating people however she wants and gotten away with it—until now.

“Oh, but we will, Loretta darling. You see, you fucked with the wrong family. This is my favorite cousin, you know,” Markus says, squeezing my shoulder.

“I am?” That’s news to me, and I can’t wait to tell our other cousins.

“No,” he deadpans, turning back to the woman. “But the point is, he is blood and he’s quite fond of that daughter of yours. Hestia. A lovely woman. Great tits. Pretty cunt, too. It’s a miracle someone as boring and uptight tight as you managed to make that hot piece of ass.”

“Hey, that’s my future wife you’re talking about.”

Markus shrugs. “Still hot.”

He has a point. And as he’s helping me get away with murder, I’ll let it pass.

“You’re with Hestia?” Genuine fear colors those eyes now. I can tell she never expected this. She never thought anything she did to her child would have consequences. She didn’t even think that Hestia could obtain some support.

How wrong she was.

“That’s right, Loretta. I’m marrying your daughter. I’d ask for your blessing, but sadly, I don’t give a flying fuck.”

“You’ll never get her to agree. She’ll see right through you!”

“Because people have been after her money her entire life, huh? I get that her trust is going to be hard to win, but I’m a stubborn bastard. And do you know who all those billion dollars are going to belong to?” I lean in. “Her. Too bad you won’t be here to see it.”

I extend my gloved hand toward my cousin to take the gun he hands me.

A kinder man would ask for last words, but I quite like saying the last piece, and there’s nothing this bottom feeder could say that I want to hear. So I just shoot.

* * *