If You Make a Deal With a Shadow...

Chapter 32

"I think it's best for me to say this, I ain't no good. And your heart ain't something I should play with. So, let's get it understood. I ain't trying to ruin your life. If anything I just want to make it right."

- You Deserve by August Alsina

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"Come in," came Payton's gruff voice. He stood up just as Cyrus opened the bedroom door.

"Sir... We have found the boy," Cyrus explained.

Payton nodded as he thanked God in his head. "Okay. Bring him to me and I want to see Justin's body," he whispered. She was in the shower and he didn't want her to hear. He knew she didn't want anything to happen to Justin, but Payton was glad that the bastard was dead.

"Yet, there is still a problem, Boss," Cyrus says unevenly.

Payton eyed him with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

"The target was not killed and—" Cyrus was interrupted by Payton's loud outburst.

"Dámmit," he grabbed his phone quickly from the nightstand and dialed a number. He and Cyrus left the bedroom in a hurry. He immediately began barking orders into the phone as he and Cyrus walked down hallway to the conference room.

Aubrey heard the yelling from the shower and peeked into the hallway once she got out. Bryce was at her door and told her that she needed to wait inside. She tried to listen to what Payton was saying, but it was hard since the conference room door was shut. She wanted to know what was going on so after she threw on some chill clothes that were still in her closet she peeked out the room again. Bryce was nowhere to be found so she knew well enough that he had taken a bathroom break. She opened the door and walked to the conference room. She knocked, but she could hear Payton continue to yell into the phone.

"I told you guys specifically to fúcking kill Justin! Y'all can't follow one simple áss command? I wanted this problem solved a long time ago..." he paused. "Okay. I want Junior at my doorstep in less than ten minutes," he hung up.

Aubrey immediately opened the door. His shocked expression mirrored hers. "Payton," her voice cracked. "H-How could you? You said you wouldn't... kill him," she wrapped her arms around herself as if she was cold.

He was still in the state of shock as tears stained her beautiful face. Bryce appeared behind her, out of breath. He was supposed to make sure she didn't leave her room or hear anything. Payton shot him a quick glare.

He turned his gaze back to her and walked towards her. "Aubrey, baby, I..." he stopped himself as she backed away.

"I don't want to speak to you," she shook her head. "Where is my son?" she looked up at him with cold eyes.

"I—" his phone went off and he answered it quickly. "What is it?" he snapped. His eyes softened as he realized what was being said over the phone. "Okay. Thanks," he hung up and looked back at her.

"Where. Is. H—"

"Downstairs. Aubrey, h—"

She cut him off as she quickly pivoted on her heel and ran towards the descending stairs. The door opened and she ran to her son with open arms. He shrieked and met his mother halfway. She stood up and spun him around, her tears coming again.

"My baby. My beautiful baby," she cooed into his ear. Her prayers had been answered.

Aubrey brought him away from her body to look at him at arm's length. He began to babble about how Justin took him to so many places. Apparently they went to the zoo, mall, water park, a car show and to get his hair cut again. Junior also explained to her that his dad lied to him saying that Aubrey went on vacation so that was why he couldn't see or call her. She didn't correct him even though it made Aubrey boil in anger. She was just too happy that her baby was home and he was safe.