The Revenger's System

76. Shifting Loyalty

Ryan couldn’t think straight.

His mind kept reverting to his past, where he was nothing more than a punching bag for his own father. Days spent in the cold, dark room, hiding from the nightmare that could come to him even when the sky was bright and his eyes open. If he could get out before the beating session began, then he’d go to the woods behind their house.

It had been seven days since his father returned to his life. It had been three days since the stack of papers sat in the corner of his room, where the Crowne’s house assistants used to stay. It had been three days since Howard’s assistant, Devon Kev, started calling him twice a day to ask if he had signed the documents Howard left behind.

“I told you, I will never sign it!” Ryan said to his phone loudly before he ended the call. He didn’t know where Devon got his number, but it was to be expected. The Ashford wouldn’t be such a fearful family if they couldn’t even track someone’s number.

However, unlike before, Devon didn