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?"

eyebrow.

realize prolonged exposure to

you forget Olivia can heal?"

also resurrect people, but that doesn't mean she has to use

hell," Ansel says. "Besides, Olivia loves to use us as guinea pigs for her

to the side. "We are changing the entire floor and painting the room," he says and goes

shrugs. "Who cares how much money is in there?

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

up college funds unless we want our kids to struggle in life. Children need lots of things. Food, clothes,

"They won't!" Tyson promises.

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

of it. It's more than enough to cover expenses with the baby

me,"

we need to change the floor,"

sandwich. "Don't forget

Yeah. We'll get white paint," Tyson

"Are you trying to turn this place into

you all drive me crazy,"

"Even me?" I ask.

a heated look.

***

outside when we finally make it back home. Only the light on the

Mose. You all wait for us close to the barn,"

I say before Rueben, Ansel, and

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

the look on Mose's face,

going to