Free Billionaire Misery by Lexy Timms Page A

people downstairs, many of them high-ranking political figures. There were a few multimillionaires who held legitimate businesses and even more who, like Wilkes, ran illegal businesses as well as their legitimate businesses. She’d also spotted an elusive cartel official down there, and a few presidential campaign hopefuls.
    Killing Wilkes now was out of the question.
    Maybe getting out of there was too.
    Katie had begun to cry silently.
    Morgan had one hand on her shoulder, and the black hatred in his face when he looked at Wilkes was boundless. “You sonofabitch. You painted a target on her back that will never go away, and you know it.”
    Wilkes shrugged. “Oh, those men are long dead now. No worries there. But since she was still alive, I sent her to the best schools, and made sure she had the ability to run a large corporation. She never would have known about the other side of my business, and if she’d behaved, she’d have married well and had a nice life. Imagine my shock when she started hanging around you lot.” He laughed and pointed at Katie and then her brother. “There was a moment there when I was wondering if she’d fall for Craig. That would have been complicated.”
    Morgan shook all over. His rage was so palpable Jessie felt the force of it. Craig stood close to her, but she didn’t dare go near him. Her emotions were too confused, and her thoughts too chaotic and wild. She loved him.
    She loved him.
    And she hated him too.
    Her eyes went back to Katie.
    She’d always liked Katie, and she had always known Katie had no idea about what was going on with her father. Looking at her now, Jessie could see the last vestiges of love and hope Katie had had for her father draining right out of her soul.
    Her heart went out to her. This wasn’t what she’d wanted. She’d wanted revenge on Wilkes, but she’d never imagined how far he was willing to go to hurt everyone around him.
    She took a long breath, gathered herself, and slipped her hand by the slit of her dress. Years of experience on the force kicked in. “We’re leaving, Wilkes. You try to stop us and you’ll die. I don’t care how that happens, but you will die. And Craig, if you try to keep me from killing him, I’ll fucking kill you too.”
    Hurt and sorrow rose up in Craig’s face.
    Jessie’s heart ached. She didn’t want this. She’d never wanted this, but this is where they were. Her whole body ached, and she said, “I mean it. If anyone wants to go with me, feel free. I’m leaving, though, and I am doing it now.”
    Wilkes smiled a thin and vicious smile. “You won’t get five feet. Half the cops in the city are downstairs.”
    Jessie hissed, “Yes, but I outrank them. I’m their fucking boss, and they have no right to interfere with my investigation. The DEA trumps all, Wilkes.”
    It was Craig’s turn to look stunned. “You’re a cop?”
    She was going to tell him; she just hadn’t wanted to tell him like this. “I’m sorry, Craig.”
    Morgan spun around and glared at her. “You put some of my guys in the way of charges, and you did it while being part of us. That’s...”
    “I grew up in a crew,” Jessie said. Tears hovered on the edge of her vision but she blinked them back. “I grew up riding, and Wilkes killed my father and wrecked my life. I was in foster, and it was all due to him. I’m taking him down, with or without an ounce of help. I’m sorry I lied to you, but that’s done and I can’t change it.” She pulled her gun out of its holster. “I’m walking out of here. I’ll shoot anyone who gets in my way.”
    Craig stared at her with a look that hurt more than seeing her father on the floor. “Even me?”
    Tears created rainbows in her vision. She couldn’t afford tears, not now. “One call, Wilkes, and everyone at this little soirée goes down. Maybe you want to explain to the cartel boss is downstairs that you didn’t set him up for a trap.”
    Wilkes drew his lips away from his teeth.