Page 60 of Dark Wolf Soul
“I told you before, all of you can come with me—”
“And we told you, this is our home, and we don’t abandon our people,” she says, her eyes flashing.
Grey doesn’t answer.
“We need a leader who’s willing to fight for us, protect us,” she says. “Someone who can bring stability to this chaos and put the people of this city first. And that someone is you.”
Ramsey smirks, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Yeah, brother, just imagine all the power, the respect. You’ve got the chance to rule this city, to make it yours. Don’t tell me that doesn’t tempt you even a little.”
Grey's gaze shifts from one face to another, each one filled with expectation and hope.
His eyes linger on mine like he’s finally remembered me still sitting here, an outsider in this tangled web of loyalty and danger.
He takes a deep breath and looks back at the others. “I left because I never asked for this fucked up life. I owe my family nothing. And honestly, I don’t owe this city shit either. But I do have a responsibility to the people who’ve stood by my side all this time.”
“Fuck yeah,” Dutch mutters.
“And,” he adds slowly as if his hesitance is melting away as he speaks the words, “If we don’t help the people in this city, no one else will either.”
He looks at me again, this time with more force behind his gaze. There’s a flash of emotion behind the hardened mask he wears, something that stirs my blood and makes my heart race. Like somehow, I factor into this decision he’s making.
“It has to be us,” Mia says firmly, and he looks back at her.
“It has to be us,” he echoes.
“Whoop,” Dutch calls out.
“Hell yeah,” Razor says, pumping a fist in the air.
A wave of relief washes over the others, and even I can't help but feel a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead. I’m still the new girl, trying to understand the intricacies of this world, but I don’t miss how Grey’s resolve strengthens before my eyes. A reluctant hero taking his place in a world he never wanted—but a world that needs him nonetheless.
The others push to their feet, crowding in to high-five Grey, and I rise too but only so I can slip away. The weight of their words lingers in my mind as I head down to the riverbank. I’m still too new to this life to fully understand what it is they’ve just committed to, but I know it has to do with taking on both Franco GiovanniandVincenzo Diavolo—two mafia leaders instead of just the one. Which means this journey has only just begun, and I'm about to witness something extraordinary—Grey, the reluctant mafia prince, stepping up to embrace his destiny and take back his kingdom. And I can’t shake the feeling that he’s doing it for me.
20
GREY
Ramsey and Razor celebrate with more shots. Crow and Dutch drift off to plan a supply run despite me insisting we aren’t doing this with violence if we can help it. Mia remains behind, quietly contemplating—like I knew she would. That girl never says everything she’s thinking. It’s one of the things that makes her a formidable foe—and a valuable ally. She’s so much more than people give her credit for; I’m finding that most women usually are. And when she turns that strategic brain on me, it fucking scares me more than I want to admit. The look in her eye has me bracing for whatever she says next.
“He knows what you did to Trucker,” she says when we’re alone.
“How do you know?” I ask, hoping she’s wrong. But Mia never is.
“I just do.”
“Will he use it?”
Stupid question. I already know he will. It’s what I would do if I were in his shoes. Not that I’d ever be in his shoes.
She shrugs. “When it suits him.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, glancing past her to where Lexi sits by the water. The moment I see her, every doubt I have vanishes. I lied to them before. I’m not just doing this for them or even for the people of this city. I’m doing it for her, which makes me the biggest kind of idiot.
There’s never been anyone more forbidden or more off-limits for me than Lexi Giovanni. There’s never been anyone less worthy of going against my father over. Hell, I left town for five years rather than pick sides against him, and less than three days back in town, with Lexi by my side, I’ve just declared war on the man.
For her.
My wolf wants her, and my cock craves her. It’s two against one.
