Page 97 of Claimed By the Ruthless King

Anger judders through my body, but I contain the rage, encouraging my men to stay back, including Robert.

David follows my gaze, tipping his chin at an old friend. “Rob, nice to see you made it to the party. You were always a follower, weren’t you?”

“Seems like you’re the same,” he says. “What do you want?”

“Let’s make this simple.” David turns to his Crows, snapping his fingers.

One of the boys steps forward, his eyes full of hunger as he produces a document, handing it over to his leader.

Poison swims in his eyes, his face twisting into something cruel as he looks at me. I must be popular around here.

These boys will be fighting over who gets to kill me first.

And I don’t blame them. I stay away from the cameras. I don’t donate to good causes or present myself in likeable ways.

Like Vivian Bennett said, I sit on my throne of dead bodies, and I only fill my own cup. There are no good causes. Everything is tainted, nothing is genuine. Being liked just means you’re a good actor.

Why should I pretend to do good in the world when I know I’m bad?

David steps forward, handing over an official document and a pen.

“Sign your empire over to me, including Moretti Global and the rest of your assets.”

“And what happens if I refuse?”

David looks pointedly in Ophelia’s direction. Two Crows appear, each holding a gun at her temple.

I would give my life, every last fucking cent. But what happens when Ophelia and I leave here? Who do I become? How do I protect the sun when I have no means to my name? No power?

This doesn’t end in victory. If I sign on the dotted line and hand everything over, I lose everything.

David will never stop pushing. He eats away like a parasite until nothing remains, and if I hand everything over today, he will return and take Ophelia away.

He has never played fair. He never sticks to his word.

With no mafia, how do I defend Ophelia? How do I promise her a safe life if I have nothing?

I might win the battle tonight, but a war is coming.

The war commences tonight, and I claim victory.

I glance at Ophelia, catching her eyes. I need her to trust me.

“Some of us want to get some sleep tonight,” says David, hurrying me along. “What will it be, Moretti? The empire or the girl?”

“Both,” I say, barreling straight for David without hesitation.

My men act, bullets exploding. They charge toward the two boys, knocking the guns from their hands.

I sigh with relief, my Ophelia safe for the time being.

Robert and the rest of my men enter the room, heading over to the rest of the Crows.

Gunpowder smoke fills the room, distorting my vision. I squint through the haze, watching boys fall to the ground.

My heart flips, guilt slowing me down as I see multiple helpless boys fall.

They’re sacrificing themselves for a man who doesn’t even care.