Page 31 of London Has Fallen

The evil glint in her eyes has me tensing. “Hm, well if I have to battle against four Argyros, I think it only fair that I get a little help of my own.”

“It doesn’t work like that,” Costa counters.

“I don’t give a shit. You plan to watch me fail so you can insight the wrath of my family.” At her declaration my eyes widen, how the fuck did she put that together on her own? “You will not use my demise as a way to wage a war against my family.”

Costa keeps his tone calm as he replies, “There will be no war, you compete the same as my sons.”

“With four to one odds, I’m sure I’ll win.” The sarcasm in her voice is noted by all but no one comments. I cut a glance to Cronos to see him dropping his chin to his chest to conceal his smile.

“We want in on the trials—” Costa cuts Royal off before he can finish.

“No. The laws of our family state there are no outsiders allowed and we will not change those for you. Your daughter will take part in this on her own, if you interfere, she forfeits her place.”

“Fuck you. You think I will sit back and allow my daughter to be killed if she fails? You are out of your fucking mind, Argyros. You say there will be no war but mark my words and hear me very fucking clearly, if anything happens to my daughter I will mark and hunt you.” Royal flicks his gaze to me as he finishes. “And each of your sons until your entire bloodline is eradicated from this fucking world.”

“Royal, calm down,” Knox says but the crown prince keeps his heated glare on me.

“You doubt her abilities to excel in a challenge that is designed for male heirs and yet you plan to make her the queen of yours and your father’s empires, seems contradicting to me,” I say.

“He doubts nothing.” I cut my gaze to London, fire burns in her green eyes. “He knows what I am capable of. I’ve been trained by the best and I’m far from stupid, contrary to what your father thinks. I know why he is pushing this and so do you. I love being underestimated, it makes proving all you fuckers wrong that much sweeter.” She pushes back from the table and stands turning to face Costa. “Make the odds three to one with Cronos sitting out and I swear to you I will rock the foundation you think you own. Your people believe I am less because I have a pussy.” All the men in her family groan and mutter beneath their breath but don’t move to stop her. “Newsflash, asshole, I am heiress to the fucking US and I didn’t claim that title from birth, I fucking earned it.” Both her father and grandfather’s eyes shine with pride. My gaze is glued to her as she storms out of the restaurant.

“Do you accept her offer?” Karl asks.

Costa turns to Cronos and eyes him for a second before answering, “Yes, the girl can have her wish but the stance on my people has not changed. Her family will not be present and cannot help her with these trials.”

“But you can help your sons?” Chaos snaps, speaking for the first time.

“My sons were raised with the knowledge of these trials, it is not my problem the girl killed the rabbit and cemented her place in this.” I can hear the anger in Costa’s tone.

“Anything happens to that girl, I’ll say fuck it to this peace treaty between the families and kill you all,” Chaos vows before shoving away from the table and storming out with his own father chasing after him. Costa turns to the heads of the other families.

“I cannot change the nature of these trials, do I have your backing that if the girl should fall while competing that you will stand by me if the Memento Mori and Murdoch mafia seek vengeance for her death?” The four men look torn but the nature of the agreement they all settled upon forces them to agree with my father.

“Before this comes to a close, I want you to know one thing.” Costa drags his gaze to Chanel, the disgust in his eyes is clear, he hates that two women were present here at this meeting. “Keep doubting her, keep planning to go to war with my family because I promise you this,” she tears her gaze from him to look at me with a cunning smile on her face, “the only one getting fucked…” my eyes widen at her innuendo, “here is you. She is already three steps ahead and planning her rise. Never underestimate her because it will be your greatest mistake.”

“You put too much faith in the girl,” Costa grits out.

“F.E.A.R can have two meanings, forget everything and run or face everything and rise,” Bishop says. I frown and watch as they all climb to their feet, but before they can leave I ask,

“What does that mean?” Bishop smirks.

“Which one do you think my granddaughter will choose?” He doesn’t wait for a reply as he leads his family out. When we are alone with the four heads of the family, Costa says,

“They will attack if she dies.”

“If her death is from the trials we will stand by you,” Costa smiles at Knox’s reply.

“But, if we find out you had anything to do with the cause of her death to insight the wrath of her family, we will not intervene when they come for you,” Andreas says in a cold tone.

For the first time, I see how much power her family truly wields.

London

I stand outside the school gates with my dad and grandpa, neither of us have said a word since we left the meeting. I know they are worried, but they shouldn’t be, I know what I’m doing and I can hold my own against these boys. I had to make sure Cronos wasn’t a part of the trials, I can deal with hurting those three little fucks but not him.

“London—”

“Dad, don’t.” He clamps his mouth closed and bows his head.

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