My chest is heaving, heart pounding as his words sink in, to the very bones of me.
I look toward the door once more, before straightening my back. “Make sure to cry big ugly tears.” I grin, feeling that detached feeling wash over me again as all doubts leave me.
Pulling open the door, the music hits me first. Frank Sinatra. Gage’s favourite. I take a deep breath, walking through the bar area, seeing a few people raise their heads, eyes widening with what might be recollection. I come to a halt when I see Malachi in the corner with a woman. As if sensing me, she looks over. Long raven hair falls down her back like a sheet of silk. She has a heart-shaped face with defined cheekbones, sapphire blue eyes and a deep olive skin tone. She isn’t just beautiful, she is breath-taking. I watch as Malachi grips her hand with the gentlest of touches, making her head turn back toward him, a soft smile on her lips.
Jealousy slams into me like a freight train. That’s when the truth hits me.
I want to drive a blade in his chest.
I want to kiss his sensual lips.
I want to dig his eyes out.
I want him to never stop looking at me.
I want to cut his tongue out.
I want his dark whispers.
I want him to let me go.
I want him to keep me forever.
I hate him.
I love him.
I hated that I loved him.
I loved to hate him.
25
Lilliana
The truth is standing in the area between us. He still holds the power, can still hurt me and destroy me, because I still love him. My stupid heart is a traitor. He has betrayed me, bought me, broken me, consumed me. Made sure every jagged piece was consumed by him.
The woman looks up at me one more time, a small frown between her arched brows. I wipe angrily at the tear that I hadn’t even noticed had fallen.
I turn, shoving my hand into my bag as I walk into the back room. I see the men I grew up around, men that sometimes would sneak me toffees or tap my head and smile. I look every one of them in eyes. Some stare back, others lower their heads in shame. I walk past them all, holding my head high and shoulders back, strutting down the corridor.
When I stop in front of the door, I expect spooky music to start playing, just like it does in the movies, that haunting tune when danger is hidden behind the door.
Then it opens and the king himself stares back at me. Gage Kingston.
“Lilliana.” His voice holds no surprise as he pushes the door open wider, and I realise the place is covered in cameras; he had most likely seen me arriving. I walk through, and his eyes rake over me. “You grew up very well, Lilliana.”
The way he says my name makes my stomach turn and bile rise. He takes me in, leisurely, his eyes staying on my body. The rumours are, Gage likes his girls young, some too young, that he has a whore house and sells girls to the black market.
Ignoring the comment, I watch as he walks around his desk. Most women would give him a second look, consider him good looking. The salting of grey at his temples doesn’t take away from his looks, it adds to them, like a fine wine that gets better with age. He holds a charisma that can’t be forged or replicated. It’s something that is just him.
He leans back in his chair, stroking his jaw. “If this is about mon—”
I cut him off with a laugh. “Money! You think I would come here begging for anything from you?”
His eyes widen a fraction at my tone, before his brows rise and a smile covers his face. “You always did have more balls than Jack.” He laughs, making my jaw clench and teeth grind.
Anger pumps through me at his laughing face.
I pull the gun out, watching the laughing stop at once. Ruthlessness covers his features, a look in his eyes that turns them lethal. The man in front of me is the man everyone in London, further, fears.
“You will die for this.” I’m not stupid. I knew I couldn’t come in here, holding a gun on Gage, and then skip out on my merry way.
“Do you think I came here not knowing that? I am not Jack. I always knew who you are!” His jaw ticks as he tries to look relaxed.
“Then you know I will torture you, make you beg for your life. I’ll even fuck that tight cunt with that very gun before blowing your brains out.”
My lip curls up. “You don’t scare me.”
His eyes widen, seeing the truth in mine. He smells fear the same way a shark smells blood.
“Do you know how messy shooting someone is?” I shrug, keeping the gun steady on him. He frowns at my careless attitude, but I am already ahead of him, knowing he’s buying time, waiting for his little minions to run in and save him. He has no idea he won't be leaving this room.
“Why?” The question passes my lips, and I hate the way it trembles. He smiles, standing. It’s the burning question. The one I want, need.
“Jack owed us. You know this world. Don't play the victim now, Lilliana.” Yes, he’s right. I know the world we live in, know the punishments for not paying.
“He was your friend!” Gage rolls his eyes.
“He was nothing more than a business associate, and not a good one at that.” He smirks. “I did you a favour. You’re at last free of him. I never understood why you bailed him out like you did.” He shakes his head, almost as if he’s disappointed.
“Because he was my dad. Don’t you think Prince would do the same for you, stand there and watch the man that killed his father, killed his brother, breathe his last?” His head whips toward me, his eyes lethal. I tilt my head to the side. “You don’t think he would.” I laugh, and it sounds evil. “After everything you’ve done, he still won't fall in line, will he?” Gage’s face turns red, the vein on his temple pulsing.
“You took him away! You and your brother.” No one will say his name.
“Hayden. His name is—was Hayden!” I grind out, taking another step forward. “That's why you killed him.” He grins, but this time it’s strained. Lines form around his lips.
“Why you and my son are so hell bent on thinking it was me, I don’t know. But I didn’t kill him, didn’t put the hit on Hayden.” He sounds bored, as if this is a conversation he’s had over and over.
The door bangs open and Malachi storms into the room, his eyes flicking to the gun in my hand.
“Lilliana.” It’s like a whip across my skin, as if the strength alone can break my skin apart, as if he expects me to fall to my knees and hang my head in submission. “What are you doing?” he asks, and I swear there’s a hint of fear in his voice.
“Oh, you’re worried about Daddy dearest, when you put mine in the ground.”
Gage snorts. “He’s not worried about me. He knows today will be the day you die.” He speaks as if he’s downright bored with the situation. I shake my head.
“He doesn’t care about me. You took him, made him into the Dark Prince.” I hold the gun steadier in my hand. “You took them all.” A single tear falls down my cheek. I close my eyes against the pain that starts to consume me, when a large body tackles me, and a sound like fireworks right next to my ear goes off.
My breath is stolen as a large body lands on top of me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing! Stupid, fucking brave, beautiful girl.” His words catch me off guard as he holds my face between hands and fiercely presses his lips against mine, before pulling me up.