Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

404. Jasper - Money

"I hate cleaning blood. It takes forever," Tyson mutters under his breath.

It's the day after Rueben killed Senator Deymar.

We are still at the cabin since we have to clean it, or else Alekos will more than kick our asses.

After months of planning, of Cirro trying to infiltrate a spy in his team, it finally ended. If I had known Hannah was the key to getting to the senator, we would have gotten to her first. Only that her security was just as tight as her husband's. The only thing I regret is that the senator died too fast. He should have suffered for a long time for all the damage he caused, but Rueben has always been a bit impatient.

Jon and Khloe left with Hannah right after Rueben blew up Senator Deymar's entire face. Rueben was not happy about it and even wanted to kill Hannah, but Jon promised Hannah wouldn't say a word about what happened. I don't trust Hannah-not after abusing Olivia for years and letting her husband and son do the same. But I trust Jon. He might be a Duke, but he is one of the best men known. Meeting him is a privilege.

Getting rid of Senator Ross proved to be a little trickier since he decided to show up with two well-trained bodyguards, but nothing we couldn't handle.

Once we had the bodies, we had to move them and prepare a scene that would fool the police and the Dukes into believing the two senators and the bodyguards killed each other. Then we contacted Inspector Raphael and told him everything. Since he is a Lord, he promised to make sure no clue will lead back to us. It's not the first time he manipulated proof. While it is not ethical or moral to do so, he only did it when Dukes were involved in all sorts of crimes. Rueben flips Tyson the bird before taking a bite from his burger. "You are the one who let Hannah kill Malaky. So stop bitching about it."

"Can you stop arguing? I can't concentrate on counting the money," Ansel snaps at Tyson and Rueben.

Tyson asking for a ransom in exchange for Malaky's life was a bluff. We have never asked for money before. Other Lords, sure. But we never needed dirty money from Dukes.

Imagine our surprise when Senator Ross showed up with several bags full of money. I've never seen so much money before. Ansel and Rueben have taken the responsibility of checking each bill and making sure non is marked. "Why? You want to make sure the entire sum is there?" I ask.

Ansel shrugs. "Yeah. Why not?"

Tyson throws more bleach on the wooden floor. I want to warn him that he's only destroying the floor by doing so, but he starts rubbing it hard with the floorbrush, so I let him be.

"What are you going to do with all the money?" I wonder.

"Retire to some tropical island," Ansel says.

I know he's not being serious, but even so, I ask, "And what are we supposed to do there? Get tanned all day long while we sip cocktails?"

an eyebrow. "That doesn't

realize prolonged exposure to sun

you forget Olivia can heal?" Rueben

that doesn't mean she has to use her powers

loves to use us as guinea pigs

"This is fucking useless," he says and throws the floor brush to the side. "We are changing the entire floor and painting the room," he says and goes to Ansel and grabs a couple of bills from his hands.

"Who cares how much money is in there? We are not keeping

bite from his sandwich. After he swallows, he says, "And what are we going to do with it? Burn it? Besides, with a baby on the way and a five-year-old,

need to set up college funds unless we want our kids to struggle in life. Children need lots of things. Food, clothes, toys, and the list can go on. I don't want Spencer, the baby,

"They won't!" Tyson promises.

it. There are still plenty of things we need to do around the house, and we are still figuring out numbers," Ansel

enough to cover expenses with the baby and other urgent payments we need to make. The rest we will donate to an organization that helps

me,"

we need to

finishes his sandwich. "Don't forget about the

Yeah. We'll get

trying to turn this place into

asylum because you all

"Even me?" I ask.

gives me a heated

***

home. Only the light on the porch

Mose. You all wait for us close

before Rueben, Ansel,

serious talk with Mose. While I hate that it's come to this, I hate even more that I can't trust Mose. If he had come to me with his doubts about Ansel, things would have been different. We would not feel like we have to walk

and Mose to appear. From the

you going to