Page 23 of King of Ruin

“Why wouldn’t Phineas trust his own son?” Shi asks, stepping forward.

When Fiona doesn’t respond, I nic her neck. It’s not enough to do any real damage but it does draw a nice amount of blood. Surprisingly, the girl only sucks in a sharp breath. “Because my brother wasn’t the one that gave them the access codes to the estate.”

“What?” all three of us say in unison.

I feel my blade move slightly as she begins to shake her head but stops herself. “Zek is Phineas’ son by blood but the vile man had no hand in raising him. He lived with me and our mother. I could tell he didn’t want to turn you guys in. He was willing to risk me for–”

“I didn’t ask that. Nor do I give a single iota of a fuck. Who was the one who gave Phineas the codes?” I interject.

“I don’t know an exact name, but my brother wasn’t the first one they used. He was the last resort.”

My gaze flashes to Shi. The guard Z caught couldn’t have been the one. They would have come shortly after his death.

We have so many guards. So many people working for us. Some have been at the estate as long as Onyx’s parents. The new ones, aside from Z, are all placed at the businesses until they build up enough trust to be moved anywhere near the estate.

It’s possible Phineas had the codes for a while and waited for the perfect time. He did just start buying real estate in neutral areas.

“What did Ezekiel want you to tell us?” Shi reroutes the conversation.

She sighs, “he told me to find Maddy and tell her that Onyx is alive, and that he has her location.”

“Which is where?” I hiss, drawing my knife flush against her throat. I want to feel the relief cooling my burning veins but I also know this girl could be lying. If Onyx is dead, the land and all assets fall to me and Shi. This could be just another trap to kill us.

“He said he’d call me with the location in three days.”

“Liar!”

“I’m not. Through all this I have nothing to gain and everything to lose. If it’s not you with this dagger at my neck, it’s a Murphy with a gun at my head. I owe it to my brother to do this.”

“That seems a tad far-fetched, child.” Shi leans on the edge of Kilo’s bed and folds her arms over her chest, her classic wide smile curling her lips. “Even if Ididbelieve this wasn’t some convoluted game to kill us, your brother lied to you. Why do you feel the need to repay him?”

She shakes her head, this time ignoring the metal pressed against her. “He raised me. He’s saved me more times than I can count. I know he didn’t tell me about his father because he wanted to protect me.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Look at you now, little mouse. All alone with three wolves.” I capture her earlobe between my teeth and bite down, her shivers vibrate against me. “Did he think sending you here would be safe?”

“He said that you don’t hurt women,” she squeaks.

I laugh out loud, scaring the frail girl and making her jump. “Your brother lied.”

“Maddy.” Kilo’s voice fills the room. “Let her go.”

“Why the fuck would I do that? She could be the only way we get Boss back.”

“Or you could get her killed!” he snaps.

My eyes flare. Never has Kiloeverraised his voice. Not only that, but he’s not therationalone. The majority of the time I’ve known him he’s been functionally high, but never really had much thought. Sonaturally, now would be the time he’d start.

I release the girl and round the chair before kneeling in front of her. I dip my finger through the small pool of blood at the base of her neck and smear it over the faint freckles decorating the tops of her cheeks. Her thick lashes flutter and I grin. “You have seventy-two hours. If we don’t hear from you by then, I’m calling the number you begged me not to, and we’ll be paying a visit to your mother’s house. Do you understand?”

She nods, her small shivers becoming more visible. “I do.”

I point to the door with my dagger. “Now go on, little mouse, before I ignoremybrother in the bed over there. You know, the oneyourbrother almost got killed, and filet you like a fucking fish.”

Her eyes flit to Kilo once more before she nods and stands. I don’t watch her go but instead turn my heated gaze to Kilo. “Explain.Now.”

His silver irises disappear as his lids drift closed. “I trust her.”

“You don’t even know the girl, Kilo!” I’m screaming now, rage swelling in my body too fast to stop. I latch on to the rails of his bed and shake them. “We trusted Z and look where that got us!”

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