Page 10 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

“You’re important yet discarded. Valuable, yet deemed insignificant. You have more value than any child in this bloodshed world, yet the invaluable child has the audacity to try to ruin you. Paralyze you. Cripple any bit of hope and light you dare carry in that big heart of yours.”

He finally pulls his gaze away from the brightly lit home and allows me the opportunity to really look at him.

What a sight to witness.

I may be a child, but I can see how handsome this man is. Maybe he’s not a “man.” Not yet. He’s still very young. Maybe older than Domino, but not the age of an adult. He’s in-between, but his flawless features make it hard to tell.

What takes my breath away are his eyes.

Stunning, yet dangerously dark.

The hues of red were hidden so perfectly from anyone’s curiosity.

To get a glimpse now feels forbidden in my eyes.

It makes me feel worthy.

“You realize why your parents must act the way they do, yes?”

I take a few seconds just to think it through. To act naive or to prove I can be an asset in this world, too. I also have power that was given to me for simply existing.

I’m not as useless as Domino portrays to everyone who will listen.

“Yes,” I say with conviction, and I’m sure, despite my glassy eyes, he can see the confidence in my gaze.

“Good girl,” he praises. He furthers it by reaching out to wipe away the single tear that leaves its nest of pooling waters. “Those who are weak and frightened of their power being stolen from them enjoy making a lot of noise. They’re loud. Always reaffirming their status and worth to everyone who will listen. They crave attention and validation from their peers, no matter if they’re right or wrong.”

His thumb lingers on my cheek until his hand lightly cradles the right side of my face.

“Those who are powerful in this world don’t need many words, now do they?”

“Words are useless without action.” I can’t help but repeat the very words of Mr. Prescott. “Actions make the world move to your tune. To your favor. No one respects words that hold no merit.”

“Yes, indeed.” He approves and gently strokes my cheek. “Which is why you’re going to keep being the puppet you have been until the time is right.”

“Wh-When do I know the time is right?” I don’t want to question him, but the desperation that pulses through me makes me yearn for some sort of motivation. To have something to grasp onto when times get hard.

“An opportunity will come along where a debt needs to be paid. When offered, don’t hesitate to accept it,” he answers me calmly. Each word is said slowly so I can understand every word. “I’m not going to sit here and say it’s going to be easy. It won’t be. It’ll be challenging. It’ll question a lot of things. You may not even be able to finish what you started.”

“But…” I whisper the single word and watch how he genuinely smiles. It lightens up his entire face, despite the shadows around us in the car.

“But…” he begins with his softened gaze. “If you make it to the end, I promise to reward you with what I know you’ll yearn for the most.”

“Yearn for the most?” I repeat his final words. “What would that be?”

He lets go of my cheek, and I watch how his smile taints to something I’ve only seen on two men’s faces.

Mr. Prescott… and Mr. Leighton.

“Revenge.”

I can’t help but pout my lips thinking about it, but then again, I look at my legs as a solid reminder of the truth.

Without this man, I wouldn’t be able to walk again. He’s my savior. A hero. While Domino… is the villain in my story.

Where does that leave me?

“Only victims deserve vengeance,” I quietly mutter. Slowly lifting my head, I return my eyes to him with curiosity. “Am I a victim now?”

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