Page 9 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

“Well, not ‘What was done’ because you all accepted this as part of your oath as Ruthless Kings. The only difference is two of you weren’t in on the little death trap your own leader set for you. A shame, really. I never realized how low my brother could go, but again, I’m not surprised. He’s a Leighton, after all.”

Fuck… what is this all supposed to mean?

“Then how do we trust you?” Aries dares to ask the question thrumming on all our minds.

“Easy,” he declares as he comes to a stop. “You don’t.” He leans over to one side, allowing the blindfolded woman to remove his bunny mask from his face.

“Which reminds me, the final effect of the injected drug is a euphoric response. So, I’d suggest one of you stick to Precious when she does wake up. I could stick around, but things could get rather ‘steamy and inappropriate’ when I’m but a stranger to her.”

I’m not going to question the effect, but I’ll be damned if that fucker is near her when she wakes up.

No one is going to be there but me.

I don’t care if I have to fight Ares or Aries on that one.

They may think they know her well enough, but there’s something different between us. Something raw, dangerous, and mutually understanding that has grown since that night after the balcony.

It needs to be explored and solidified.

That will happen before we enter this next arc of havoc.

We watch as the man in his blood-decorated white dress shirt turns around to face us once more, Dolcezza still in his arms. It’s crazy how this striking image is not only haunting but feels like a significant moment in our lives from this moment onward.

“Now, I should formally introduce myself,” he declares, enjoying the way we look at him while anyone within sight bows in obedience.

His dark red eyes decide to make me their prey, meeting mine with pure authority.

“Matteo Leighton. A pleasure to finally meet the Ruthless Kings of Carnage.”

3

MEMORIES BURIED IN TRAUMA AND SORROW

~GEMINI~

“Why?”

The words leave my scratchy throat while I blink away the pooling tears that have stricken my cheeks again and again.

I can’t comprehend it.

None of it makes sense.

Yet the proof is before me.

I can walk. My legs aren’t broken anymore.

“I know how it feels to be deemed unwanted to the world.”

All I can do is look at the man sitting in the driver’s seat as the car finally comes to a stop before the large gates of my family’s estate.

The Prescott Estate.

“Everyone turns their back on you. Left and right. To the point where you don’t understand the mixed messages,” he whispers. His eyes aren’t on me. They stare forward at thebrightly lit estate, surrounded by various forestry and decorated rose bushes.

From afar, anyone would think of a fairytale mansion. The privilege to live within such warmly lit walls and be pampered with the riches this world doesn’t offer to the masses. Everyone says to live like a Prescott should be a blessing.

Yet, here I am, thinking it’s all but a curse.

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