“You just admitted you’re a self-serving prick. So, what does my leaving get you? For that matter, how does my staying affect you either?” I hear Aiden snort but ignore it.
“We go back to stalemate if you leave. We maintain the status quo. If you stay, you risk what I’ve built.”
“Whatyoubuilt?” Dax scoffs. “What exactly do you think you’ve built, Frank?”
“You know what I mean…” Frank argues, clearly taking some kind of accountability for Dax’s position in Trevainne. Dax must think so too because the next words out of his mouth say what I’m thinking.
“What do you have that won’t turn to dust if I leave Trevainne right now? Because if she goes, I go. How about that for your status quo?”
“Don’t be a fucking child, Dean!” Frank shouts, but the use of Dax’s real name only seems to spur him on.
“UACT is ready to take over this at any time, right, Aid?”
“Whenever you think you’re done,” Aiden agrees.
Frank hisses. “And the kids? What about your promise to Celeste? What happens to Sylvie or Tom if you up and leave?” Frank argues, shifting focus.
“Without my vendetta, Sylvie will have the chance at a life like anybody else,” Dax admits.
I can’t help but wonder why he insists on continuing then? Is Sylvie’s welfare less important than a vendetta? What are Dax’spriorities?
“You mean you’d take everything from her?” Frank continues arguing.
“Sylvie is taken care of. You know that as well as I do.”
I’m very aware I am not privy to what they are discussing, but it doesn’t take a genius to realise we’ll keep going round in circles unless I finish what I started. So, I interrupt with, “What’s your endgame, Frank?”
“What’s yours, Joslyn?”
I won’t deny my real name hits like a slap to the face. I try not to show it, but my tone is colder than ever. “You first.”
“Same as Dean’s. Take down Franz. Take down Hanson. Make Harrison what it should be.”
“Really? Because you’ve not seemed invested for a while now,” Dax fires back.
“Fuck you. I’m more invested than you two love-struck dipshits running around after a fucking target, like she’s got a fucking candy pussy. No offence, kid.”
“Some taken,” I fire back at the jumped-up prick before calming enough to answer his question about what I want. “I want to graduate. I want a future. I want family…in whatever form that takes. I want my home to be a safe space for my siblings. I don’t care about Hanson or Franz or UACT oryou. Still, I don’t want to bring harm to others either. So, I’ll take what you’ve said into consideration. That’s the best I can offer you, Frank.”
“It’s better than nothing,” he accepts.
“True. Now, you all need to get back on the same page and stop fighting each other. I’m not here to cause problems. I’m hoping for solutions.”
“Short of killing Franz and his deputies…” Dax grumbles, shooting a glance at Aiden, who rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, I had the same thoughts,” I admit, surprising them both if their wide eyes are any sign. “Which reminds me, Kokosaid if you’re planning on hitting Franz,‘Hit the enforcers first, then the generals. They’re a hydra…you need to behead them all at once,’” I inform them, recalling Koko’s message word for word.
“Koko? I guess you can’t get better than advice from Franz’s best ex-enforcer,” Aiden acknowledges, his brows furrowing before he turns to glance out the window. If I had to guess, I’d say he was at least considering Koko’s advice.
“Koko?” Frank asks.
“Used to go by Mal,” Dax clarifies, like he didn’t once ask Aiden the same question.
Frank’s face falls. He shoots me a glare in the rear-view mirror. “How the fuck do you know Mal?”
“He’s family,” I tell him, and realise that’s true. He’s more family than Eric or even Carlo.
“He’s still here? In the city?” Frank presses. There’s a tone of incredulity in his words that piques my interest.
