Page 79 of Revenge & Truth

“What about the judge?” I questioned, perching on the arm of Liu’s chair.

He wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed my shoulder. “He wasn’t sent to that prison. No matter how much pull you have, the federal level is involved in this. They pulled rank to have him placed in an undisclosed location. Harvey is still at Ashgate, but due to his connections, he was put in solitary.”

“Meaning the bastard is just fine and waiting for his lawyers to be contacted,” Jace muttered.

“Okay, this is all good to know, but why the need to have this conversation here?” I pressed.

Everyone turned to Ryker, who’d clearly drawn the short straw for this conversation. “Domenico called to tell us that if you wanted to deal with Harvey yourself, he can get you in the prison without anyone knowing. The timing couldn’t be more perfect since the fights will make the news and will provide a solid and easy cover-up. He also mentioned they haven’t notified Harvey’s lawyers that he’s been arrested. Oh… and the only people who know he’s in solitary are easy to deal with. Those were his words, not mine.”

It took a little longer than I’d like to admit for my brain to wrap itself around what they were saying, and my struggle must have been written all over my face. Jace muttered something under his breath and walked over to cup my face in his hands.

“Babe, what we’re trying to ask is… do you want to kill Harvey yourself or send him out into the general population and let them do it? Fuck, I’m pretty sure Luca would be more than happy to shank the bastard if you asked,” Jace said bluntly, releasing my face.

Now that I understood, I still didn’t understand why it had to happen so early. “I’m following the plot now, but what I’m still a little unclear on is why we are all awake?”

“There is only so long this window of opportunity can stay open,” Liu answered. “Once the lawyers are involved, it becomes a bigger issue, not to mention Domenico shared that the prison is at risk of being shut down for how many people die there. It would be too big of a risk to stage another uprising like this to make Harvey’s death believable.”

“Fucking hell,” I muttered. “This prick is going to continue making my life hell until he’s dead, isn’t he?”

“Sounds like a good reason to take a drive on over and settle the matter,” Braxton piped up, adding his two cents. “What do you think of brass knuckles?”

“Someone woke up on the violent side of the bed this morning,” I commented. Braxton gave me a wink as he sipped his coffee. “All right, so I decide I want to handle this matter myself. What then? You mentioned he had a plan to get us in?”

“Not us, you,” Ryker corrected. “We’d bring you to his corporate headquarters and then join him as he takes his helicopter to the prison. It makes perfect sense that he’d head over to check on things after a situation to keep the Feds from butting in where they aren’t wanted. If all of us go, it’s too noticeable.”

Ah, and here is the real reason they wanted to have this conversation in private. They didn’t want any spies in the household to know what was going on since I hardly went anywhere without them.

“What about Boykov?” I asked. “Makes sense to have a bodyguard around after something like this happens.”

“I’m sure that would be fine, not many people know him,” Liu reasoned.

With that agreed upon, I tossed back the rest of my coffee and stood. “Tell him I’m coming. No one is going to take the satisfaction of watching the life bleed out of that man’s eyes from me.”

Ryker nodded, grabbing his phone. “You need to be ready to leave in thirty minutes. He can’t hold off flying out there for too long.”

“Don’t you worry about that. I’ll just need ten minutes to change. That asshole doesn’t deserve any effort on my part. He should be honored I’m the one who’s going to end his life,” I quipped, flicking my hair over my shoulder and marching to my rooms.

True to my word, I was ready and jogging down the stairs ten minutes later. It wasn’t like there was much thought going into this visit—dressed in black from head to toe, hair in a bun out of my way, and my trusty steel-toed combat boots. They do such an excellent job breaking ribs if you kick them just right. Per Braxton’s suggestion, I tucked a pair of brass knuckles in the pockets of my leather jacket. There was also a slim knife tucked into my boot just to be sure it looked like a proper prison job.

The guys were gathered by the front door, and I gave them all quick kisses. “When I’m back with Luca, we’re going to have the most epic lazy Sunday known to man. I’m talking junk food, movie marathons, video games, and absolutely no talking about work.”

“Wait, you’re bringing Luca home?” Hound asked. “When did that get decided?”

“The moment I chose to take Domenico up on his offer,” I answered. “I’m done playing by the rules when I don’t have to. They have all the proof they need that Luca didn’t kill the mayor, so I’m simply skipping all the red tape that would normally happen.”

“God, you’re so sexy when you go all evil queen,” Braxton said with a sigh. “Go get ‘em, show them who’s the Boss ass bitch around here.”

I blew Braxton a kiss and headed out the door with Boykov right behind me. The SUV waiting for us was white, and I knew our fleet was all black. A window rolled down to reveal Domenico looking at me over his sunglasses. “I’m impressed. You said ten minutes, and here you are.”

“It’s only proper to keep your word when a friend is doing you a favor,” I commented.

“Ha, this isn’t a favor.” Domenico scoffed. “You and the Hulk hurry up and get in, would ya.”

Boykov took shotgun, and I slid in next to Domenico. “What do you mean this isn’t a favor?”

He didn’t answer immediately but instead offered me a travel mug of coffee. “Taking Harvey out of the picture only helps us both. Right now, my hands are tied with my grandfather still calling the shots back home. He’s demanding I do whatever it takes to get Harvey out of jail so he can keep working for the founding fuckheads. The blow you dealt them destroying the workroom at the shitty strip joint hurt their progress here in Mansara.”

“So, in other words, I’m being a kick-ass ally and taking care of a problem you have but can’t solve on your own,” I clarified.