Page 110 of Heirs of Havoc

William walks down the steps, a candle holder in one hand, that same white wedding dress in another. The one I ripped off the minute I got back to the Murphy House.

“Where are they?” I don’t care that he’s alive. Or that he looks like the evilest version of himself. “I asked a question. Where are they, Romano?”

William’s laugh fills the foyer as blood trickles from his nose. He wipes it with two fingers before sticking them into his mouth. “Oh, you didn’t know?” His jaw tightens, pulling his fingers out. “You really are a foolish traitor.” His voice raises on his last word, a dagger to my core. My eyes scan the room, but an empty foyer means no weapons, besides the one in William’s hand. “And guess what, Mia Mouse? They betrayed you instead.” William laughs harder, his wide shoulders shaking. “You thought they wanted you? For you? Are you always this ignorant?”

I try to settle the tremble in my voice, my stomach twisting at William’s words. “Where are they?” As he gets closer, I push further away, the manic in his eyes making my heart pound.

“Jesus, Mia, don’t you see?” His hand slaps to the side like it's obvious. “They only used you to get your empire. And now that Martin Merlo is dead, you’ve made it all the easier.”

No. “They wouldn’t.”

They would.

My stomach squeezes, a blur in my vision. “Prove it.”

William gestures around him. “Don’t be blind. You know this proves it. Look around you, Mia, it doesn’t matter. I’m getting what I want. No one will stop me this time. I’m fighting back.” Crouching down, I reach for the only weapon I have as William draws closer. My shoe.

He leaves the staircase, the golden candlestick tightening in his hand. “Don’t make this worse for you. You know they fucked what they wanted right out of you.” He stops in front of me, my shoe tight in my hold, but his words catch me off guard.

This is what I feared. I knew they’d ruin me in the end.

And you let them.

Dropping to my knees, my head hangs.

The grip on my shoe loosens, accepting William’s words.

It was clear from the start, and I ignored it. Dominik’s wrath knows no bounds. I played right into his plan.

I was a pawn.

Milo’s words ring in my head.

“It’s always about power.”

William’s right. I was ignorant.

My fists tighten on my thighs, Vlad’s words in my head next.

“Keep using that power, Mia. It’s all you got. Don’t hide it.”

Not anymore.

“I mean it, Mia.” William towers over me. “I’m getting what’s owed to me, whether or not you’re with me. But if you’re not with me—”

“Fine.” Lifting my head, I meet William’s crazed eyes. “You have me. Whatever it is. I’ll do it.”

If Dominik Federov wants a fucking war, he’ll get a fucking war.

I’ll never forgive them for leaving me.

I’ll never forgive them for fucking me over.

William laughs, his loud roar echoing through the home. What I thought was home. My jaw tenses, everything coming back to me. I was stupid. I was a wuss. I was weak. And now? Now they'll pay. “You want what’s yours? Let’s burn this place to the ground. You and me. Family.”

William’s thin lips upturn, his white teeth showing on his Cheshire grin.

“I knew you’d be mine again, Mia. Eventually.”

He swings the candlestick.

“Wait!”

A thud comes to my head, the world spinning around me.

Vlad, Lev, Feliks and Dom flash in my mind.

Then everything goes black.

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