Page 28 of King of Violence

“The Valmont operation is functional,” Elijah interjects, his tone smooth, as if this is a casual conversation over dinner. “But there’s untapped potential. Your connections on campus could help us expand—fraternities, student organizations, maybe even the faculty. They’re all ripe for the picking.”

I clench my fists, already seeing where this is headed.

Father leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “You have access we don’t, Julian. You could identify people to bring in discreetly. Individuals we can trust to move cash without drawing attention.”

“You want me to recruit?” I ask, my voice tight.

“No,” Father replies icily. “I want you to facilitate. You don’t need to make deals or handle money directly. You just need to identify the right people—those who can follow instructions without asking questions.”

I shake my head, the weight of his words sinking in. “I’m not doing that. I’m not dragging my school into this.”

Elijah snorts and takes a lazy sip of his drink. “Don’t be dramatic, Jules. This is the whole reason you’re in that school in the first place.”

“I thought it was to give our family a better image,” I snap.

My father’s eyes darken, his jaw tightening. “You seem to be under the impression that this is a discussion. It’s not. This family has given you everything—your education, your lifestyle, your future. It’s time you started pulling your weight.”

“I’ve been pulling my weight!” I snap, unable to hold back. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked, and now you want me to turn my school into a fucking crime scene?”

Father stands, moving with the calculated precision of a predator. “Watch your tone,” he warns, his voice deadly quiet.

The tension in the room is suffocating, but I don’t back down. “I won’t do it.”

The slap comes faster than I expect, sharp and stinging across my cheek. My head snaps to the side, but I stay on my feet.

My father steps closer, his expression eerily calm. “You seem to have forgotten who you’re speaking to.”

Before I can respond, his hand grips my arm and yanks me forward. His fist slams into my side—once, twice—each blow calculated to avoid leaving visible marks.

“Do you understand now?” he asks, his voice low and venomous in my ear.

I nod, swallowing hard against the bile rising in my throat.

“Good,” he says, releasing me. “You’ll do as you’re told. For your sake, I suggest you stop resisting.”

Elijah watches silently from the bar, his smirk replaced with something colder and more calculating.

I force myself to stand straight and ignore the throbbing ache in my ribs. “May I be excused?”

Father waves a dismissive hand. “Go. And remember, Julian, this family doesn’t tolerate weakness.”

I rush out of the study and limp to my childhood bedroom. I won’t be able to make it back to my apartment tonight. I collapse onto the bed, my breaths coming in shallow gasps. Every movement sends a fresh wave of pain through my side, but I can’t let myself fall apart. Not here.

The walls are the same as when I was a kid, decorated with posters of bands I don’t even listen to anymore and trophies from sports I don’t care about. It’s like stepping back into the life of a stranger—a version of me who didn’t have to carry this weight.

I pull out my phone, scrolling absently until I land on a photo of Felix and me. It’s from a few weeks ago, taken at the campus coffee shop. He wasn’t even smiling, just staring at the camera like he couldn’t be bothered, but his expression makes me laugh every time I see it. I trace my thumb over his face, the conflict in my chest almost too much to bear.

Felix has no idea what he’s gotten himself into by being around me. I should keep him at arm’s length, but he’s relentless, always challenging me, never giving me an inch. It’s infuriating and addictive all at once. But tonight’s meeting was a reminder of the lines I can’t cross. My family doesn’t just destroy lives—they devour them whole. And if they ever find out about Felix, they’ll see him as a weakness to exploit, a pawn in their never-ending game.

I can’t let that happen.

I set the phone down and scrub my hands over my face. Staying away from Felix should be the easiest thing in the world. It’s the logical choice, the safe choice.

But logic has never been my strong suit when it comes to him.

I glance back at the photo one last time before locking my phone and shoving it into my pocket.

For his sake, I need to let him go. But for mine? I don’t know if I can.

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