Page 31 of The Devil's Saint

“We need Maloti.”

“Why? Why, after all these years of slaughter and hating him, do we suddenly need him?”

“That’s my business.”

I shake my head.

“It’s not happening. Call it off, or I will,” I demand, not giving two fucks if I’m disobeying him or not.

He rests his back on the chair, eyes narrowing.

“You would do well to remember what happens to those who are not loyal to me.”

My brow lifts in a challenge. “Is that a threat?”

“Betrayal can cut the deepest wounds, son. Family is no exception. You wanted to prove yourself. Prove that you can be a fucking leader.” His voice gets sterner with every word. “This is how you do it. These are the choices leaders make to survive.”

I beg to differ.

“Those are old ways, old traditions. It’s time for new ones.”

“Deals forged in blood; unions made in marriage. That’s always been our way. You don’t question it. You will obey. Whether you agree with it or not, it doesn’t matter.” He leans back nonchalantly. “Especially if you want to keep me from sharing your little fuck buddy around with the rest of my men.”

My brows lowered in confusion. “My little fuck buddy?”

He lets out a menacing laugh. “You seriously thought I didn’t know about you and that little whore Lexy fucking under my roof!”

Roaring angrily, I stand, my chair flying backward as I scramble over the table to get to him.

His face reddens, and his eyes bulge when my hands wrap tightly around his throat, cutting off his air supply. He attempts to fight, but my grip is solid and unyielding. The redness of his skin turns purple, but still, I squeeze harder.

“Don’t you ever…” I grit out, but guards rush in from all angles, trying to break us apart. One grabs me from behind, pushing down on my arms, forcing my grip around my dad’s neck to loosen, while another grabs my waist, pulling me backward.

My dad sinks to his knees, gulping in lung fulls of air.

“Get the fuck off me,” I roar, fighting them off.

“It’s fine. I’m fine. Let him go,” my dad shouts between coughing, and the guards back off.

“I’ll kill you. I’ll fucking kill you,” I roar. If I was pointing a gun instead of my finger, he’d already be dead.

He lets out a menacing laugh. “There he is. The killer behind the mask. This is who you are, son. This family will be unstoppable with the Maloti name on your side.”

“If you ever threaten her or call her a whore again, I’ll slit your fucking throat.”

He barks out a laugh, smoothing down his jumpsuit. “You can’t kill a dead man.”

Wanna bet?

He levels me with a stern glare.” Your ability to love is your weakness. Let me remind you what you have to lose here, son. Something your enemies will use against you.”

My brows furrow. “And you, dad. Are you my enemy?”

He swallows hard, his eyes void of emotion.

“No. No, son, I’m not. Believe it or not, everything I do is for you. Your brother was weak. That stupid girl made him weak. I won’t let that happen again. I won’t lose another son to pussy. I know what’s been going on between you and your stepsister. That the two of you have been fucking in my house for weeks. But it ends now.”

Un-fucking believable.

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