CHAPTER 92 A Surprise
Joy
When I opened my eyes, I expected to see Xavier sleeping beside me. But to my surprise, he
wasn’t there.
“If you’re looking for Bo, he’s been up hours ago a familiar masculine voice said.
I rolled over and saw Sebastian sitting behind my desk. I quickly sat up, my breasts peeking out
through my negligee.
“What time is it?” I asked, yawning. I quickly covered my mouth, realizing I had morning
breath. Ew.
Sebastian chuckled at my reaction. “It’s almost nine. We decided to let you sleep afterst night,” he
said.
“When did you get in?” I asked, stretching my arms above my head to wake myself up. I pushed the
nkets aside and put on my bunny slippers.
“Early morning. Your, uhm, rescue operation caused quite the stir. Everyone is-”
“Hold that thought,” I interrupted. I reached for my robe which was hanging behind my office door. “Let
me brush my teeth first.”
“Sure. I’ll prepare breakfast for you while I wait, Sebastian said.
I opened the door and bumped into a muscr sweaty chest. I looked up and found Cristo shirtless, in
faded blue jeans.
“Oops,” I mumbled, covering my mouth with my robe. “Need to brush.” Cristos opened the bathroom
door for me, moved aside and gestured for me to walk in. I stared up at him, one of my eyebrows
raised, questioning why he was here so early. I was about to ask when he pushed me into the
bathroom.
“I can smell your morning breath. Brush.” He closed the door hurriedly without giving me a chance to
speak.
After using the toilet, I brushed my teeth, still trying to figure out why Cristos was here. I quickly rinsedContent (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.
my mouth and walked out of the bathroom, only to find Xavier handing
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CHAPTER 92 A Surprise
combos under his trusty blue apron which he usually wore when manning the shelves at
Bo’s.
“What’s going on?” I asked, demanding a straightforward answer.
“Breakfast, Xavier answered, opening my office door. “I brought those croissants you like.” He grabbed
my arm and practically dragged me into my office.
“Ow,” I eximed, pping his hand away. “I usually like being manhandled by the three of you, but
you guys are acting weird.” I suddenly paused, my eyes widening into saucers, as a theory formed in
my head. “Oh my gosh! Did they find out it was mest night? Are they going to arrest me? Is the
Sheriff here? Should I run?”
Xavierughed. “Eat your breakfast, Virtue. We’ll see youter.” He winked and closed the door. I
turned around to find Sebastian cing a croissant on a te with some cheese on
desk. the side. Tworge red mugs of coffee were sitting on my
Cappino. Just how you like it,” Sebastian said. “Sit.”
I shrugged my shoulders and sat down behind my desk, grabbing a mug. I raised the mug to my nose,
inhaling the cappino’s rich scent. If this was myst meal, I better make the most of it.
Sebastian had already fixed my sofa bed and had tidied up while I was in the bathroom. He sat down in
one of the chairs in front of my desk, grabbed his mug and sipped his coffee.
“What is going on, Dom?” I asked before taking a sip of my coffee.
“Ma wanted me to personally thank you for saving her mother. In exchange, she gave me. the
location of Pete’s safehouse in Bismarck and has also told me some other usef information.
Unfortunately, she doesn’t know the identity of Pete’s capo. She said no one knows exactly who it may
be. Ma suspects it may be Cris, but he doesn’t quite fit the profile. I’m waiting for De Luca to tell me if
he’s gotten some info from his contact in the FBI,” Sebastian said.
“What happens to Ma now?” I asked before taking a bite of my croissant. It was so fluffy, it practically
melted in my mouth. I closed my eyes blissfully, savoring it’s buttery taste.
“I’ve sent her and her mother to Vegas. She makes a good spy. I’ve employed her to get useful
information from the crime bosses who happen to make their way to my club,” he said, leaning back in
his chair.
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CHAPTER 92 A Surprise
“Did you tell her about us?” I asked before realizing my mistake.”What I meant was this whole thing we
got going on.”
“About us being a rival organization? Somewhat he answered. “About Joy Taylor? No. About me being
in love with you? Yes. It broke her heart, but she said she suspected. She hopes she can be you
someday.” I blushed as his honey-colored eyes stared at me. I felt my heart sk ip a
beat.
“So, am I going to be arrested any time soon? Is this the reason why you guys are so nice to me?” I
asked. Sebastianughed.
“No, but we do have some bad news,” Sebastian said. “Seems the Sheriff found bricks of meth inside
Ma’s home including some high-powered weapons. She, her mother and unknown associates are
now wanted for the death of nine people. They have a witness, a young man named Ray Thomas who
went to school with Ma. ording to the Sheriff, Ray and the nine others were assets working
undercover for him. The police have been monitoring Ma and her mother for a long while now and
suspect them to be part of a drug trafficking ring.”
“Oh wow!” I mumbled, my mouth full with thest piece of my croissant. I couldn’t believe the Sheriff
could concoct such an inconceivable story.
“I have new identities for Ma and her mother waiting for them in Vegas and I have instructed Ma to
change her hair color and to wear contact lenses… and maybe get a tan, Sebastian assured me. “Right
now, I’m waiting for Sheriff Combs or Undersheriff Emery toe knocking on my door. The perks for
buying Ma a car and opening a bank ount for her.” He grimaced, annoyed at finding himself in the
middle of an investigation. “If they want their story to stick, they’ll conduct a search at Dom’s.”
“Do you need me to help you with anything?” I asked, standing up and grabbing my overnight bag. “I’ll
get dressed and-”
“I don’t need help from you, Virtue. Link is already here to represent me and I have CCTV cameras all
around my store and warehouse. If they nt evidence, we’ll catch them on camera,” he said. “Chip is
helping Bo hide what needs hiding. Right now, they’re installing a wall panel to hide Bo’s hidden office,
just in case they have a warrant to search his warehouse too.” No wonder Cristos is here.
“What about Old Man Eugene’s house?” I asked, wondering if Xavier’s men were still there.
“After Chip heard the news from Danst night, the ce is now clean and empty. The men are in
Mandan awaiting orders,” Sebastian answered. He coughed, clearing his throat.
“Thoro’s another bit of news Chin got from Danst night.”
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CHAPTER 92 A Surprise
“Yeah?” I asked absent-mindedly as I ced a pair of folded jeans and a bra on my desk. I opened the
small built-in closet and found the silk one shoulder scarlet floral blouse I was looking for. I had
forgotten I hung it there yesterday.
“Last night, Dan asked Chip if he could get your ring size and help him pick out a diamond ring for you,”
Sebastian said, amused.
“Why in the world would Dan want to buy a diamond ring for me?” I eximed, exasperated.
Has the world gonepletely insane?
“Dan isn’t the one who’ll be paying for the ring, Virtue,” Sebastian pointed out. I quickly spun around
and stared at him with my mouth wide open.
Even in my nightmares, I have never dreamt of being engaged to that monster.
“No way…”
“Yes way…”
“No!” I yelled. “I am NOT going to ept his proposal!” I took off my robe and myce gown. and
began to dress.
“Joy,” he said, reverting to my name. “If you get married without a pre-nup and Theodore Cohen dies,
you be the sole beneficiary of the Cohen estate once Liam is dead. As you know, Theodore
Cohen is in the hospital. I only need to make a call to instruct the nurse administer some insulin into his
IV line.”
“I don’t need his money, Dom,” I said, putting on some rust colored sandals.
“But wouldn’t it feel good to burn his house down?” Dom asked. I rolled my
y eyes at him.
“I have a deadline. I want this done as soon as possible, so I can go back to California,” I argued.
“Then, get married as soon as possible and kill him once you go off on your honeymoon,” Sebastian
suggested casually like it was the easiest thing.
“Why are you pushing this, Sebastian?” I asked, using his real name. “What are you after?” I bent down
to look him in the eye.
“Well after much thought the three of us have decided we want the Blood Disciples to take/6
11:33 Fri, Mar 29 MD
CHAPTER 92 A Surprise
I stomped my foot on the floor. Ugh! They have fallen in love with New Salem.
A knock on the door interrupted our conversation.
“The four of us need to talk before you finalize your decisions,” I said angrily. I fluffed my hair before
opening the door.
Xavier and Cristos took one look at my red face and instantly knew my conversation with Sebastian
didn’t go so well.
“Dom, they’re looking for you next door,” Cristos said. “And, ah, Virtue, we have a surprise for
you.”
“I hope this surprise isn’t a wedding dress, a groom and a priest!” I hissed. Xavier tried to reach for my
hand to console me, but I pointed an using finger at him. “You were
ere meant to be? supposed to be on my side. What happened to we
“W-we are m-meant to be, it’s j-just-
“It’s just expanding your territory is more important to you than me!” I inhaled deeply and. let out an
angry breath. “So where’s this surprise?”.
“Take a look.” Cristos pointed to the inside of my shop.
All the items that were packed in the boxes were either hanging on the racks or ced neatly on the
shelves. Even the mannequins in the storefront windows were dressed in gowns that I had personally
designed.
My anger evaporated into air. I walked into the middle of my shop happily. It was ready to
open.
On the ss door, I read the name of my shop printed with bright colored vinyl lettering. I suddenly felt
a tug in my heart.
I silently wished it read Joy’s.
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The Joy of Revenge