Page 67 of King of Ruin

I clamp my jaw shut, ignoring the pain of my molars smashing together. If I hadn’t entertained the thought of killing this man before, it’s all I want to do now. It’d be such an easy feat to overthrow him and burn his legacy to the ground. I’d reign over the ashes and be king of the ruins.

“Let me explain how you will redeem yourself and earn what you seek.” Phineas clears his throat and nods to Onyx. “Since you’ve been fucking her, I’m sure it will be easier for you to keep her in line. Keep her complacent and docile until everything is done.”

“This woman doesn’t know what complacency is. She will wake up and kill half your men within the first five minutes.” I hear how proud I am saying that, and, in the moment, I don’t care if he hears it too.

“Yes, I figured as much. We’ll starve her for a bit. Weaken her. You’ll be the one to move her, should the time arise. Hopefully, the paperwork will be done before the end of the week, and I will be rid of her and that entire family once and for all.”

“Paperwork?”

He nods, slipping his phone from his pocket once more. “She’ll sign over everything to me.”

“She won’t sign anything.”

Phineas eyes me for a moment, tilting his head in thought as he passes a look from me to her and back again. “I need you to find a way to make her trust you again. Tell her the sob story about not having a choice and you did it to save your sister. Make her feel bad for you. Then, I don’t care how you do it, but convince her to sign ownership over.”

“How in the hell do you propose I do that?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. Fuck her some more? Tell her you’ll kill me. There’s no limit to how many things you can hold over a person, so I don’t really care. That’s your mistake to fix. You figure it out. And once you do, an obscene amount of money is yours. Then you and your little family can flee. For the time being.”

He’s such an idiotic man. Money, one of the many thingshe’sheld over my head, would guarantee he’d never see us again.

Once the cash is pulled, new identities can be assigned. There will be no trail of our existence, and no way he could ever get to us. I know because I made sure no matter what, Fiona and my mother would be able to escape even if I didn’t make it out alive.

Still, I entertain his foolishness. “And the point of letting us escape if you plan to haul me right back here?”

“I may not. Who’s to say? But be grateful I don’t just kill you.” Phineas sits back and gives his full attention to his phone, not knowing he’s made the funniest joke I’ve ever heard.

The rest of the time, I watch Onyx sleep and begin formulating my next steps. There are so many loose ends, and not enough time, but one thing I know for certain is this woman will not lose.

In all the books I’ve read, I always try to figure out the mystery before it’s revealed. Try to solve how the protagonist will overcome the monster, killer, or ghost that plagues them.

In each one, they all had to overcome their own obstacles before they could actually do anything. It was a necessity, or else, whenever they tried to do something, they were reckless and ended up putting themselves in a worse situation.

Though I only read it in fiction, I connected with the need to overcome my inner demons. I hated the mafia. I hated what they stood for. What they did and didn’t do, and how they were able to rest peacefully at night while people suffered at their hands. My deep-seated hatred for both that and my father made me blind to anything else.

I developed preconceived notions about everything. Men needed to protect women. The mafia only cared about money and destruction. Those addicted to drugs would find it impossible to start over.

Then I met Onyx and her family, and realized just how wrong I was.

Women don’t need to be saved. They are more than capable of doing it themselves. It’s men’s responsibility to not put them in harm’s way to begin with.

While the mafia as an entity is morally corrupt, so is any form of government. The only difference is, you see the mob in it’s raw, bloody form, while politicians go the extra mile to hide behind the facade of whitened teeth and a patriotic pin on their lapels. Not only that, but Onyx has shown me how the mob is capable of both saving and giving back to the community just as much as they deal in weapons and run casinos.

My mother was the dimming light that convinced me that people would rather give up, than start over. But Trick and Trigger, along with the women at Hearts, showed me that no one is the same. Every survivor is different and has a path unique to them. Rehabilitation is possible for those that want it, and even more so for those who have others that will stay by their side through all the hard work required.

All I’ve known is hate, lies, greed, and hell.

But now I want to feel salvation. I want to see the rivers run red as my redemption leaks from the head of my father. I want to watch the blood turn cold as the life-long tyrant who has reigned over my existence for far too long, takes his last breath.

My journey has taken a turn, and no longer will I seek freedom. Now, I will have what was always meant to be mine, sitting idle as it waits to be claimed.

There is only one thing left to do before I ensure everything comes to pass.

When I enter my father’s office, he and Sam are relaxed at his desk, sipping dark liquid from a glass. It’s a celebratory drink and a premature one at that.

They turn in tandem and gaze at me before Phineas raises his glass. “To the son who has finally decided to become a man.”

Sam’s smile is forced, the edges of his lips twitching as he fights to keep them curved. “I’m looking forward to seeing how you prove yourself over the Embros army.”

---