Page 74 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

“I understand,” she assures me.

“It’s scary to love, though,” I confess. “What if I end up losing him?”

Whether physical… or mentally?

“You may not have control of fate, but you have control of how much you love a man. How you pour yourself into him. How many times you remind him that if the world was burning all around, you’d still be at his side, hand in hand.” She lowers her hands from my cheeks and covers my hands that rest on the table with hers.

“He and the others may never be perfect. The trauma instilled by the next years at this university may only make them grow. None of you will be the same at the end of it all, but vengeance is extra sweet when you’ve survived together.”

Her words couldn’t be truer or more haunting.

“So you’re going to be the most cunning, strong, beautiful, and loving Ruthless Maiden these Kings could ever ask for,” she concludes. “You’ll raise havoc until the world is forced to be nothing but obsessed with you. The moment that happens, you ride the waves, gripping those reins of vengeance, until you reach the final destination you’re all looking for.”

“It’s worth it… right?”

The sweet taste of vengeance.

I can only imagine and wonder if Mother got to enjoy its sweet nectar.

“Beyond worth it,” she vows.

The knock on the door proves our time is up.

“Guess that means this tea part is over,” I whisper.

“Almost,” she says with a wink. “That was a little warning knock that we may have company shortly.” She pulls out herpurse once more, taking a few quick makeup items. “Let’s fix ourselves so we don’t look like we cried for fifteen minutes.”

That makes me giggle. Who would have thought I’d even have the chance to speak with my mother for so long? What many take advantage of is what I’ve only had the rare privilege to experience.

Fixing our makeup and drinking some more tea, Mother gets to the essentials.

“You have to choose a club activity. Ensure you pick one you can commit to but is also outside the box. Fashion, Royal Etiquette, and anything with social media anything is so common.”

“Fight club it is then!”

She’s thinking of something, but the wash of horror on her face makes me laugh.

“Yes, Mother. I like to punch shit. Or well… people.” I enjoy teasing her. “I’m pretty good with catching knives, but guns are my forte. I never miss.”

“Never?”

“Never,” I emphasize.

“Then I’m left to wonder who she gets the cockiness from.”

We’re both surprised by the familiar deep voice—our eyes darting to the door to reveal Mr. Leighton. I didn’t expect him to make an appearance, but now that he’s here, I’m unsure how to act. The doors close behind him, and I can only wonder what he has to say.

“Guess our time is up,” Mother declares, her cheery self back in full force. “Was your meeting more eventful?”

“Anna is dead,” he announces casually while he walks toward our table. I can tell he’s avoiding looking my way, as though the center of his attention is only on Mother.

“Huh? Anna? Why would she be dead?”

“Matteo revealed she’d been plotting to hurt you through Gemini, and I’m sure she had the intention of continuing such actions while she focuses on attending to her Ruthless Kings in their reign of havoc,” he reveals.

“So… Matteo killed her?” Mother can only conclude. I can see the pity in her glassy eyes.

“No.” He walks over to us. “Joaquin did.”

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