The Joy of Revenge by Sheila

CHAPTER 50 Joan Summers

Liam

Dan had a smirk on his face while I sat, thinking. I thought I was done after Joan Summers,

but when Dan said that sleazebag had taken an interest in Virtue, I had a sinking feeling, this was just the beginning.

When Joan Summers walked into my office to ask for sponsorship for the Spring Formal, I was amazed Old Man Eugene had a beautiful and bright young granddaughter, a stark contrast to him and his son Edward who looked like hillbillies. Her long thick auburn hair was tied up in a simple ponytail and her bright brown eyes looked so happy and carefree. She was dressed simply in a white blouse and a pair of jeans when she came to see me, but her simplicity was charming. While she talked about herself, she circled the chessboard resting on the old wooden table of my grandfather, eyeing it curiously. I asked her if she knew how to play chess and she said she was part of the chess club. So while we played, she

gave me her pitch for the Spring Formal. That was the start of our friendship.

I visited her in school sometimes, just to say hi, while she would come to the office for a quick game of chess after office hours. We didn’t speak much throughout the game, but after each session we felt more relaxed. Unfortunately, our new found friendship came to a halt

when

igene forbade her from seeing me and started telling everyone how much of and how we Cohens were land grabbers.

for photos during the Spring Formal of New Salem High, she went missing. I en search for her, but they couldn’t find her. It wasn’t like her to leave; the Spring al was the culmination of her presidency. As the dance went on without her, I could ly feel dread and despair.

The boss called a week later, telling me to clean up his mess as payback for the time he and his mother helped us when we f ucked up the Taylor job. I didn’t understand what he meant, but when I arrived at his secluded home in Bismarck, it hit me. Joan Summers was inside.

was tin

I thought she was dead. She up to the bed at the far end of the basement, naked except for her torn gown. Her body was completely covered in bruises, burn marks and wounds. I ordered my men to prepare the body bag and untie her from the bed, but she suddenly opened her eyes and began to scream. One of my men took his gun and hit her in the head to shut her up.

An image of Joy Taylor tied up on the bench press, bleeding, flashed before my eyes.

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CHAPTER 50 Joan Summers

“Kill her and bury her body where no one can find her, I said, gagging. I covered my mouth and took a deep breath to stop myself from puking. The smell was horrible.

“How do you want us to kill her?”

“Shoot her, strangle her, hit her on her head, stab her… I don’t care. Just do it!” I yelled, quickly leaving the basement. I ran to the kitchen and vomited into the kitchen sink, remembering Joy’s so bs as she tried to free herself from her restraints.

As I washed the puke from the sink, an image of the bench press we used suddenly entered my mind, but instead of Joy Taylor, it was Joan I saw tied up and crying out, her blood dripping from her injuries, and I puked again.

F uck! Now, he wants Virtue. That night when we all met at the pub, I saw him standing across the street staring at someone having dinner at Harold’s as Henry and I drove by. I told Henry to stop the car, so I could watch. That’s when I saw Virtue come out with Noah.

I know it was reckless of me to follow her home that night, however when I saw the silver Audi parked a couple of blocks away, I decided it was best if I accompanied them home.

“I’ll go see him Friday night. I’ll get details and convince him it isn’t in our best interest to cause another scandal,” I told Dan, Jack and Cris, Jack, you and I have to talk. I’ll see you at my office around ten?”

Sure, I’ll be there,” Jack answered, nodding his head sadly.

“Dan, Virtue is new in town and seeking new friends. Tell him to invite Virtue for some coffee or better yet, tell him to bring coffee and maybe a box of pastries for her. Bo’s new bakery serves really good pastries and has many to chose from,” I suggested.

“I can’t do the impossible-”

“Dan, tell us what you really want to say… that you don’t give a sh it. All that matters to you is the money,” I hissed at him. “Everyone in this town thinks I’m a monster. Although I don’t

like it, it keeps the town’s folk submissive. Why don’t I leak the recording I have of you telling us to rape and torture Joy Taylor for one hundred fifty thousand so you can join in on

the fun?”

“It’s not my fault people think of you that way Liam,” Dan scoffed. “You were Joy Taylor’s. date at the Spring Formal, you were spotted at New Salem High talking to Joan Summers, and you were in a group chat with her. Oh, don’t forget that fact that your men killed her. It’s

just the same as you pulling the trigger.”

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CHAPTER 50 Joan Summers

I stood up and grabbed Dan by the collar of his designer trench coat. “My men had to kill her to silence her or she and her grandfather would have pointed their fingers at you, your precious little boss, and whoever else had their way with her. All of you were her captors, molesters, and tormentors,” I said through clenched teeth. “I was just the clean up crew… repaying a debt from the Joy Taylor assault.” I let go off him, disgusted.

“That’s w

where you’re wrong, Liam,” Dan said, stretching his neck and fixing himself. “I only assisted in the abduction. It was the only way to lure Joan Summers away from the party. I thought you were one of her captors, molesters and tormentors… along with your father.” Go d, I wanted to punch him in the face.

“She was like a sister to me, Dan,” I sat down, lowering my face. “We liked playing chess against each other. That was all.” I closed my eyes from the pain. Remembering her…hurt. “I didn’t have the guts to kill her myself, so I had my men do it.” I shook my head. “They did a really great job of burying her. Well, as they say, if you want the job done, better do it yourself.’

“Hey, Liam,” Jack said mournfully, “I’m really sorry, man…”

“The hell you are, Jack!” I yelled at him. I inhaled deeply to calm myself. “Dan, announcing he wants Virtue only means one thing… he needs all four of us to abduct her and he will use whatever evidence he has against us to get what he wants.”

the assault and death of Joan Summers,” Cris added sullenly.

nas nothing to do with you, Cris,” I argued. I stared at him and was shocked to see it in is soulless eyes. “You raped her, didn’t you?! You f ucking t wat!”

I punched him in the face, took out my gun and aimed it at his head. “Do you know I vomited when I saw her, naked on the bed in that filthy basement, unrecognizable, with bruises, welts, burns and wounds all over her body? If it weren’t for her auburn hair… Why, Cris? Why?!”

“I’m s-sorry, L-Liam, b-but…”

“But what?!”

I didn’t notice I was crying. All the heartache I had kept inside just came bursting out through my eyes. I wiped my face, shocked to find my cheeks wet with tears.

“Liam, calm down. We’re friends, remember?” Jack said calmly to deescalate the situation, his hands spread out in surrender while he slowly approached me.

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CHAPTER 50 Joan Summers

Jack quickly took the gun from my hand and gave me a hug.

“Jack, we have to do something,” I whispered in his ear. “We can’t let them do that to Virtue.“ Jack nodded his head, patted me on the back and let me go.

“It’s time to put an end to this meeting. You guys need to go home and get some sleep,” he said. “Liam, I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll keep your gun for now, but I’ll bring it over when I see you tomorrow.”.

Jack reached down and helped Cris up. “Put some ice on your face when you get home.” He crossed his arms and shook his head. “Guys, I’m really disturbed hearing all of this. Honestly, Liam, I actually thought it was you, because of all the sh it Old Man Eugene has been saying behind your back.” Jack looked at Dan. “Dan, you have to tell the boss to lay low. It’s reelection. If we want to keep Liam and Cris in town hall, women in this town shouldn’t go missing or worse, shouldn’t pop up dead. I heard Sarah Hughes is gaining popularity in the mayoral race. If we continue to be reckless, we will risk it all.” Jack opened the door and gestured for us to leave. “Now go home. What is done, is done. Tomorrow is a new day.

1 entered my

y car and told Henry to drive back to the mansion. I leaned back and stared outside while he drove, extremely exhausted.

I bit my fist as I imagined Virtue tied up, bruised and wounded. I imagined her being raped

dused as a punching bag. I imagined her lifeless body after cracking her skull and I

open

nauseous.

I did it once. Once was enough.

Henry stopped the car at the entrance of the mansion. Leo, one of our new guards, opened

the door for me.

“Good evening, Sir,” he said. Leo was tall and muscular, his red hair cut short. He was hired along with another, a blonde-haired man by the name of Benny. I remember reading in their file they were trained mercenaries and whatever I needed done was right in their area of . expertise.

I’ll play along. If the boss still wants Virtue even if Dan tells him to wait until election is

over,

then I’ll promise I’ll bring Virtue to him. While he waits in that secluded house he has in Bismarck, I’ll have Leo and Benny put one in his chest and one in his head.

Then, I’ll have them kill whomever gets in my way.

After it’s done, this town will be mine.

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CHAPTER 50 Joan Summers

But before I clean up this town, I needed to keep an eye on my friends. Two in particular.

Chapter Comments

Louise

The twist. It was Dan all along.

Luna-Mom

dan your playing with fire now my boy

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