Page 218 of The Fire We Make

Byron scoffed. “So what? You’re gon’ kill me?”

Joy smiled.

“No daddy,” she said softly, almost gently. “I won’t kill you.”

Relief flicked across his face.

“But you will be retiring,” Joy continued. “Effective immediately.”

Relief was replaced with rage as Byron bucked against Ace’s hold. “Like hell I am. This is my–”

“It’s mine.” Joy’s words settled final and heavy between them like they’d been dropped on the conference table.

She didn’t like that she kept having to remind people of that fact, but she realized she could no longer wait to be given the respect and power she was owed. She’d have to take it.

“I’ll let you walk away with your life,” she went on. “Consider it… mercy,” she said with a smirk. She giggled slightly as she used the same word he’d said to her in this very office not even a year ago.

She’d been a much different woman back then.

“Now you can either accept my offer and leave smooth or I can burn this motherfucka to the ground with you in it,” Joy said.

“You wouldn’t,” Byron seethed.

Joy grinned. “Wanna bet?”

He scoffed. “You’re bluffing.”

Joy stalked up on him with a sinister smile on her face. Leaning down she spoke into his ear. “Would you bet your life on that? Cleve did, and we see how that fared for him.”

Byron’s eyes ballooned as understanding settled over him.

She stood up fully.

“I’ve already mourned the loss of the Cartel and the loss of my father. I’ll be aight,” she shrugged.

Silence stretched.

Joy went into the safe behind his desk and entered the combination with ease. Just as he’d done, she pulled out stacks of cash then plopped them on the table in front of him.

“Go far, far away,” Joy urged him.

Byron looked up at her, hate shining in his eyes. “After all I’ve done for you–”

“Save it.”

“What about your brother?”

“He can visit you wherever you go. But if I catch you within Texas borders, I’ll shoot you where you stand.”

Byron snatched up the money and stood with a deep scowl.

“You are evil,” he gritted.

Joy didn’t blink. “I am my father’s daughter.”

“Von,” Ace said, speaking up for the first time. “Make sure he leaves.”

Joy expected Von to protest but he simply nodded and escorted Byron out with a hand on his arm and a gun at his side.