Page 30 of Sinner
Because the reality was, he viewed them both equally after all.
West had been wrong. His father didn’t care for Lake more than he cared about him.
They were both merely pawns in Demitrious’s bid for control over the crown.
He was still talking, going on and on about his plans to silence Nix and ensure his family never spoke out. For how Lake would eventually see reason and thank him for acting in his stead.
West was on his feet before he even realized what he was doing, the ticket crumpling in his fist as a wave of unbridled fury swept through him.
“What gives you the right?” he asked, and there must have been a thread of that anger in his tone, for his father actually shut up, his eyes widening ever so slightly. And it was in that look that West really remembered who he was.
He was West Corleone, best friend of the future emperor, already considered a pro wrestler on planet, and feared by even members of the High Council. He hadn’t beaten and raged his way through adolescence, carved out a name for himself as one of the most terrifying Demons to have ever existed, just so some wrinkly old man past his prime could walk all over him.
“Who do you thinkyouare?” West sneered and gave him a disgusted once-over. “You’re nothing.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’ve already been excused.” He twisted his wrist to access his multi-slate and opened the secure app he’d stored there. With only three clicks, he sealed his father’s fate. “The Order knows about all of your misdeeds. The High Council has chosen to crown Lake. We don’t need you anymore.”
He was making this decision without Lake or Yejun, but it was true. Everything had already lined up perfectly for them.Demetrious was powerless to stop them now, which meant West didn’t need to hold onto these feelings of insecurity any longer.
If Nix could find a way to get over all of the things he’d been forced to endure, the least West could do was handle his own daddy issues.
“Source of discontent? That’s you. Look in the mirror, Father. You’ve done nothing but push us into corners our whole lives. Trust you to make the tough decisions? You’ve never made a choice that didn’t benefit you, to hell with everyone else. You don’t know the meaning of compromise or sacrifice. You would make for a terrible ruler and an even worse lover, so you have no right to sit there and pretend you understand anything Lake or I are feeling.”
“Feelings are—”
“The only thing unimportant in this room, Demitrious,” he growled, “is you.” West dropped the file back onto the table, sending papers flying. “Keep your threats and your delusions of grandeur, but know this. I’m done bowing to your shadow. If you come for what’s mine, I’ll destroy you.”
Demitrious puffed out his chest, fuming. “How dare you! You cocky little—”
“If you’d ever bothered to learn anything about me, you’d know it’s not false confidence making me say this. I have the skills and the knowledge to back up my threats. Don’t believe me? Check your email. I sent a direct message to every member on the Order, which, up until now, meant you as well. Though, I don’t imagine you’ll sit there for much longer.”
His father seemed to struggle with wanting to save face, but eventually he accessed his device and checked, face turning red the moment he started to read and saw West was telling the truth.
He’d been sitting on that file for years. A compiled document containing all of Demitrious’s criminal dealingsbehind the Order’s back, many of which had resulted in direct losses for them.
“Now the whole world will see that you’re nothing more than an empty shell. You talk a good game, but you don’t know the meaning of the word loyalty.” West tossed the balled-up ticket onto the ground between his father’s feet. “Here. Looks like you’re the one who’s going to need this.”
He’d dreamed of the day he’d finally grow a backbone and tell his father off. Of the moment they no longer needed to kiss Demitrious’s ass, and West could air all his grievances. But now that it was finally here, he found there wasn’t nearly as much to say as he’d once thought.
Talking to someone like Demitrious was the same as talking to an empty room.
A complete and total waste of time.
“One last thing.” West waited until his father tore his gaze off the screen and rested it back onto him. “If I ever hear you’ve spoken badly of Nix again, I’ll cut out your tongue and let Yejun piss on it while you watch. No one gets to say shit about my man.”
West didn’t rush out. He took his time leaving the mansion he’d grown up in, the one filled with memories of him and Lake living side by side. Of lonely nights, stewing in his envy, feeling sorry for himself. Plotting ways to make his dad take notice and care, for even a fleeting moment.
It was easy to go.
His real family had never called that home anyway.
Chapter 10:
“Are you sure?”
Nix caught Briant’s eye in the mirror and gave him a sharp look.
