Page 122 of Once A Crime Lord

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“After he murdered your father, you went on a rampage. I’m impressed you managed to hide that many bodies. That’s you, your true self, the one your father knew you would become. That’s why he put you in the pit at twelve.”

He felt Angel’s sidelong glance and ignored it.

“You and I are one and the same.” Lucifer licked his lips. “We need violence the way other people need sex.”

“What I need is my wife.”

Lucifer snorted. “Your obsession with this one woman is unhealthy.”

“Is she alive?” Blade asked.

Lucifer’s eyes flicked to him and narrowed. “Going soft, Blade?

“Is she?” Angel demanded.

“You Romans, so family oriented,” Lucifer mocked. “What are you doing here, Angel?”

“You know me?”

“Of course. You’ve built up quite a reputation in New York.”

“Then you’ll be happy to hear that Angel’s going to take my place in the underworld,” he said. “So, your friend is out of the running.”

Lucifer rarely poked his head out of Hell, but if he chose to, he could make Angel’s rule of the underworld hell on earth.

“A Roman in Sin City?” Lucifer mused with a cruel smile. “What about New York?”

“Raul can handle it, and Roque will be out soon. I need a challenge,” Angel said.

Lucifer chuckled. “You came to the right place. These two,” he jerked his head at Gavin, “have torn the underworld apart.”

“I didn’t start this war,” he said quietly.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

An agonizing scream from the pit incited a cheer from the crowd.

Lucifer stacked his feet on the chair opposite and considered him. “My friend came to me because he needs you to die publicly, and he can’t match you. He’s been saving you for me. A gift, if you will. Tonight’s the finale.”

Lucifer didn’t blink his soulless eyes. He was like a snake, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

“Word on the street is that you’re going soft, Gavin. You step down as crime lord for some woman, and now the city is in shambles. Every enemy you ever made is here tonight to watch you lose your throne.”

“What do you want, Lucifer?”

“I told you, a fair fight.”

“That isn’t it.” He was certain of it.

Lucifer loved games, especially one with high stakes. It was no coincidence that Lucifer called him before Lyla was brought into the pit. Lucifer wanted something bad enough to double-cross his friend.

Lucifer spread his hands. “What could I possibly want?”

He had no fucking clue what a man like Lucifer could want from him. “You tell me.”

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