Page 51

Fifty

Killian

“I would like to welcome Killian De Luca to the families officially,” Daniel the Romanian leader says, making everyone in the room clap. “I know we’ll have good years ahead of us with you taking on the new role. Your dad must be proud.”

Everyone in the room agrees which makes me want to roll my eyes.

That asshole could care less what I do.

“One thing, I want you all to know and understand is that my dad and I are not the same. He may be the devil you all are afraid of and talk about but he’s nothing compared to me. This is your guys’ only warning.”

To be completely honest, I want to leave this fucking place and go back to the hotel room with Reign or just go on the dance floor and dance with her. I haven’t seen her yet because as soon as I entered the room there had to be a meeting with all the bosses.

Leo is here but not my dad which made me suspicious of him.

“Trust me, Killian, we’ve heard about you. We know you aren’t your dad,” Manon says, the French leader.

Manon is the youngest of the leaders. He’s twenty-five right now and took the role two years ago due to his dad passing from cancer.

I look forward to working with him since I’ve heard nothing but good things about him.

He’s quiet but deadly, my favorite type of fucked up.

“Good, then we shouldn’t have a problem.”

We talk about a few more things, what we need to look out for, police force or some secret societies, and other business. In these private meetings we don’t talk about alliances or feuds between groups because it causes issues. My dad has brought me to many meetings so I can watch and learn. This is the first meeting I’ve had as boss and by myself.

During the meeting and the closing statements I notice that Malcom and his underboss isn’t here.

The thoughts swarming through my head make my stomach clench, especially since I haven’t seen Reign either.

My heart rate picks up as I think of all the possibilities that could be happening.

My dad.

Malcom.

Reign.

Fucking Reign.

Once the meeting is over, we all leave the room, me being the first. I take out my phone and look through my messages but see none from Reign.

I grip the phone in my hand as I look around the ballroom for her, but I don’t see those blue eyes anywhere.

I see Kyra and Lia sitting at a table in the back but no Reign or Malcom.

A burn hits my chest making me cough, I try to hold it in as best as I can.

I walk towards Jamie who is talking to some man across the room.

“Jamie, pleasure to see you here,” I say, making Jamie turn his head towards me. He raises an eyebrow, basically asking me to leave. I look at the guy he’s talking to. “Sorry to interrupt but I have important business to discuss with Jamie, here.”

The guy looks annoyed but leaves.

“What can I do for you De Luca?” Jamie says in a bored tone.

“Where’s Reign?” I ask, getting straight to the point.

Jamie raises an eyebrow at me. “I thought she was with you. I haven’t seen her since she left the hotel room.”

My jaw clenches and I feel my heart race.

I don’t answer him, instead I turn around and walk towards the exit.

Jamie yells after me but I ignore him.

My dad, Malcom, fucking Reign.

All of them not being here should be a loud enough sign.

I swear if my dad touches a hair on her body, not even Satan himself can save him.

I take the elevators up to the hotel rooms.

My heart racing and my eye twitching from all the thoughts swarming through my head.

I’m overthinking.

I’m being fucking dramatic.

My dad would be stupid to do what I’m thinking.

The elevator dings and as I get out, I hear a gunshot.

My stomach fucking drops.

I take out my gun and run towards the sound of grunting and where the gunshot came from. The grunting and sounds of things falling become more prominent as I get closer and closer to a staff room door.

I push the door open and hold up my gun.

The lighting is dim, but I see my dad and Malcom fighting, punching each other until they are both bloody and bruised.

A gun is on the floor while I notice my dad’s gun in his waistband.

Malcolm's underboss and one of my dad's men are fighting each other off.

But what I’m really fucking fuming over is the fact that Reign is watching all this unfold with one of my dad’s men straddling her on the floor, begging the guard to let her go.

I run towards her and push the guard to the floor. I press him against the floor and start punching him, banging his head against the floor.

“Don’t. You. Ever. Fucking. Touch. Her. Again,” I say after each bang of his head.

“Stop! Think about this-”

“Think?” I ask, looking down at him with dark eyes. “You have no fucking clue what I’m thinking about right now.”

I take my lighter out, get off of him before setting his jacket on fire.

He screams and yells as the fire spreads to his entire body.

He gets up and tries to get rid of the fire while screaming.

Malcom and my dad pause, looking at the guard on fire while I go to Reign and hold her against me.

He screams, yells, and fucking begs for someone to save him, but my mind goes to Reign.

My pulse slows and my heart feels calm for just a few seconds as I stare into her beautiful blues.

“You, okay?” I ask, holding her face in my hands while looking at every inch of her to make sure she doesn’t have a scratches or bruises.

She nods her head and licks her dry lips. She turns her head to look behind me, making me turn my head.

Malcom and my dad stopped fighting as well as their soldiers. They are all bloody and bruised.

They look torn up.

My dad's eyes are void, nothing behind them.

Clouded by revenge.

“I’m so disappointed in you, Killian,” my dad says calmly. He’s sweating and has blood on his face and suit. I’ve never seen my dad get down and dirty before. He always taught me never to take revenge with your own hands unless you have to. Let other people do your dirty work. But right now, looking at him, I understand why people are shocked that he, out of all people, fell in love with my mom. It almost makes me wonder how. “I told you-”

“And I told you to fuck off and leave Reign alone! Did I not?!” I yell, still holding Reign to me. “Why can’t you two just leave each other alone? What is it with this guy that makes you want to ruin his life?” I ask, mainly looking at my dad.

My dad laughs and looks at Malcolm. “Malcolm here likes being a little baby.” Malcom punches him in the face before my dad punches back. Reign flinches making me let go of her and go in between them. I push my dad back as he fights against me. “Killian, move out of the way.”

“You’re done. Enough is enough. I won’t let you kill him,” I say, pushing him away from Malcolm.

My dad stops suddenly and just glares at me.

He appears calm so quickly it almost makes me wary.

My dad.

Ace De Luca.

My mom praised him so much and all I see right now is the monster he keeps hidden and tucked away.

It’s hard to believe that he actually used to be a decent person and was loving and caring when he met my mom but now, he’s finally showing his true colors.

Probably because now, he has no reason to live.

I know the only reason he is being the way he is, is because my mom is dying.

He has no one to impress or love.

His children aren’t enough for him.

“Fine. You want to play? You want me to show you the real world and how cruel it can be, Killian?” I look at my dad’s hands as he reaches for his waistband. “I’ll fucking show you.” He pulls out his gun and aims it at Reign.

Everything is in slow motion as I push him to the ground as the gun goes off.

Reign screams at the same time my heart clenches.

And all of a sudden, what feels like fire spreads throughout my body taking me out.

It’s happening.

I can feel it.

It’s been leading up to this.

I fall to the ground and wince, holding my chest as Reign runs over to me and pushes my hair out of my face.

She is yelling at me, saying something but I can’t focus on her.

So, I say my last words to her.

“I love you.”

The fire spreads through my entire body and when it gets to my heart, it takes me out.