The Joy of Revenge

Chapter 169 Ace Up My Sleeve

Noah

Pete turned to enter the car, but, stopped. I assumed Pete would do as he was told without any objections, but I was wrong.

“Wait a second,” Pete said, turning back to face me. “You?” He pointed at me. “You become underboss and I have to leave? Do you think I’m an idiot? I won’t agree to that. So, no, we

don’t have a déal.”

“I don’t think you’re in any position to negotiate, Mr. McDowell,” the Colonel reminded him while he kept his gun aimed at Pete’s heart. “So why don’t you do us all a favor and gét in

the car.”

Yet, Pete didn’t move. He stood his ground and continued to stare at me, waiting for my

response.

I noticed that the anxiousness in his eyes from earlier was now replaced with cold, unadulterated rage. I took a quick look at his gun and found the safety pointing on fire. I aimed it at his head, daring him to challenge me.

“If I were you Pete, I’d listen to the Colonel. Get in the car and don’t do anything st upid,” I warned him, the sides of my mouth curving into a malicious smile.

“You can’t kill me, Noah, and you won’t,” he scoffed, lifting his chin defiantly at me. “In case you didn’t know, I’m a valuable asset to Lorenzo So much so, he negotiated with De Vega on my behalf.” He moved his lower jaw in a circular motion, slightly wincing from the pain the movement caused. “Yes, it was painful, but it’s water under the bridge now and I am free from any and all obligations tying me to Ariana De Vega.”

To my surprise, Pete took a small step forward towards the gun in my hand. There was a proud smirk etched across his hideous face and a wicked glint in his eyes. This crazy so nofab itch was taunting me to shoot him.

“Okay, I admit, we can’t kill you without a good enough reason, but we can incapacitate you,” I said, lowering my gun. I leaned towards the Colonel and pointed at Pete’s lower extremities. “Colonel, how about if you and I take the use of his legs? Or perhaps his feet? He could stay in bed while we-”

“Woah! Hold on!” Pete interjected loudly. “Before the two of you get any ideas and shoot me

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Chapter 169 Ace Up My Sleeve

may I remind you, Noah, that there’s still a small issue concerning a certain Virtue Sullivan.”

“What do you mean, Pete?” I asked, annoyed.

“If, for whatever reason, I don’t show up to collect Virtue, I gave instructions to the delivery man to slit her throat,” he answered, a small smile tugging at the ends of his lips. “Since she seems to be very important to you, I somehow sense that a lifeless Virtue won’t be of any use to you. Am I right, Noah?”

F uck! I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. Needless to say, I had to rethink my plans and come up with a new strategy. For sure, I needed to keep an eye on this vulture, clone his phone and listen in on all of his conversations.

While I took a moment to come up with a plan to keep tabs on him at all times, Pete suddenly snorted with laughter, pleased at the apparent distress he was causing. As he continued to snort away, the Colonel and I looked on with disgust. The injuries he sustained from Ariana and her men made him sound like a pig with a bad cold.

“That’s right, gentlemen. I have an ace up my sleeve,” Pete said, after he composed himself. “So get this through your thick skull, Noah… I am still your boss. You, Capo Villegas, you work for me… whether you like it or not.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest, then

shook his head, acting like a disappointed parent scolding a child. “When this is all over, I’ll make sure you’ll pay for your mistakes. Maybe a good spa nking will do the trick.”

The Colonel chuckled, impressed that Pete still had the balls to threaten me when he was

outnumbered two to one. I rolled my eyes at the Colonel, urging him not to encourage Pete

any further. The Colonel coughed and quickly composed himself.

rebutted. “The only reason why you’re still breathing is because you’re considered family to Doña Ortiz. Sure, you may be important to the Consigliere, but not important enough for him to disobey a direct order. For your information, Doña Ortiz instructed the Consigliere

the delivery man knows what you look like. All I

You won’t be

as long as I show up with his money, the goods will be delivered to me, no questions asked,” I said, cutting him off and calling

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sweat, a tell-tale sign that I had backed him into a corner. “The way I see it, you have two choices. You can either agree to the

his expression change from anger to fear at the mention of Joy’s

nowhere, she has come back to haunt us… or rather, hunt us. It was an

hatched to mock us and scare

back for retribution. But the mere thought of Joy on a killing spree was a

my face because Pete’s mouth curved upward into a knowing grin. “I can see you’re worried as well. What’s wrong, Noah? Are you scared your bestfriend might find out who orchestrated the whole thing?” He asked, his

I wasn’t going

up the ante. “You know, Pete, when I spoke with Doña Ortiz, I pointed out to her that there wouldn’t be a need to step aside if Joy presented herself. All Joy really

she’s the one who killed my mother,

the possibility.

Pete.

doubted Joy was Cynthia’s killer. She couldn’t even kill a c ockro

alone a human being.

in Texas, I was caught off guard when Veronica Ortiz mentioned Joy Taylor. I asked her how she came to know that name, but

concern me,

knew Joy Taylor and I told her Joy was a sweet girl who couldn’t hurt a fly.

aside if Iov

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Ace Up My

Péte’s frightful eyes and decided it would be better

Taylor.

one with a big enough grudge, Pete,” I remarked. “If she’s back to take her revenge, she’ll probably kill every single person involved

obviously interested in Joy. I had to move things along or I would be stuck trying

Joy Taylor was my first… The first person

time

the passenger’s seat while I assist this tub of lard into his seat?” I was going to teach Pete a

lowered his gun and walked to

car.

gun in my hand and hit Pete on the side of his head. He

sanctioned by Doña Ortiz herself. So get your

to you injured,” Pete replied harshly, wincing as he massaged his

it into your as shole? Ariana did say

I smirked, remembering how Ariana and her goons defiled Pete while her father and I watched from the Smart TV at

and slowly raised his hands

but follow. He gingerly entered the driver’s side of the car, placed both feet inside and relunctantly reached

the handle.

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