by Ella Miles
And my assessment of him has nothing to do with how jealous I felt when Ri hugged him. She let him hold her like she belonged in his arms. She’d never let me hold her like that. She’s too independent, and I’m too much of an unrighteous bastard.
It has nothing to do with how he sniffed her hair when he held her.
It has nothing to do with how he held her for way longer than was necessary to gain comfort.
It has nothing to do with how the first emotion he’s shown since his sister died is lust for Ri.
It has nothing to do with anything except for one word—challenger.
No one ever mentioned a challenger. And everyone has been following my orders this entire time. But apparently, they were manipulating me because they left a very important part out. Initiation is not just some ceremony, not just some task I have to complete in front of everyone in order to get the job. No, I have to beat Caius, the current leader’s son.
I’ve been set up, betrayed, and that’s something I won’t tolerate.
“What is this about challenging?”
No one looks at me as I ask the question. All the guys suddenly find the ground very entertaining.
Ri keeps her eyes going back and forth between us, but she can’t mediate this.
Caius stares at me, but it’s more like he’s seeing through me. His emotions are once again gone.
I step into his space. If I’m going to have to beat this asshole, I’d rather beat him here and now rather than wait for some game to give him the clear advantage.
“Beckett, don’t,” Ri says, trying to push her hands against my shoulder to keep me back. “He just got horrible news about his father. Cut him some slack.”
Her eyes are wide and pleading. Her hand is gentle yet firm on my chest. It wouldn’t surprise me if she pulled a gun on me to keep me from hurting Caius.
But she does have a soft spot for him for some reason. Maybe I’m not the only one who feels a connection with her when I’m around her.
Fuck.
I step back. It’s clear I’m not going to get any information from him.
“Lennox?”
He glares at me.
“Gage?”
He gives me an apologetic shrug.
“Hayes? I’ll beat your ass if you don’t tell me what’s going on and why you fuckers didn’t tell me sooner.”
He adjusts his glasses and tugs loose his bun until he can run his hand through his hair.
“We should have told you, but we were forbidden.”
Ri’s eyes meet mine at the word. Why the hell is everything forbidden? And why do people keep thinking that matters to me? Nothing is forbidden to me.
“Forbidden by who?” I growl.
“Monroe and the rest of the leaders. They want a fair fight.”
“How is it fair if Caius knows about the initiation, all of you did, while I knew nothing?”
“For an outsider to win, he has to defeat all of the odds. He has to prove that he is worthy of leading us.”
“So everything to this point has been bullshit? You guys don’t want me as your leader; you want Caius? You just fed me lies so I would go along with everything, and then what? You give me a disadvantage and let Caius kill me?”
“Unlike the mafia, we don’t have our men fight to the death. Whoever loses will be offered a leadership position. You can choose any sect you want to lead. You were chosen carefully, so we’re confident you’ll be impactful in any part of our organization.”
Chosen.
It wasn’t a love story.
I’m so sick of hearing that.
It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter that they aren’t really my friends; I already have friends that are my family. I even left that family because it hurt too much to see them living their happily ever afters while I had no one. Family I would have died for. Family I wasn’t worthy of.
I turn to the errand boy. “Where is the initiation?”
He gives me the address. I’m surprised to see it’s not the headquarters is in the city. Instead, it’s a compound just out of the city. I grab my shirt and bottle of water before I march into the house to find my keys.
Everyone else enters shortly after me. Caius grabs the set of keys that goes to the SUV, and then he heads out.
I follow and head to the Maserati. It’s a smaller car, but still plenty of room for someone to ride with me.
All of the guys pile in Caius’s car. Ri stands at the base of the stairs that lead into the house looking back and forth between the two cars like she doesn’t know which car to enter.
I furrow my eyebrow, letting her choose.
“Princess, you coming? I saved you shotgun,” Caius says, rolling down the passenger window.
She flashes me one last look I can’t read and then heads to Caius’s car. I watch as he reaches over and takes her hand. She doesn’t fight him or react. No smart words leave her mouth as far as I can tell. She just lets him hold her hand. Then she leans down and kisses the top.
I want to vomit at the sight.
Instead, I speed out of the driveway, letting the car go as fast as it can as I zip to the address.
They view me as an outsider they plucked from nowhere for Caius to defeat. They all chose him. Ri chose him. Odette picked me out to lose to him.
I don’t want to be their leader, but I’m going to win. If only so I can make them all pay for destroying my life.
I was happy before.
I had a family.
But they weren’t really mine. They all went home to their spouses and kids at the end of the night. When I went home, I had no one. I was alone. I’m still alone. And a lone wolf is a dangerous thing.
“Take your first left,” the guard says as he opens the gate to the Retribution Kings’ complex.
I speed up, taking my first left like he said. It’s like a small city in here, complete with houses and businesses. Training facilities, the guards, the security measures—that’s what makes it different from a regular town.
I stop at the last building on the street. It’s a large building, and I have no doubt there is a fighting ring set up in the middle.
Caius is good, but I’m a better fighter. As long as the rules are fair. As long as he hasn’t been holding back all of his skills.
But I hate being the center of attention. I hate putting on a show. My blood is boiling.
No, I don’t think I’ll have any problem beating him no matter the game. No matter how fair it is.
I walk inside, not sure what to expect, but I won’t show fear, weakness. I won’t bow to anyone.
The hallway is crowded. Most people don’t notice me; they’re too enthralled in their own conversations as I move past them, trying to find out what I’m expected to do. But a few of them stare. I can’t hide who I am, not when I’m missing an arm.
I glare at anyone who looks. It’s probably not the best way to make friends, but I don’t give a fuck.
I walk toward the center room—an arena is in the middle, and all the seats surround it. We’re going to be excepted to fight.
“Don’t be nervous. They want you to win,” a woman says next to me.
I look over at her. I’ve met her before, but I’m surprised she’s talking to me now.
“What do you want, Emma?” She was one of Odette’s best friends, but she’s always made it clear that she hates me.
“Just to fill you in on what you should have been told to you from the start.”
My head snaps to her. “You think I should have been told? I thought you hated me?”
“Only because I knew what marrying you would mean for Odette. She would never have a chance to find love on her own.”
I frown and look back at the boxing ring.
“I’m sorry—that wasn’t a reflection of you. I know you loved her. You would have loved her and taken care of her even after you found out the truth. But she deserved to be able to choose for herself.”
“Odette didn’t love me, did
she?”
Emma bites her lip.
“Don’t clam up on me now. You’ve always been honest. I need that right now before whatever I’m about to face.”
“She didn’t love you. She liked you, said the sex was out of this world hot.”
I smirk.
She rolls her eyes and then chooses her next words carefully. “She might have fallen in love with you eventually, after the truth came out, after this part was all over. But Odette was young; she wasn’t ready to get married. She didn’t want a husband and kids yet.”
I nod slowly, taking her words in.
“So I was chosen to fail, to make Caius look good.”
Emma laughs. “No, not exactly. The tradition is for any of the leaders’ sons to fight to become the king of the Retribution Kings.”
“So why do you need me?”
“Monroe only had one son—Caius. There are three other leaders just below Monroe whose sons could compete. The first had all daughters. The second had one son, but he’s better with a computer than his fists. He’d never stand a chance against Caius. And the third’s son died two years ago.”
I shift my feet as I wait for her to finish.
“The Kings like to think they are more evolved than the mafia, but they are all the same—sexist organizations that deem sons better than daughters. They pretend we are part of the group, while truly only thinking about us as safety risks that can be stolen to get them to do what they want. Hence why we are called Kings, not royalty or something more inclusive.”
She sounds bitter about it. I look at her more closely. She’s fit, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she had trained to be a fighter. And yet, she will never have a shot.
“Your brother was the one who died?”
She nods, sucking back tears.
I should say I’m sorry, but after losing Odette, I’m tired of those words. They don’t help.
“I’m a fool for loving her, aren’t I?”
“No, that’s why she chose you.”
“My heart?” I scoff.
“The fact that you still had one after being in this world meant you were different. Monroe and the rest will say you were chosen because of the adversity you faced.” She glances at where my arm should be. “But really, Odette found you. She liked you, thought you were hot, but also knew you would care. You would change things. Protect us in a way that Caius wouldn’t. He’d stick to tradition. He’d keep things the same.”
“Caius and Odette weren’t on good terms?”
“They were close, and Odette loved her brother. Monroe is the exception, not the rule. Most Kings die long before they reach sixty. They marry and have kids young to ensure that someone is ready to take their place. She didn’t want that for her brother.”
“So, what do I do now?”
“You don’t owe Odette anything. You don’t owe any of us anything. But if I were you, I’d win. Then you can decide who you want revenge against—Corsi and the mafia, or Caius, Monroe, and the rest of the Retribution Kings.”
I stare at her darkly.
She shrugs. “That’s what they teach us all from a young age—retribution is the most important thing. It’s hard to think about anything else.”
I nod my head toward the ring. “I assume I’ll be fighting Caius?”
“Among other things.”
“Who will you be betting on winning?”
She gives me a smug smile. “Caius—everyone will be betting on Caius. He ensures our survival.”
“I thought you liked me?”
“You know I’ve always hated you, sorry. We aren’t going to be friends.”
“Then, why did you tell me all of that?”
“Because Odette should have. She should have stopped the fake fairytale much sooner. You shouldn’t be mourning. You should be happy you’re free. Win or lose, you get to decide.”
“I’m going to win.”
“I hope so, but I’m still betting on Caius. He’s prepared his whole life for this.”
I sigh while more people file in.
“Thanks for the information, Emma. But I’d change your bet if I were you. You’re not going to want to be on the wrong side when I win.”
“I’m counting on it.”
I don’t look at her again as I jog down the stairs to where a man stands with a microphone asking people to take their seats.
“Beckett, I’m Harry, Caius’s uncle.”
I nod but don’t shake his hand. I assume he’s one of the leaders who didn’t produce a son or one worth fighting, but I don’t ask to confirm.
Caius walks toward us with his posse and Ri by his side.
“Harry,” Caius nods at him.
“How are you holding up?” Harry asks him.
“I was born for this day.”
“Good, good.”
He looks from Caius to me. “We are going to do the first two steps today. The final step is more of a long game, but whoever wins the first two steps will take the leadership position from Monroe immediately. Even if he recovers, he’s not in a good enough place to lead.”
“What if there’s a tie?” Ri asks.
“There won’t be a tie,” both Caius and I say at the same time in rough, gravely voices.
Harry chuckles. “There won’t be a tie, but if there is, we’ve already accounted for that situation.”
“What are the rules?” I ask.
“No rules for this first round. You fight until one of you can’t get up or surrenders. Anything goes, and any weapon you want can be brought in.”
I glance to Caius, already guessing he’s got a dozen weapons stashed under his clothes.
I did have the foresight to grab my gun and a knife from the car, but I don’t plan on using them. My fist will do just fine.
“You both have five minutes. I’ll make some announcements, and then we’ll begin,” Harry says.
Caius walks to the other side and starts warming up. The rest of the guys follow, although Hayes looks torn, like he might want to hang with me. But at the last minute, changes his mind and retreats to Caius’s corner.
If I win, Hayes is the only one I’ll give a second chance to. Everyone else can get the hell out.
“It looks like they all think Caius is going to win. What about you, Ri? Who are you betting on, Caius or me?”
“Caius…”
14
Ri
The glare Beckett gives me when I say Caius instead of his name is priceless. I would have said Caius just to watch the smug smirk on Beckett’s face turn in the devil’s.
I don’t think Caius is going to win; I know Beckett will. But Beckett doesn’t trust me. He doesn’t like me. He plays degrading games with me—games I like way too fucking much, but I’ll never admit that.
If he wants me to bet on him, then he needs to be on my side too. He needs to admit he likes me, trusts me, that we are on the same side.
I lie and say Caius’s name because I know it will piss Beckett off. He’ll fight harder because of it to try and prove me wrong. I’ll pay for it later with vicious kisses or, if I’m lucky, a delicious punish-fuck. Win-win for me.
I also say Caius’s name because I need to protect my own life. Sure, I can kick a guy’s ass, but not dozens. I need Caius to be willing to save me, just like Beckett is. I need him to want to win Vincent’s game just like Beckett does. I can survive married to either of them—but the rest? I’d rather die.
Still, I feel bad for Beckett as I walk away, so I throw him a hint—a wink I’m not even sure he saw at first.
But then his eyes turn villainous. He looks like he wants to murder me for taunting him, for pretending to choose Caius when I’d rather choose him. I have to play my odds. Caius won’t forgive me if I always choose Beckett over him. He’s too sweet; his heart is too fragile.
Beckett, on the other hand, likes my snarky mouth. He likes that I’m his equal. He likes the back and forth between us.
And right now, Caius needs me more. He lo
st his sister; he’s about to lose his father. Beckett just lost a woman he thought he loved, when really he’s pissed at himself for falling for a liar.
I hear Harry start announcing the fight and rules, while the guys surround Caius, giving him a pep talk.
“You got this,” I say with a smile.
“Good luck kiss?” Caius asks.
I lean forward, planning on kissing him on the cheek, when he leans forward and captures my lips before I can move. The heated stare at the back of my head tells me that Beckett sees the kiss. And Caius’s smirk when he pulls away tells me he did it to piss Beckett off.
It’s a mistake.
He thinks it will show that he has me. All it will do is fuel Beckett’s fire more.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” I say.
“I wanted to.”
“You wanted to piss Beckett off?”
He grabs my chin and looks deep into my eyes. “I wanted to kiss you. I’ve been dying to since I kissed you in the box in front of everyone. Pissing him off was just a bonus.”
His eyes are sincere, and I felt him put everything into that kiss. I wish I could say I felt all the feels when he kissed me. Then I’d know that I have a chance of not having my heart broken at the end of this. Even if Beckett becomes their king, even if he wins Vincent’s game, it doesn’t mean he’ll ever love me—not like I will him.
My only goal is to survive—but there will be no happily ever for me. There will only be hope that a man I can survive with wins, or I find a way out.
Caius hops up and into the ring, as does Beckett from the other corner. I know Caius is angry—he has plenty of pain and grief he has to work through—but he’s got nothing on Beckett. I don’t understand Beckett’s anger, but it goes deeper than just Odette, much deeper. It’s like it’s been living inside him this entire time, and losing Odette allowed him to unleash it.
Hayes stands next to me, while Gage stands closer to Lennox.
“So who do you really think is going to win?” he asks so low I don’t think the others heard him.
I look up at Hayes and see the twinkle in his eyes. “Apparently, the same person you do.”
