Nicco: Devil's Spawn Book 1

Ch. 40: The Hell That Must Be Raised

ARIA

Jaime gave me twenty-four hours to prove that Nicco isn't the one blackmailing them. Or else our sex tape will go public. I think I've contained the situation.

For now.

***

"It can't be him."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because all Nicco does every day in the office is scroll through TikToks and complain about how much he hates being forced to work at Jackson & James."

"I've heard rumors of him being a useless shithead, but I wasn't sure if it was an act."

"It's definitely not an act."

Over the next ten minutes, I manage to convince Jaime that Nicco wasn't the one blackmailing Manning and his men. I argue that Nicco simply doesn't have an interest in anything other than pursuing his own selfish pleasures, and, even if the guy wanted to blackmail someone, he possesses neither the drive nor brain power to plan something so elaborate.

When Jaime questions whether or not Nicco was as incompetent as I made him appear, I lie and claim that I'd pretty much been doing 90% of Nicco's job for him since day one. Then, I use Jaime's hatred for his cousin to my advantage. I bring up every fucking thing Elonzo had ever done to piss him off. I also remind him—Elonzo possesses every motive to blackmail Manning's men now that he's out of prison.

For now, Jaime seems to believe me.

Because he hasn't released the tape.

I'm beginning to suspect, however, that Nicco had something to do with the blackmail. The timing of his dinner with Bertie and this incident is too coincidental to be overlooked.

***

I'm meeting Nicco's sister for the first time today, but my mind is restless. I haven't been able to concentrate on anything except what must be done to take down Jaime. I hope Nicco hasn't noticed how stressed I've been these past few days. I still haven't told him about my meeting with Manning. Or the fact that I'm now in regular contact with Jaime.

Because the timing's never right.

Because shit keeps escalating.

Because Jaime still scares the hell out of me.

I feel like a coward who's full of excuses. But the chessboard won't stop shifting, and, as my strategy adapts to it, I realize, once again, that the less Nicco knows, the more I can protect him. Manning has too many people working under him on the Gravinski account. He's untouchable at Jackson & James as far as I'm concerned. If I try to rat him out, his entire army will come for my throat to protect their livelihoods and reputations.

I've also confirmed that Appa is working with Manning. I looked through his old laptop the other day, and I found some emails and documents on it proving that he's guilty as fuck. Now I can't go to the authorities without risking his neck, too. Not that I trust the police, anyway. Last time, I tried to get them to take care of Jaime. They failed to do their job. Jaime somehow wormed his way out of a ten-year prison sentence.

These are all the reasons why, this second time around, I've decided to take matters into my own hands. Money is the sole reason why Jaime has the power and connections to get away with murder. Therefore, I need to diminish his scope of influence. I'm not afraid to break a few more laws if it means I can make Jaime's millions disappear into thin air.

Once the incoming assets from Donovan Baxter's new clients merge with the cash sitting in the Gravinski account, Manning plans to invest Jaime's dirty cartel money in clean stocks and real estate.