Page 112 of Crave Me

But just beyond that was the real truth, and what worried me.

Obsession.

Fear.

Pain.

Grief.

His enemies had struck at his heart.

I knew from keeping a very close watch on him over the years that it was the first time anything like this, so awfully personal like this, had happened to him as head of King.

And it was the second time in his life overall, the first being as a boy when his parents had been ripped from him that wretched night.

The night he’d started out on a path all too similar to mine.

Something I hadn’t wanted for him.

Something I’d hoped he would veer away from once he’d secured his empire.

If Jameson and Laura had lived, Caspian taking on the role of their heir at King would have been a very different experience and undertaking. It would have all remained above board. There would have been no delving into the underbelly of things, of trading on the dark. Caspian would have very likely forever remained apart from that way of life. From my way of life.

Alas, that fateful night had altered so much.

It had reset his course.

And I feared, after recent events, he not only wouldn’t pull from his illegitimate activities, but he would delve much deeper in a bid to prevent anything like this from occurring again. He’d seek out more power, more dangerous power, believing it to be a form of stronger protection and a formidable deterrent to any future attacks.

While that made sense on the surface, the price would prove to be far too high.

He’d only dipped his toe in so far. Even with his arms dealing and those people he associated with, he had rules, he had lines he didn’t cross.

The moment he broke from that there would be no going back for him.

He’d become me.

The last thing I’d ever wanted for my son.

I’d thought staying away would prevent him from becoming infected by what I was.

But with the way things had played out, it had become apparent that he needed my guidance to turn back around before he went too far and incidentally followed in my footsteps after all.

What a tragedy that would be.

I absolutely couldn’t allow it.

“And here I am,” he responded flippantly.

“Your beloveds believe you are hard at work in your office on matters concerning King.”

He gestured at the screens over his shoulder. “This does concern King.”

“Not in the way you know I’m referring to. Bane Industries has been dismantled. You have controlling interest in its legitimate operations, and we’ve decimated the illegitimate ones. As a business rival, Bane is no more.”

“I’m well aware, but Elijah himself is still out there. Worse, he’s now partnered with a dangerous enemy to us in Jeremy Wheeler who has connected him with a group of mercenaries. What we encountered at that farmhouse could just be the start, they could be building a true army.”

“That will take a great deal of time than merely acquiring a couple of dozen. Especially given the fact that I’ve spread word as leader of the Mancini Syndicate among the underground that is effectively blacklisting both Wheeler and Bane.”

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