Page 102 of Claimed By the Ruthless King

The Crows look between each other, the silence stretching.

Ben rises from the floor, heading past me to meet his daughter for the first time. Something heals within me when I see them reunite after all these years. Even if Ophelia is unsure now, she’ll learn to love and accept in time.

I smile to myself, even though Ben looks like he might want to murder me next. Fuck knows how much he’s seen and heard.

The morning sun filters into the window, catching something silver and sharp. And moving.

A single boy threads through the crowd, moving toward Robert.

I’m over there a second too late, his blade sinking into Robert’s stomach.

“Die, Mr. Preacher,” laughs the boy, glancing around the room for others to back him up.

But his friends take a big step back, leaving me to deal with my wounded cousin.

EPILOGUE

OPHELIA

The sun winks through the trees as we drive back to the city, and the silence deafening.

I sit in the car, Robert lying behind me across the backseats, in and out of consciousness.

I glance through the rearview mirror. My father is following us in the black sedan. Why did he never step out of the car and introduce himself?

While I was questioning things about myself, he was in Miami licking his wounds. Knowing my father is better than not knowing him at all, even if he was a murderer.

Salvatore still murders now, and I still love him. I find myself asking why sometimes, but love is a feeling you can’t control. The closer I get to Salvatore, the more I realize I don’t want to choose who I love. If my head was in control, I’d probably choose the wrong person to love.

I watch the car follow us, my chest tensing. I’ve been denied a life full of love, and all for what? Because my father could never face himself? Because Aunt Viv was too guilty?

“He was doing what he thought was best.”

“What?” I face Salvatore, staring at his sculptured side-profile, already getting distracted.

“Your father wanted to give you the best possible chance in life.”

“And going to sleep every night questioning why I was never enough excuses that?” I stare at Salvatore, waiting for him to give me some words of wisdom, but he acknowledges my comment with a simple nod. I continue. “He should have told me the truth.”

“We’re not good people, Phee.” Salvatore grinds his jaw, staring at the road ahead.

I glance at Robert in the back. His eyes are closed as he drifts in and out of consciousness.

“What happens to the rest of the Crows?”

“There are too many to take back to the city for now.”

“And what happens when they return? They pile into your penthouse and kill you in your sleep?”

“They’re complicated boys,” says Salvatore. “I’m hoping we got through to them, but it might take time.”

Salvatore merges onto the highway, the engine picking up. I keep a watchful eye on the side-view mirror, making sure my father is still following, worried he might turn off.

“Your father has a lot to work through. If I were in his shoes, I would have done the same thing and watched you from afar. It can be risky to reveal your identity, especially when you’re coming from a place of guilt.” Salvatore flicks on the blinker, changing into the fast lane to pick up speed. “When you love from afar, it means your love is strong…”

I narrow my eyes. “What does that mean? I’m still fired? David is dead,” I point out.

“Exactly. You’re safe.”