Page 63 of Ruthless Kings of Obsession

Matteo takes a careful breath, pain medication making his words slightly slower but no less precise. Each syllable falls like stones into still water, creating ripples that can never be undone: "The university burned to the ground."

The silence that follows holds physical weight, pressing against skin like a living thing. No one moves. Even the medical equipment seems to beep more quietly, as if afraid to disturb whatever dark truth has been awakened.

Domino breaks first, a shudder running through his frame. "Burned," he repeats, the word carrying echoes of other fires, other destructions. "Was anyone...?"

"Don't ask questions you don't want answers to," Matteo cuts him off, something warning in his tone. "Some knowledge comes with a price none of us can afford to pay."

Marcus studies them both with renewed intensity, his brilliant mind clearly connecting pieces of a puzzle they can barely see the edges of. "Is that why everyone reacted so strongly when Eva named him? Because of what happened with the university?"

"No," Matteo says quietly, his eyes finding something in the darkness beyond the windows. "They reacted because she shouldn't have known about him at all. No one talks about The Blind One. Not if they want to survive in our world."

"But she knew," Domino whispers, realization dawning in his expression. "She knew exactly what that name would do to them."

“Maybe she didn’t know,” I confess. “But took the chance.

“He gave us his name as if he knew the weight it carried in our secret society,” Marcus mutters and sighs. “His involvement won’t be beneficial to anyone.”

No…it won’t, and that’s the problem because Domino already played all his cards.

And now, we have to wait until The Blind One is ready to collect.

Names And Flames

***~MARCUS~***

Fire and destruction – they seem to follow me like faithful shadows. From the flames that consumed my mother's research facility to this mysterious burned university, everything circles back to ash and ruin. Even now, watching the news unfold about Domino's redemption, I can't help but think about how easily carefully built reputations can go up in smoke.

And yet here we are, playing with matches again.

I lean against the wall, mind racing through possibilities about The Blind One's identity and his connection to our world. The timing seems too perfect – the burned university, my mother's facility, now this warehouse incident. Patterns within patterns, all somehow connected to our Queen's masterful manipulation of events.

Pigtails played this perfectly, I think, remembering the scared little girl who used to hide in my mother's greenhouse.But if Domino called in favors for help, how will The Blind One justify intervening on our behalf?

The television volume suddenly increases as breaking news graphics flash across the screen. The reporter stands in front of a familiar warehouse, its imposing structure casting long shadows in the pre-dawn light.

"We're live at what investigators believe to be ground zero of the Leighton scandal," the reporter announces, her perfectly maintained composure a stark contrast to the chaos visible behind her. "This warehouse, previously thought abandoned, appears to be where the sophisticated AI manipulation took place."

The door opens quietly, revealing Ren in all his tattooed, pierced glory. He starts to speak but stops, caught by the unfolding news broadcast.

"Four arrests have been made," the reporter continues as camera pans to show federal agents in tactical gear securing the scene. "Including two police officers now being questioned about their involvement in what appears to be a broader conspiracy."

The camera catches a glimpse of a body being loaded into an ambulance, not yet covered by a body bag. In the background, a female officer struggles against agents dressed in black, her voice carrying clearly: "I demand to speak to the Chief! This is a mistake!"

Ren's frown deepens as he watches the scene unfold. "This going to come back on you?" I ask, studying his reaction.

"No," he says immediately, then sighs. "Well, probably not. Though Dad's definitely going to want a word in the morning."

"Why not go now?"

His laugh holds no humor. "Because I'm not ready for that particular conversation yet."

"Must be nice being the spoiled only child," I mutter, though there's no real heat in it.

Ren shrugs, his multiple earrings catching the dim light. "Privileges I try not to abuse." He turns to Domino, who looks about ready to pass out in his chair. "How's it feel being everyone's golden boy again?"

"Like shit," Domino groans, shifting uncomfortably. "Everything fucking hurts."

"If it wasn't for me, it would be a hell of a lot worse," I remind him, unable to keep the edge from my voice. "Those chemical compounds in your system could have caused permanent damage."

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