Page 30 of Owned By Royal

The newspapers have called it the spectacular downfall of one of California’s most influential businessmen. And the media have spent the past week dissecting every corner of the Madera empire. No one suspects that 4R Ink ensured the investigation reached exactly the conclusion it needed to.

We gave law enforcement everything required to expose his crimes. While making certain there would be no lingering questions about how justice ultimately found him. The world believes Marco Madera died by his own hand, and perhaps that’s the cleanest ending a man like him deserved.

None of that changes the fact that he was still my father or that learning he murdered my mother has left a wound I doubt will ever fully heal.

Riccardo pours two glasses of whiskey before handing one to me. He takes his usual seat across the living room without saying anything for several moments. We’ve both changed this past week. He’s inherited everything Father spent decades building.

Although neither of us considers it much of a prize anymore. Instead of celebrating becoming head of the Madera empire, he’s spent every waking hour cleaning it up. Terminating corrupt executives. Opening the company books to investigators.

And making certain legitimate employees aren’t punished for the sins of one man. Watching him shoulder that responsibility has reminded me why he’s always been the older brother first and everything else second.

“How are you holding up?” he finally asks.

I look into my glass. “I’ve been better. You?”

He smiles without humor. “I’m suddenly running an international corporation I never actually wanted.”

“I thought this was your dream.”

“It was.” He leans back. “Before I learned what it had been built on.”

Neither of us speaks for a while. There isn’t much left to say. Eventually, I ask the question that’s been bothering me all week.

“Have you heard anything from Sierra?”

He slowly shakes his head. “No.”

I nod, pretending the answer doesn’t hurt as much as it does. “I keep thinking she’ll call.”

“Maybe she’s waiting for you.”

“I told her things that can’t be taken back.” I stare toward the city skyline stretching beyond the windows. “And I don’t even blame her for needing space.”

“You still love her.”

It’s not a question. “I always will.”

Riccardo studies me quietly before letting out a small laugh. “You know... None of this actually surprised me.”

I frown. “What are you talking about?”

He points toward me with his glass. “The tattoo shop. I know it’s a cover for you and your friends. I’m not that stupid, little brother,” he says with a smirk.

I say nothing for a while. “You knew?”

He nods once. “For years.”

My eyebrows shoot upward. “How?”

He shrugs. “I’m your older brother. Besides, you suddenly moved to Atlanta and opened a tattoo shop with your friends almost ten years after college. It seemed suspicious. I started to put things together.” He raises a brow. “And you made it easier by leaving everything in the open whenever I visited.”

I shake my head. “And you never said anything?”

“You never volunteered the information.” He becomes serious again and sets his drink down. “I approve.”

That wasn’t the answer I expected. “You do?”

“You and your friends target the scums in our world. And you protect people who otherwise wouldn’t have anyone protecting them.”