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Chapter 24 (Ricardo)
I shift my Mustang into drive and slam down on the gas, enjoying what I know will be one of my very last drives in my favorite car.
I've never been one to make a decision out of haste or panic...I've always pla
And while the decision to take my own life is one people would call impulsive and maybe even selfish...I know it's the right one.
It's been 48 hours since that night, and although my solution goes against every basic human instinct to survive...I can't help but finally feel a sense of peace.
As long as I don't let myself think about her...
Because that's when the twinge of apprehension comes. When I realize I won't get to spend the rest of my life with her...that I won't get to see her rise from those ashes like she's meant to.
I know some people—namely Tyrone—would say this plan of mine isn't the answer and that I need to come up with something else.
But there is no other plan but this one...I know because I've been wracking my brain trying to think of a good one ever since Ernesto delivered his ultimatum.
Every other potential plan would involve using Lou-Lou as bait and putting her in harm's way. Which is not something I'm willing to do.
And while I know that sometimes you have to sacrifice the queen in order to win.
I refuse to.
I'm finally playing by my own rules in this messed up game now...just like the Deluca's have been playing by theirs.
Only in my game?
The fucked up king is the one who is sacrificed...this way the queen can win in the end.
My overall game plan is a simple, yet complicated one—because I need to kill Travine first...and then simultaneously manage to kill all the members of the DeLuca council, including myself; right after without putting everyone I love in harm's way, since the council will be gu
Ironically enough, killing the council is actually the easiest part of my plan—in part because I know they'll request a meeting right after Travine's death; giving me access to all of them under one roof.
At least I'm counting on it.
However, the only snag in that plan is the fact that I'm currently under their microscope, and the people I care about are targets—which means the second I kill Travine...they will go after Jackson, Tyrone, and Lou-Lou as punishment.
Since I can't be two places at once...I'm going to use the two weeks I still have left to set things up, put my affairs in order, and make sure they're protected.
But first, there's someone's trust that I need to earn back.
He won't know until after the ball has already been set in motion and there's no way it can be undone—because there's no doubt in my mind he wouldn't agree to this if he did—but Jackson's the one I'm counting on to look after everyone in my absence.
He's who I'm entrusting to protect the most important thing of all when I'm gone. Her.
It's not that I can't trust Tyrone to take care of her...I know he will.
But the fact of the matter is, even though Jackson and Tyrone are both made from the same inherently good molds, and they're both two of the best men I've ever known.
There's one monumental difference between them.
Jackson's killed before...Tyrone hasn't.
Tyrone loves selflessly...and while that's admirable...I can't depend on him to do this for me. Tyrone will just attempt to talk me out of my plan and put himself in direct danger trying to protect me at the last moment.
But Jackson?
When his back's against the wall and he has no other choice...he's got it in him to take a life, or multiple lives if need be for those he loves.
I know when push comes to shove and I finally lay it out on the line for him—and he knows it's my life or everyone else's—he'll protect everyone else, including Lou-Lou for me.
Which is why the very least I can do right now is take care of this problem for him. Give him a show of good faith that I'm on his side, because I know that ever since the vice-mayor was assassinated two days ago and that motherfucker Travine went on T.V. again and tried to pin the shit on me...he's had his doubts.
I'd also be lying if I didn't admit my own selfish reason behind doing this as well...I've wanted to kill Ford ever since Graham died all those years ago.
Ford's death has been a long time coming and I see absolutely no reason for that piece of waste to go on breathing any longer...it's time to start tying up some loose ends.
When I pull up to my secluded parking spot in the back of the complex, I find him waiting there with a pissed off expression on his face.
I slam on the brake. “Get in, asshole. We're about to do something that will cheer you up.”
He looks pensive as he makes his way over to the car. “Unless it involves beating the shit out of you, I'm not interested.”
“You can try, but we both know how well that will end for you. Besides, I have a better punching bag in mind for you to use.”
I reach for my pack of cigarettes and he begrudgingly gets in. “We're paying a visit to a certain—as your girl likes to call him— manipulating, bastard agent Ford.”
He looks out the window. “I guess this is your way of apologizing for being a manipulating bastard yourself and lying to me about the shit with the mayor?”
I press down on the gas. “I didn't lie to you, Jackson. I didn't think it was foul play a few days ago. Obviously that's changed now...but trust me I've got a plan.”
He folds his arms across his chest. “That's great and all...but why is Travine telling the media you're involved with both Gaffney and the vice-mayor's deaths?”
I lift a shoulder in a shrug. “Your guess is as good as mine. And my guess is that he's trying to provoke me to go after him.”
I look at him out of the corner of my eye. “And while I will be going after him eventually...I won't let him rile me up and incite me into giving him what he wants when he wants it.”
I exhale sharply, hoping my next statement will appease him until I can tell him the actual truth. “My father made a lot of fucked up decisions out of anger, Jackson. And those split second decisions weren't always smart. It got rid of the initial problem and threat...but all too often it created a dozen more problems for him.”
I take a drag off my cigarette. “But unlike DeLuca...I can't go around putting out all those fires right now because it's a distraction. One that I can't afford, not when I have something valuable that my enemies won't hesitate to take from me. I know that's not the answer you were hoping for, but that's all I've got for now. That's the honest to god truth.”
He nods, appearing to be lost in thought. “I don't like it, but I get it.” He types something on his phone. “Just do whatever you can to ensure that asshole doesn't become mayor. Alyssa's go
I grip the steering wheel. “He won't, Jackson. People aren't stupid, they know he's full of hot air. I don't even need to step in because they won't elect him...he doesn't have enough supporters and right now he just looks like another babbling, idiot politician throwing a tantrum and pointing the finger to distract from his own transgressions. In fact, him ru