The Joy of Revenge

APTER 77 Deal
was bowing in the middle of a stage amidst a crowd who was giving me a ang ovation, cheering and applauding me for my unprecedented magic trick.
After telling Liam to come see me, I called his father telling him my mother had wanted to give him something before she died and instructed him to meet me at the funeral director’s
office.
He was such an arrogant man. When we grabbed him and the two men following him, he kept shouting we would pay for placing our dirty little hands on him. It took a gun to his head to keep his mouth shut.
Since there weren’t enough dead people in New Salem to keep the funeral home afloat, Linda Jacobs, one of my mother’s friends, helped smuggle product out of New Salem using their coffins. We helped her open branches in Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln while keeping coffin production here. Only a few knew Chimes Funeral Home was like my playground.
“Why is my father here?” Liam snarled angrily, his hand reaching for his gun. He was such an idiot. He was outnumbered four to one. Cris didn’t count. He was one of those freakishly big
dudes who would scream at the sight of a co ckroach.
*Calm down, Liam,” I urged him using a hushed tone. “Let’s not do anything rash here. If not, you and your father will be the next two influential people New Salem will be mourning for.”
“Enough of the vile threats. Answer me, why is my father here?” Liam asked again, but this time, he spoke calmly, although his face looked like it was about to explode.
“I thought I had made it simple for you to understand,” I said. “Someone has to pay for the death of my mother and that someone is you, Liam, and your little group of friends.” Liam glared at me with a murderous expression on his face.
ENCS
“I’m sorry, has the world gone completely insane? Was I the person who kidnapped the underboss” niece in the first place?” Liam asked. “Must I remind you, our actions have consequences. If there is someone who should be blamed for your mother’s death, it’s you, Capo B astone. Face it, you killed you own mother, you worthless piece of-”
I drew out my gun and aimed it at his chest. “And must I remind you, I am the underboss of the WNCS. You work for me, thus it is also your job to protect me and everyone around me.
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the job of the Cohens ever since you first came to this town. Protect those throne without thought or complaint. Since you failed me, I will exact you or I can get it from those you call your friends.”
piece of work, you know that?” Liam exclaimed shaking his head in disbelief. He aned back in his chair and gestured to me. “Fine. What is it that you want? Hmm?” 1 owered my gun, hoping we could come to an agreement.
“Someone very important to me was taken from me. In return, I want to take someone important from you. I know for a fact Theodore Cohen is important to you and your friends, unless there is someone else you can give me to take his place,” I said, bargaining with him.
“Your choice.”
He stared at me with a bewildered look on his face. Sure, I was talking like people were just
pawns on a chessboard, but what were people to me anyway?
People were expendable.
It was a sick game I was playing, but I wanted to prove my point. I was boss, not Liam. I could twist anything to my advantage, including having him pay for the death of
my mother.

I glanced at his father and noticed the scared look in his eyes. He had a nasty bump on his
forehead and his face was pale. I wanted to laugh. High and mighty Theodore Cohen has finally realized that in this town, I reigned supreme.
Hurry, Liam….. Time is ticking.
“Unless there is someone who can take his place, Liam murmured, clearly infuriated with the ambiguity. “Tell me, Capo B ast one. Who can I exchange for my father? Do you want me to give you Alejandro De Vega’s head on a plate? Do you want me to track the assassin? Do you want me to abduct De Vega’s neice for you? Or maybe you want a group of young girls to keep you satisfied every week?”
I smiled. Liam enumerated from the top of his head hoping one suggestion would tickle my fancy. However, he misunderstood me.
“Liam, let me make this clear because you are apparently confused. I want someone
important to you, unless you have feelings for De Vega,” I said, smiling mischievously. “As for his niece, been there, done that. I even have a video of it.”
“You want someone important to me in exchange for my father-”
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He closed his eyes, finally realizing who I really wanted in exchange for his father.
“No! We have already discussed this. I bring in the money and you won’t lay a finger on her,” he reminded me.
“That was before my mother died lying in a pool of her blood inside our very home,” I said. casually. “No? Well, if that’s your final answer, I’ll just have Gomez here shoot your father in
the head.”
My voice held no remorse. I gestured to Gomez to do it and he took one step back and aimed
the gun at Theodore Cohen’s head.
Theodore’s eyes widened and he began mumbling incoherently through the duct tape, looking at me, begging for me to stop.
Oh, now you respect me, you old coot!
“Wait!” Liam exclaimed, standing up and raising his hands to stop Gomez from shooting his father. “If I do give her to you, are we good? What I mean is… is the slate wiped clean? And
does this mean everyone here leaves without a scratch? He pointed to his two men who were kneeling at the other end of the room.
“Everything will be forgiven and forgotten, however I’m afraid I can’t let the hostages go. If I do, then I’m left without a bargaining chip, Liam,” I reasoned, not wanting to give up my hostages. “How do I know you’ll hold up your end of the bargain anyway?”
“I promise I’ll give you Virtue Sullivan, just let my dad go,” he begged. “I need some time so I can make the necessary arrangements. I don’t want it to look like another New Salem rape- slay case. It will further tarnish my image for reelection.”
I laughed. He was worried about reelection.
a me
“You are such a snob, Liam. I don’t care about your reelection! However, I do care about honoring tradition. You want time, I’ll give you time. I want Virtue Sullivan delivered to during the one event when you boys first got your hands dirty for me. Every single time. you and I meet, you look at me like I’m this disgusting pe rverted monster. So as a reminder that you too raped an innocent girl, what better time than the Spring Formal? Why do you think I took Joan Summers during that event? I wanted New Salem to look at you the same way they did when news of Joy Taylor’s assault spread across town. That’s how much I hate you, Liam,” I uttered with so much loathing. “Your father will come live with me as my guest until the Spring Formal. If you do not deliver, I will kill your father and throw him at the bottom of the lake. So, do we have a deal?” I raised my hand where my ruby ring was nestled on my
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y finger, so he could kiss the ring to seal the deal.
to his face and kissed the sparkling red gemstone as a sign he was agreeing before I could pull my hand away, he yanked me towards him and whispered. hen you think you’re sitting comfortably on your pedestal, look down. You’ll see opping it down with an axe.”
chuckled. “We’ll see about that,” I murmured. “Men, take those two out the back. Don’t kill them. I may have a use for them. Gomez, let Theodore Cohen go.” I poured scotch in another
last glass and handed it to Theodore. “Fix yourself up, Theodore. You still need to pay your respects to my mother.”
“Why you little-” Gomez pushed the muzzle of his gun against Theodore’s skull, reminding him he wasn’t free to scream insults. He begrudgingly took the glass from my hand and downed it, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.
I buttoned my jacket and stood up. “I’ll see the both of you in the viewing room. Cris, please bring the bottle of scotch with you so we can make a toast in the memory of my mother. Theodore, follow me.” We exited through the back door, followed by Gomez, leaving a stunned Liam and Cris behind.
That they didn’t see coming.
Liam
I watched my father follow Pete out the back door. There wasn’t much I could do as of the moment, but agree to the arrangement. Later, I’ll talk to the Sheriff and see what we could. do to save my father.
I gestured at Cris to follow me to the front door. As I grabbed the door kn ob, I was surprised to find the door was slightly ajar.
Was someone watching us?
I felt the cold air and shrugged my shoulders thinking it was a faulty latch. This funeral home needed a lot of repairs.
I noticed the restrooms and decided to splash some cold water on my face. I quickly turned, my eyes still adjusting to the dark as I walked, when I suddenly bumped into someone. I muttered a curse under my breath, annoyed the hallway was so o dark.
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