Page 88 of Colton

“No,” I say. “It is a crime to try and get her killed by the same hitman you hired already. And unfortunately for you, when it comes to my sister, I’ll turn into a serial killer if need be, just to keep her safe.”

And it’s true — Avalon and Dahlia are the only two people in my life I’d actually kill for.

The moment Artemis called me a few hours ago, urgently telling me to come back to the town, I knew it was bad. When she presented every piece of evidence against Maxwell, as well as detailed emails he sent to the people he’s been conspiring with, that he was going to get to me through Dahlia, all I saw was blazing red.

It’s a miracle I haven’t strangled him yet.

Still, this is almost over. I won’t be the one to take his life, simply because Avalon wouldn’t want me to dirty my hands with his filthy blood, but it doesn’t mean he’ll be walking out of this place alive.

Unfortunately, Clyde has no moral compass whatsoever, and if someone needs to be dealt with, he will do it without so much as blinking. The men Maxwell’s been conspiring with will be dealt with in due time, too, and since they have no idea of his involvement with the robberies and murder, they’ll live.

For now.

If I don’t get pissed off by then and change my mind.

“You never should’ve threatened my family, Maxwell,” I say, tossing the cigar down, and putting it out with my foot. “These are merely the consequences of your actions. You should’ve been smarter.”

Artemis was also in charge of finding out what exactly prompted him to do all of this. Jealousy of what the five families have is one thing, but threatening them is another. No sane person would ever do it without an ulterior motive.

I glance back at Clyde and nod.

That’s all it takes for him to step forward, and it’s the moment I choose to leave. Watching Maxwell die is something I’d rather not witness, I don’t need to see his ugly face in his last moments. Artemis, however, is not moving an inch. She’s definitely staying for the show.

And just like that, one piece of the puzzle falls into its place.

◆◆◆

“Wait up,” Artemis yells behind me, and I halt, turning to look at her.

“I thought you’d stay.”

She shrugs, and we continue to walk toward the hidden spot where we parked our cars. Well, my car and Clyde’s, since she came with him. She looks at me from the corner of her eye, and I know whatever it is she wants won’t be pretty.

“Clyde kicked me out,” she snorts. “But… that’s not what I want.”

“What is it that you want?”

She stops walking and turns to face me entirely. “You promised if I solved this, you’d give me your vote.”

I take a deep breath. “You still want the seat at the table?”

She nods. “I want Blake completely out, Colton. I’m not joking around.”

The seriousness in her voice makes me narrow my eyes a little. I knew she’d do whatever it took for the seat, but I didn’t truly think she’d do what I asked of her. Artemis has a streak of starting things and not finishing them, hence, my trust in her ability to keep up with her responsibilities is non-existent.

“Fine,” I nod.

Her eyes light up. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” I drawl. “We made a deal, and you kept your end of it. It’s only natural I’ll keep mine. However, if I may, don’t act too rashly. You have my vote. You still need a lot more.”

She nods, determination written on her face.

The meeting of the five families won’t happen just yet, and she has plenty of time to get others to vote for her. It’s an intimate ceremony, and there’s no one else to take my seat. Dahlia, to her credit, isn't interested. She’d rather drop by from time to time and involve herself in matters that she deems important. And since my father’s God-knows-where, he won’t be an issue, either.

“Thank you, Colton,” she says. “I mean it.”

“You’re welcome.”