The Scotch Series: The Complete Series (Scotch #1-3) - Penelope Sky Page 0,250

I can’t afford a distraction right now.”

I expected him to mention London, but he never did. He probably expected me to mention her too, but now wasn’t the time. It wasn’t like Joseph had anything to say to make me feel better. He never wanted me to be with his sister anyway. “Okay.”

I sat on the line and listened. Joseph’s fingers hit the keyboard in the background, and I could hear our men radio in while they took their positions. We decided to split the men down the middle, fifty-fifty. It made us both equally involved and equally in charge, even though Joseph was running the operation.

“Family left,” Joseph reported. “They’re in and looting everything.”

I could hear the men speaking over the intercom, so I was aware of the situation.

Joseph conversed with his teammates as his fingers struck the keyboard. “Wiring in place…ulterior route is in action.”

I listened in silence.

“It went through,” Joseph said without emotion. It didn’t seem like he cared that he just received forty million dollars.

“What about him?” I asked.

Joseph conversed with his men over the line. “He just left the building. He’s getting into the car.”

This was the moment I’d been looking forward to. If I didn’t have such a reputation, I would have pulled the trigger myself. But this was how it had to be. I had to have a concrete alibi when all of this went down.

I interlocked my fingers, and it was the first time I didn’t think about London. The death of my greatest enemy was the only thing strong enough to distract me. I hardly breathed as I listened, not wanting to miss a word.

Gunshots went off in the background.

“What’s your status?” Joseph asked.

A guy spoke over the intercom. “Driver is knocked out. Target is dead. Two bullets in the skull.”

I leaned back in my chair and smiled, feeling the sense of revenge wash over me. If I were really cruel, I could have killed his entire family instead and allowed him to live with the heartache. If you asked me, my actions were merciful. I got the revenge I deserved, and that asshole got what was coming to him.

“Did you hear that, Crewe?” Joseph asked.

“Yes.” My smile dropped once the weight of the truth had sunk in. That asshole was really gone. My family was finally avenged.

“I’ll give you an update on the house—”

“Couldn’t care less.” The only thing I cared about had been taken care of. “Great job, Joseph. It was a pleasure working with you.”

“No problem. Thanks for the muscle.”

“Sure.” I hung up before he could say anything. I didn’t want there to be an opportunity for London to be mentioned.

She was the last thing I wanted to talk about.

“I heard the good news.” Ariel walked into my office before lunchtime.

I rubbed my temple and stared out the window. “What good news?” A cold glass of scotch was in my hand—the seventh one since this morning.

“That you killed that dirtbag.” She sat on the sofa across from me.

The room was spinning, and the lights were too bright. My head ached like my skull had been cracked, so I placed the glass right against my head. I closed my eyes and tried to absorb the coldness, but it didn’t make a difference.

“You doing okay?”

“Fine.”

Ariel opened her notebook. “I think we should talk about the offer from Constantin. I think expanding would be good.”

“Who’s Constantin?”

“The man we had lunch with yesterday,” she said calmly.

I couldn’t remember him. “Oh…whatever you think is best.” I opened my eyes and looked out the window again. The room was spinning harder than before. I could barely keep my eyes open because it was so bright. Every other second, I thought of London, and that made me feel a million times worse. I slowly slid sideways and spilled the drink all over me.

“Crewe, are you sure you’re okay?” Ariel leapt up and grabbed the glass out of my hand before I could spill it everywhere.

“I said I was fine.” I lay back on the couch and propped my feet up. “I’m just…”

She placed her palm against my forehead.

I smacked her away. “Don’t fucking touch me.” Ariel hadn’t done anything to me, but I was so angry at the entire world that everyone was a target. I hated all of my employees. I hated anyone who was happy. “Go touch Cassandra.”

Ariel didn’t rise to my anger. “I’m calling the doctor. I think you have alcohol poisoning.”

“Are you a doctor now?” I snapped. “Just shut the fuck