Page 157 of A Vicious Love

Port movement.

Territory punishment.

Casino laundering patterns.

Black convoy management.

Hostage extraction.

Blood oath enforcement.

The kind of lessons Darlington never printed on any public curriculum because the other dynasties liked using our world while calling it beneath them. That side was only for Crows. And not any polished little heir with a crest on his jacket.

Because other dynasties inherited houses.

Crows inherited cities.

We were expected to know how to sit at a sovereign table in the morning, break a syndicate corridor by afternoon, and attend a charity dinner that night without blood under our nails.

Darlington taught both halves of us.

Dynasty and syndicate.

A Crow heir who could not survive both was useless. A Crow heir who excelled at both became dangerous. That was where Kingston was going.

Our little brother, who had already survived too much family before the academy ever got its hands on him

Crow heirs entered Darlington and lived in Crow House, separate from the other dynasty houses because Crows had never been good at sharing walls with families who might later become enemies.

After academy, every Crow heir entered the four-year regional station. Four years in the city they were born to rule.

Learning the streets, the ledgers, the families, the old debts, the blood routes. Four years becoming useful to the region before inheriting any real authority.

Kingston’s birthright was Harlan.

Marcel walked to the desk and picked up a folder. He threw it onto the table. It slid toward me and stopped against my hand.

I opened it.

Kingston Crow.

Academy crest designation: Villain.

Primary residential branch: Crow House — Villain line.

Post-academy regional station: Villain.

Guardian authority: Nikolai Crow.

Secondary authority: Vincent Crow.

“Fuck,” Harrison said quietly.

“No.” Marcel’s voice cut through the room. “Do not start with me. He is Harlan.”

Harrison’s face hardened. “He is also a person.”

The only topic Harrison and Marcel could never touch cleanly. Kingston.