Page 40 of The Last Strike

“Don’t make a habit of this,” she said. “Good night.”

Asher ended the call and looked at the phone in his hands. He couldn’t truly gauge her response, perhaps because he barely knew her. She’d kept Theodora’s death a secret, so he had no reason not to trust her.

Asher could only pray he hadn’t given her a reason not to trust him.

Khalil

“Your Majesty! You need to see this!” Raoul’s voice boomed as a fist pounded on the door.

Khalil’s blood boiled as he looked down at the girl’s pretty face and blond hair splayed over his pillow.

Swearing, he threw off the blankets, put on his robe, and marched to the door. He flung it open. “What is possibly so important that I can’t have five minutes of peace?” he all but growled.

Raoul stilled like he’d been frozen by the ice-cold tone of Khalil’s voice.

“Your Majesty,” he finally said. “You need to turn on the television. Theodora and Asher are—”

Khalil didn’t hear the rest as he stormed toward his living room and turned on the television.

Their faces flashed on the screen and Khalil swore his heart stopped beating.

“I have not turned against Adani, but my father must be stopped,” Theodora said, looking into the camera. “He poisoned Adani’s poor because they were a burden. He knowingly bought trafficked young Adani girls—as young as twelve years of age—to use for his own pleasure and as staff in the palace. We have proof of all of this and it will be released to you soon. King Khalil does not care about Adani, he cares about power. When I refused to marry the Prince of Arinia because I was in love with my boyfriend, he had his guards murder my boyfriend and he forced me to watch. He held me in the cells, and my life was only spared by King Asher of Santina—”

“Stop this! Why are they still on air? Who allowed this?” Khalil couldn’t breathe. He was seeing red. He turned to Raoul, his advisor, and his guards. “Stop it!” he screamed, so violently he felt his words burn his own throat.

“Your Majesty,” Raoul said with a choked voice. He nodded back to the television.

Khalil’s head snapped back. It was black.

He exhaled, but the fury didn’t vanish with the black screen.

“Find out how they did this and execute the order to attack Theodora’s location in Santina. I want it done now! There will be no redemption for her. I will teach her what happens to traitors. I will show all of Adani what happens!”

“Your Majesty, now might not be the time. She is your daughter and if she suddenly dies in an attack, it will only verify that what they’re saying is true. They might not even have proof—this might just be a tactic to force you to make a move. It won’t look good for—”

“Are you telling me how to run my kingdom?” Khalil asked, his voice scathing.

“Your Majesty, I’m just asking you to consider holding off. Just for now,” Raoul said, taking a step back.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion. Order the attack while we know her location. Otherwise you’ll be next in line,” Khalil said, turning his back to him.

His own daughter had betrayed him.Humiliatedhim. This would not go unpunished. Asher had executed his own blood and Santina loved him for it. Now Khalil would do the same to the traitor of Adani.

Khalil turned back to his bed. “Get out!” he yelled, and the girl’s eyes widened.

She clutched the sheet but didn’t move.

“Out!” he screamed.

This time she moved, taking the sheet with her.

He swore again and sat down on the edge of the armchair. His chest burned with fury and his vision blurred.

He should’ve killed her. He should’ve killed her that night in the cells. He’d wanted to teach her a lesson, but he had been too lenient with her.

And look where mercy had gotten him.

He went to the bar and poured himself a stiff drink, gulping it down.

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