Page 218 of Tempting Little Thief

“This is personal.”

Curious, I sit back, nodding slightly.

“If you had a choice, and it came down to leading your family name or taking the head chancellor seat at Greyson Manor, what would you choose?”

My mouth waters instantly, a tingling sensation sweeping across my arms, goose bumps rising. I look away from his prying eyes,unable to speak the words, but my hesitation, my delay in response, is answer enough. So, when I give one, we both know that while the words leave me, it’s my father’s voice that’s heard.

“I would do as I must, no matter what.” My eyes slice up and hold his. “Like a good daughter would … Sai, tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I can’t do that, but I can tell you this.” He spins to face me. “You are doing exactly what I hoped you would, and without the guidance I had planned to offer.”

I blink, looking to the girls.

I know what they want. We’ve spoken of it many times, so I can say whatever I wish right now without conversing with them first.

Calvin is not intended to be the head of Greyson Manor. One of us is, and whenever he is absent, I stand in, the girls at my side. If I had to choose between being head of my family or head of the society we’ve created, of the family we created at the manor and school and all things Greyson, what would I pick? Me?

I look to my father. His entire life is dedicated to building the empire he has. He’s sacrificed so much, lost even more, including his wife. If I don’t take over the Revenaw name, it is all for nothing. The inevitable end of an era as Greyson becomes my purpose in life.

But as I look into my father’s grave eyes, he ever so slowly lowers his chin and then does something I don’t expect. He shifts them, looking to the man before me, the one still holding on and standing tall … the one who still has his gaze trained on me.

I look into his beautiful baby blues for a long moment, and then I step away from him, his hand only falling from my skin when it’s forced to as I face Calvin.

“A Greyson is required to finish school at Greyson Elite Academy. I’m not done and I won’t take the easy way out. When the time comes, I will take your seat.”

I turn my head, looking up into Bastian’s eyes once more.

He sees it, shaking his head slowly. “I did none of this for me, Rich Girl. I got what I want. I need nothing else.”

I nod because I believe him.

His words are true.

He was never after taking my world, he just wanted me, but along the way, he earned so much more … including the respect of my father, as twisted as it may have come.

He stole for me, killed for me, risked everything and held back nothing … for me. Forced my father’s hand, demanded he become the man I spoke of and take responsibility for his actions, gave him a chance to step back on the correct path. My father passed the test Bastian gave him, even just barely, but the only reason he was tested at all … was for me.

Not blood before all.

Love over all.

So I take his bloody hand as I look back to Calvin. “Call the union, let them know there is a new head of the Revenaw empire, and if they wish to meet him, they can come to him.”

Calvin gives a single nod as he steps forward, offering Bastian a hand.

“Welcome. I hope your stomach is made of stone.”

“Trust me.” He smirks. “It is.”

“You’ll need to choose your team. Two guards at least to start, and I imagine one will be the psycho who left with Enzo?”

Bastian nods.

“And a second?”

He looks to Dom, who gives a curt nod as if the two understand one another, and a small bout of dread fills me at the thought of losing Dom in our day-to-day operations. “Does anyone really have to ask?” he says.

But when Dom doesn’t so much as blink, rather standing tall and proud, I frown, glancing at Bastian, who looks to the right and drops his chin.

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