Page 61 of Savage Kingdom

I leaned into her and mocked her. “True, true, that’s what happens to people likeyou.” Pinching her cheek, I walked away to where I had killed Johnny. I pulled his chair back a bit, took back my throwing star, and let it drop on the table. After that was done, I kicked his lifeless body, making it fall on the floor.

The room was silent as everyone watched me, too afraid to speak up because they didn’t want to risk being next.

Ignoring them, I sat down on the chair and faced them.

“Fun fact.” I paused for a dramatic effect. “My family were founding members. Isn’t that right, Damian?”

There were a few gasps. I turned to Francesca and winked.

“Your vote?” Damian said in a bored tone. They didn’t call him the pale demon for nothing. He was a master at instilling fear. He’d had enough of my little power play. There would be no punishment for me today—well, at least for killing Johnny. Something else would come up. It always did.

I got up now that my point was made. I turned around, and I faced Gideon. Our eyes clashed, and I wanted to run to him, but I refrained.

“Nay,” I said, looking straight at him so he would know I didn’t want him here.

I walked out of that room, and I didn’t see him again for another year.

* * *

Gideon

My eyes watched the swing of Daphne’s hips as she walked away. There was something more confident about the way she carried herself now. She was a woman on a mission, and it turned me on.

“This has been fun, but I need to catch a plane to Dubai.” The man who spoke had me gritting my teeth. He got up and fixed the lapels on his fancy suit. The once American playboy was now a killer. Worst of all, he was stuck like glue to my woman.

His eyes cut to mine, and they mocked me.

It’s not like I expected to join right away, but to have her vote be the only no, it stung, yet amused me.

Turning toward Damian, I masked my façade. Since the first time I spoke to him, I could tell he’d had it out for Daphne.

Leaning back in my chair, I pulled out a cigar and took a drag before I spoke.

“She still hates my guts,” I joked. I got up and pulled out a USB drive from my leather jacket. “As a token of appreciation, I’ll leave you this gift.”

I slid the USB across the table toward him. It contained sensitive information on all the flights in the United Kingdom scheduled for next year.

Damian grabbed the USB and smiled. It was cold, and I knew I had just sold my soul to the devil. I walked out of that room, knowing that it was only a matter of time before I was in.Run, Petal, run as fast as you can. In the end, I will be there to capture you.

One Year Later

Location:Mediterranean Sea

I didn’t knowwhat I was doing here on this little island. It was too quiet and peaceful—gorgeous. Inside of me was havoc, deception, betrayal.

For years the remains of my babushka had remained hidden from me in a sick power play. When Damian finally gave me her location, I put my babushka to rest with her mother.

When blood meets church, secrets unravel, and I knew what Damian had planned. If I didn’t stop him before it was too late, there wouldn’t be anyone on this earth who would be able to stop him.

The feelings left me feeling raw and exposed, and I had to run. I left my safe house in Sweden under lockdown, telling Bas to guard it but not to go inside. He listened, and he would obey because, just like me, he felt for the girl. In a way, it reminded him of his beloved. If you ask me, Katia was a fucking bitch who chose her path while this girl had her future ripped out from her.

Now here I was because I needed to run. I needed a place where I could just be, and I somehow ended up inhisbackyard. I liked to keep my friends close and my enemies closer, so I always liked to know what everyone was up to. It’s not likeIactively sought out Gideon. If Bas reported his whereabouts, that was on him and not me.

The weather was humid, sunny—horrendous. I was used to cold weather. I tried to avoid tropical locations at all costs. I looked down at myself, and I didn’t feel like me. The black maxi skirt was tight at the waist, then flared out with a slit on the side. There was no room for extra weapons. I wore sandals and a black crochet top. The only weapons I carried were the daggers strapped to my thigh. Not that I expected trouble, but it usually found me.

Gideon’s safe house was a cute little villa in Sardinia, an island that belonged to Spain. When money was no obstacle, a five-hour flight was nothing. So here I was now, waiting for the sunset while walking to the side of his house trying to…I don’t know…fucking recon on him before I went to his front step, saying what?

Sorry I kicked you out of my bed the next day after you helped me steal someone’s pet?

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