Page 135 of Reign of a Billionaire

“There was one thing you were right about.” Her subject changes gave me whiplash, but I held on.

“What’s that?”

“I had to play their tunes so she’d stay safe.” My hands shook, trying not to imagine everything my twin was going through. “Every time I looked at you, you reminded me that you led her straight into their hands.”

I might have come into my own with Kingston, but I’d be lying if I said those words didn’t hurt like bullets. Every one of them dug into my skin, leaving behind more invisible marks. My mother might have fixed my scars cosmetically, but the invisible ones were worse.

Kingston came around me and pointed his gun at Sofia’s forehead. “You might want to reconsider your words.”

I brought my hand to his forearm and squeezed. “She’s egging you on.” Turning to face back to her, I asked, “What did you mean by needing someone from the other side?”

She shrugged. “A family that participates in human trafficking.” An idea filtered in, and suddenly, I knew exactly who or what family would help me as my mother’s next words spread fire through my chest. Giovanni Agosti. “I should have made you my regular fuckboy, Ghost.”

Rage crawled up my neck and over my cheeks, burning my ears. I brought my hand to Kingston, meeting his eyes in silent understanding. The kill was his, but the blood was mine. It was time that someone killedforhim.

He let me take his gun, the cold metal stark against my burning fingers.

Those eyes feral on me, unlike anything I’d ever seen before, I didn’t look away. “Goodbye, Sofia.”

Then I pulled the trigger, the bullet finding its target between her eyes.

Blood splattered across my dress and a tormented scream left my throat as I fell down onto my knees. Not for her. Not for me. For him, my Kingston, who’d saved me so many times.

Big arms came around my waist, pulling me up to my feet and offering me their strength. The familiar masculine scent of musky cologne cut through the fog, the feeling of safety seeping into me.

I buried my face into his chest and started to sob.

Our story began with blood; it was only fitting that it ended with blood too.

Chapter 65

Kingston

Sofia’s death delayed our date by a few days.

We had her buried in an unmarked grave. Lou’s hand in mine and our fingers interlocked, we watched the coffin disappear into the dirt, and I couldn’t help but wish that bitch made it all the way down to the last layer of Dante’s hell. We didn’t linger, our hearts filled with relief rather than sorrow.

Sofia was past and all I wanted to do was enjoy the here and now.

My attention on Lou, I couldn’t take my eyes off the first and only girl I’d ever loved. It was our date night. Finally.

Our first date was at an outside Moroccan restaurant onPraia da Figueirinhabeach outside Lisbon. It was fitting, considering our dream was always to escape to the beach.

We ate, and then we walked the beach hand in hand until we got to our final destination.

“What’s that?” she asked, pointing ahead of us.

“Let’s go check it out,” I suggested. I didn’t have to tell her twice. She was already tugging me along, her small steps eagerly rushing forward.

“Oh… my… Is that a concert?” Lou’s eyes lit up like the stars above us, excited flush coloring her cheeks. “I’ve never heard of a concert on a beach.”

I watched her as she ran circles around me, bubbling with excitement.

“I figured we could combine all our favorites,” I mused. “Beach, date, and concert.”

She looked at me with that rare happy smile and my hollow chest soaked it up. I was going to keep her this way, happy and safe, so I could see that smile on her face every day of my life.

I followed her, taking her hand back in mine. Her touch, however small, always grounded me. It assured me I wasn’t dreaming, that she was really right here with me.