Page 85 of Brutal King

At first, I refrained from business conversations. But Sofia is a sneaky one and a relentless eavesdropper. She wanted toknow what I was up to, demanded it, in fact. It would serve as assurance that I wasn’t anywhere near Luca, she said.

I told her no, until a few nights ago she fell to her knees. My dick was pressed against her cheek, as she glanced up at me. “Please.”

I’m fucked. I’ve created something truly evil. She’s my weakness, and knows it. I caved to her wishes, all because she took me into her pretty mouth and sucked the willpower right out of me.

“Surely Gideon has given you a way out,” Scarlet says to Sofia. “One of his mindfuck games, I’m sure.”

“Hasn’t he told you?” Sofia asks. “I’m supposed to make him fall in love with me.”

“How’s that going for you?”

“I’m still here, aren’t I?”

“So you are.” Scarlet gives me a pointed glance. Going back to our previous conversation, Scarlet adds, “From what I heard, when Rowan left Louisa at the altar all those years ago, she was really broken. She loved him.”

“Can I tell you what I think?” Sofia licks some of the potato soup from her spoon and I have the sudden urge to kick Scarlet out of the house and have some alone time with my own captive.

“Please, do.” Scarlet gives Sofia her fullest attention.

“It sounds like Rowan might have really fucked up. First,” she ticks off on her fingers, “he left her at the altar?” Scarlet nods and she continues. “Second, he snatches her on the way to get married to some other guy, forces her to marryhim, and she’s now supposed to act like his good little wife? I don’t think so.” She shakes her head in indignation for the girl. “If she wasreally in line to be her father’s second, she must be ruthless. And ruthless people don’t let things like that go.”

A chill crawls up my spine as she speaks the last of it, as if she sees herself in Louisa. Her blue eyes blaze and she arches a perfect brow at me in a, this-could-be-you, sort of way.

“What do you suggest?” Scarlet asks, completely immersed.

“Test her. See if she’ll betray him.”

“And if she does?” I ask Sofia out of curiosity to see just how much I’ve corrupted her.

She shrugs, and without hesitation says, “He’s your brother. If she hurts him, kill her.”

Scarlet let’s out a roar of laughter. “Careful, girl. Your villain is showing.”

Sofia laughs too, all the while, her gaze remains intensely focused on me. I nod in acknowledgement. Warning received, loud and clear.

Sofia’s suggestion of putting Louisa to the test was a good one. I’d already thought of it myself, of course, but it wasn’t until she voiced it that I devised a plan.

Louisa is in a position to hurt my brother. He’s made himself vulnerable to her. Given her the power to take him out.

It’s taken a few days to set it up. I made an offer to Rowan’s underboss, Declan. I’ll supply men to take Rowan down and off his hands, alive, and he can rule Boston as he’s always wanted to. Yesterday, he confirmed Louisa would help him.

Having my suspicions proven right added urgency to the plotting. If both his wife and right hand are willing to betray him, I must get him out.

I arrive at the McKenzie house with Scarlet and several of our men in tow. Declan greets us in the foyer, a smug smile on his face. Louisa is standing next to him, her eyes weary and her lips pulled tight.

“Everything went smoothly, thanks to you.” Declan extends his hand for me to shake.

I do so, and have to fight the urge not to tear his arm from its socket. “Where is Rowan?”

“He— ah, here he comes now.”

We all turn upwards. Rowan, looking worse for the wear, is coming down with a full escort. He scans the faces of everyone in the room as they approach, giving me only a slight glance.

“Where are my men?” he demands.

Declan laughs. “If you’re referring to the McKenzie’s men, they’re it.”

Rowan glares. “Did you kill them?”

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