King of Ashes: A Novel
by S. A. Cosby
Contents
Chapter Thirty-One
Overview
Summary
Neveah visits Keith in the hospital, where a nurse changes IV bags including a new blood thinner, and reveals they flushed his system of medications. Neveah confesses to her comatose father that she knows he killed her mother for being unfaithful, and resolves to stop being the family's caretaker. She decides to move him to a long-term care facility and never return, ending her self-imposed watch over the House of Carruthers.
Bruce Wallis, arriving for a double shift at Trout's, learns that the Ghost Town Crew has dumped Splodie's bullet-riddled, blood-soaked car nearby, tagged with a ghost graffiti. He recognizes that the BBB will retaliate violently.
Roman meets a drunk, wounded Torrent in the Kingdom bar. Torrent interrogates him about Splodie's last words, threatens him, and reveals he has unleashed Tranquil on the GTC. Roman admits he dislikes Torrent but pledges loyalty as an earner. Torrent also confronts Roman about speaking with Shade behind his back; Roman deflects.
Tranquil's retaliation devastates Jefferson Run: Esteban Trujillo and others are gunned down at a Coleman Park soccer game; Tommy Hernandez, his niece, and seven others are massacred at a quinceañera by motorcycle gunmen; and the Jefferson Run Vape and Tobacco Shop is bombed. The arson investigator recognizes Torrent is settling debts.
That night, a soaked, drunk Dante arrives at the crematory desperate over Cassidy's disappearance, fearing she is dead. Roman comforts him, implying Cassidy is gone, and promises the ordeal will end soon. After Dante falls asleep, Roman opens a crate in the oven room containing Cassidy's body—long black hair, peacefully composed—whispers an apology, and cremates her, having secretly ordered extra cremation boxes anticipating more deaths.
Who Appears
- Roman CarruthersConfronts a drunk Torrent, comforts grieving Dante, and secretly cremates Cassidy's body, having anticipated more deaths.
- Neveah CarruthersConfronts her comatose father about killing her mother, resolves to place him in long-term care and end her caretaker role.
- Dante CarruthersArrives drunk and soaked, devastated and certain Cassidy is dead, asking Roman when it will end.
- Torrent GilchristDrunk and wounded by Splodie's death, interrogates Roman, questions his contact with Shade, and unleashes Tranquil's brutal retaliation.
- Tranquil GilchristUnseen but executes Torrent's vengeance, orchestrating mass killings and the vape shop bombing across Jefferson Run.
- CassidyKilled off-page; her body, peaceful and composed, is delivered in a crate and cremated by Roman.
- KhalilImplied executor of Cassidy's death, delivering her body to the crematory per Roman's earlier order.
- Bruce WallisTrout's cook who discovers Splodie's bullet-riddled car and recognizes the coming BBB retaliation.
- DorothyHospital nurse who changes Keith's IVs and mentions flushing his system before adding a blood thinner.
- Keith CarruthersComatose in hospital; Neveah accuses him of murdering her mother and decides to stop visiting.
- Esteban TrujilloCollege student playing pickup soccer at Coleman Park, killed in Tranquil's machine-gun attack.
- Tommy HernandezGTC second-in-command killed with his niece and others at her quinceañera by motorcycle gunmen.
- ShadeBBB superior who has been calling Roman directly for updates, raising Torrent's suspicion.
- Lil GlockRapper client whom Roman scolds via video call for making a large investment without consulting him.