Page 20 of Lethal King

Gone are the days when he sends others to chase me down. That charade has gone on for long enough. I’m sick of killing fresh-faced recruits. I want a man. I want the king.

After this, he won’t have any choice but to chase me down himself. Then, I’ll get exactly what I want.

“Lights. Camera. Action.”

Tytus hardly even lets himself finish before setting off the first smoke bomb. It ruptures through the chaos below, slowly blocking out the sun with its long tentacles of hazy goodness.

“The smoke is a little thick, don’t you think?” I tease. Pushing the cake aside, I zip my backpack halfway open and stuff a slice inside. Then, I sling the strap over my shoulder and head for the door.

“What, afraid I’m doing my job better than you’re doing yours?”

“Oh, honey,” I sigh. “That will never happen. Just flip on that radio switch in your dirty van and listen in. I bet you a million dollars they still think that hologram I cooked up is the real thing.”

“Up that bet to two million and you have yourself a deal, little sister.”

A crackle of static accompanies Tytus’ offer. He’s already turned the radio on.

“Aren’t you already running low on your part of the inheritance?” I taunt, sliding my switchblade out of its ankle holster.

“I don’t see how that’s possible,” Tytus huffs. “I’m still trying to count how much we actually have.”

“Run out of fingers?”

“I ran out of fucks.”

We share a little laugh as I creak open the bedroom door. Footsteps charge down the hallways outside. Orders are being barked from the floor below. A pleasurable tingle washes over my skin.

I can smell their fear.

“This is what they get for fucking with Gabriel,” I snarl.

“This is only the start,” Tytus assures me. “Wait. Fuck.”

“What?”

“You were right. Our radio just picked up on a conversation between Maksim Smolov and the king himself. Sounds like they actually do think it’s you up on that stage.”

My adrenaline-swelled heart freezes for a second at the mention of that fucker.

“He’s not king yet,” I sneer, ignoring my chance to gloat. “And if we have anything to say about it, he won’t ever be.”

“Well, then you better get to the throne room quick. Because Rian just ordered Maksim to take Melina Kilpatrick there for safekeeping. If you don’t beat them to the punch, you might have to go through that old wolf to get what we came for.”

“I can take him.”

“Maybe. But I’m not ready to take that risk. I’m coming in. At the very least, I can distract him for a little bit.”

“Have all the smoke bombs already gone off?”

“Yep. And the big finale is all ready to drop. We just have to wait for the clock to run out.”

“Is the cattle still in place?”

“The Italian dons couldn’t give less of a shit about their daughters. They’re all still huddled in the corner of the lawn, scared shitless.”

“I almost feel bad.”

“Don’t act like that wasn’t your idea in the first place.”