Chapter 24

"What? Why are you looking at me like that? Jackson asked.

“Let's work together, from now onwards. I will only run things behind the scenes while you will be the leader.”

“What do you have in mind?

“First, I need your help to take care of personal business, but in the meantime, no one can know about our clan’s existence. We need to be like ghosts.”

“What about Kevin? Don’t you think that poor boy will be heartbroken? Everyone needs a bit of love even you.”

“No. After everything I have done… No. To avenge Kevin was my whole reason for living in the first place, but now that he is alive. I have to return the favor to those that betrayed me. I will pay them back in tenth folds in what they did to me.”

Jackson stared at Alice's cold glare. Her eyes shone with pure hatred in them.

“Who will fund our operation?” Jackson asked out of curiosity.

“Me.”

“Okay then. Sounds fun. I’m in. So, partner, what's the plan, and who is the target?”

“The Berardi clan”

Jackson’s eyebrows raised shocked by her words. “You want to take out the whole clan?”

“Yes,” Alice said without hesitation.

“Ha. Don’t you think is a suicide mission?”

“No, we will take them down with them even knowing until it's too late.”

“Okay. I like a challenge. But I have a question, you asked me about my family business, now I want to know about yours. You have no brothers or sisters, so you are the heir to your family business and clan. Why destroy everything that would one day be yours?” Jackson asked with great interest.

Alice stared at him for a while without showing any sign of sadness.

“Khan has been lying to me from the start, so I gather he is using me as a scapegoat. He will dispose of me once my purpose is done. Khan told me my father was the one behind my assassination and Kevin's death. But Kevin is alive. So, I guess the assassination was also a lie. I presume he wants me to kill my father on his behalf. Once I do that the whole clan will turn on me, they will either kill me or torture me to death. If that happens, he will take over the business and the clan because he has always been second in command before I came along.”

“Okay, then,” Jackson responded knowing well what impact each decision they make from here on out can cause.

“The other thing that keeps bothering me is, why would my father adopt me only to kill me in the end? What was his whole purpose?”

“How sure are you, your father wants you dead?” Jackson asked,

“I can ensure you Khan had told my father false information about me to make my father doubt me. My father hates betrayal. He does not care who you are. If you have betrayed him, he will kill you without question.”

Jackson jumped off the bags and dust his hands off. He turned and examined the salt factory,

“This is a nice place and all. But how are we going to use it as a base when everything is out in the open?” Jackson asked.

“Follow me,” Alice said then walked toward the corner of the factory. She bends down and opens a steel door. Without looking at Jackson she went down the stairs. Jackson clapped his hands together excitedly and followed behind.

Alice flipped a switch, and a big underground hall was in front of them. Alice walked future showing each room to Jackson. She stopped at a steel door at the end of the hall.

“This will be the torture room. I leave everything to you. You can do with the place as you see fit. We will operate as a recycling company as a front. You are in charge of appointing trustworthy people. I will come to check them out once everything is settled.”

“Okay,” Jackson said as he looked around the place. His expression looked like a child in a candy store.

"And Jackson.”

Jackson looked at Alice, “Don’t fuck this up or betray me. I always have a plan b.”

Jackson grinned at the coldness in her tone. “It’s an honor to work with you, Alice. I know what you can do. I would rather work with you than be against you, and besides, you are providing me with such a great opportunity, I would be a fool to mess it up or betray you. I only gain out of this transaction.”

“Okay good. Start tomorrow with all the arrangements and keep me updated. I will also send some people over that I have recruited and trust I will send you the files on them,”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Let's go. Alice said as she started walking off.

Outside, Alice walked to the back of the car and open the car boot. She took out a duffel bag and handed it to Jackson. Here is cash to start with.

Jackson took it from her and place it in his car.

“I will talk to you soon. Wait for my call.”

“Will do,” Jackson said as he leaned with his back against his car.

Alice climbed into her car and drove away.

“Don’t come into my home without my permission,”

Alice said as she walked past the living area towards her room.

Khan laid back against the chair. He stood up and followed behind her.

“You did not pick up my calls. Where were you?” He asked as he leaned against the doorframe looking at Alice who sat on the bed and was busy taking her shoes off.

Alice ignored him and stood up. As she wanted to walk past him, he grabbed her arm.

Alice looked at his hand and then at him.

“You have five seconds to remove your clutches from me or I will remove it myself. You know I don’t like being touched.”

Khan did not remove his hand but only deepen his stare at her.

“You dare challenge me.”