Page 78 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

“Pretend I never said that.”

“Why would you think you’re the weakest link?” I honestly need the distraction, but I don’t like the hint of defeat in his eyes when he allowed that admission to leave his smooth lips. “Why? Because Aries is now a part of our dynamic?”

I figured this conversation would have to happen sooner or later.

Warren’s addition to our Ruthless King dynamic is another buzz of surprise and gossip I haven’t gotten the chance to wrap my head around yet.

Let me sleep on that or else I’ll be too overwhelmed to tackle it tomorrow.

“I don’t bring enough assets to the table,” he whispers and leans down enough for his lips to taunt mine. “I’m just a model, Sweet Canary. I don’t have the heart to be a venomous murderer. Or a cunning mastermind like Zander. Heck, I don’t think I can be a sophisticated, unhinged leader like Matteo. “

“You don’t need to be anything but Ares,” I whisper and don’t stop my arms that work hard to wrap around his neck and bring him further down to me. I kiss him with ease, making me realize this is the first kiss we’ve had in a while.

I was intimate with Zander when I woke up from recovery, and it’s been easy for us to reconnect and act as if I didn’t almost die before his very eyes. Then there are the kisses I shared with Matteo to prove we’re “madly” in love.

Even if my mom easily saw through our façade.

But for Ares and Aries, I haven’t had a chance to be intimate with either of them.

With Warren, we hadn’t set anything in stone, I guess.

“You got the world talking. Your name is trending on various platforms. You don’t think that’s a source of power?” When I paint that in his mind, I can see the flickers of understanding glimmer in those alluring eyes. “We all have our talents. Yours is having a sexy, sculpted body that makes women go crazy, and men envy how you can be so masculine yet carry this soft essence.”

“Men don’t envy,” he mumbles, but he’s kissing me the next second. I press myself against him, enjoying how his arms hook around me, ensuring I can’t get away. “Fuckers are just jealous I have money.”

“Maybe,” I say in between kisses. “But for men to acknowledge how handsomely attractive you are on a global scale hits different, Ares.”

“I know you’re right,” he mumbles as we catch our breath. “I want to believe every word. Just… when you stand on that stage, among those who are either royals or come from royal backgrounds…”

“You realize how minuscule you are,” I finish for him.

Our shared look says so much.

“Yeah.” He unexpectedly pulls me in a hug, holding me against him. “You know… I think I’m going to start therapy.”

It’s the most random thing he could bring up, which may be why he hugged me instead.

Afraid to see my expression. Whether it would be one of surprise, judgment, or disgust.

“R-Really?” Out of the original three Ruthless Kings, Ares isn’t the one I expected to admit that. Zander goes to therapy, even if it’s inconsistent. He understands how it benefits himand how he can move forward with himself, despite his imperfections that he deems negatively impactful.

I just never expected Ares to do therapy. At least not now.

“When we were in Turkey,” he mutters into my shoulder as he takes a deep inhale and lets it out. “I’d never seen Zander so quiet. Not just talking here and there. He wouldn’t fucking speak. He just stared at you. Watched every rise and fall of your chest. The only time I relieved him was when he wanted to take a nap and for a one-hour therapy session.”

He holds me a little tighter.

“When he used to say he went to therapy, I mocked him. Domino mocked him. We always used to belittle him for taking medication for his mental health or only wanting to deal with Arlo and not Kian. We were fucking assholes when it came to acknowledging his trauma, but I never really acknowledged what I was doing. Or maybe I did… but I kept giving excuses.”

I know he wants me to listen, which is why he isn’t giving me the chance to speak my mind.

“Ruthless Kings. We’re supposed to be evil. Assholes. Villains, even to our own. At least, that’s what I’ve always thought,” he confesses. I feel a droplet of water hit my flesh and begin to run down my back. “But… thus far, whenever I see those around me hurt, my heart fucking shatters. Seeing you seize on the ice. Seeing you in the hospital bed for days, unconscious, needing assistance to breathe when your inhales and exhales got so slow. Seeing the agonizing pain in Zander’s eyes. Fuck…”

He squeezes me tight.

“I questioned myself. Why the fuck am I watching my own get hurt? Okay with seeing you guys suffer? That’s… not right. That’s not fucking sane. When someone threatens or hurts those I love, they know the consequences they’re trying to instill. Their intentions are crystal clear, and whatever agony is served tothem in return is warranted,” he emphasizes. “But why would I bully my own?”

He shakes his head along my shoulder before pulling back so I can see the regret in his eyes. My heart sinks to see him shedding tears that run down his gorgeous face.

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