Page 54 of Reign of a Billionaire

“It worked for Romeo and Juliet,” I deadpanned.

“They ended up dead,” Byron pointed out.

I shrugged. “We all die one day.”

“Morbid, but true,” Alessio agreed. “Is there a reason your girl would want you dead?”

I didn’t answer. There was no easy way to explain it. Or maybe there was, but I wouldn’t give it to them.

“Do you want us totake careof her?” Royce’s words barely left his mouth before I was in his face.

“You get anywhere near her, I’ll fucking kill you.” The threat slipped through my lips effortlessly. It was a big fucking slipup. “She’s mine to take care of.”

Over my dead body would I let anyone—including my own brothers—touch Liana. If my promise to Lou ended up broken, it would be because I did it.

Someone in the room let out a low whistle, but I kept my eyes on Royce. My brother stared at me for a heartbeat before breaking out into a full-blown grin.

“You really like her.” After a long moment of silence, he slapped my shoulder. “I guess we’re gonna have two mad killers in our family.”

“How do you know she’s a killer?” Winston questioned.

“Nico Morrelli,” Alessio answered.

“Word is that Sofia Volkov’s daughter has been working behind her mother’s back,” Royce supplied.

It was the single topic that had been avoided like bullets in our family since I resurfaced. The name hovered in the air, stained with filth. Yet today, it was thrown around like candy.

“Was the finger the reason for your sudden interest?” I demanded, watching Royce like a hawk.

“Yes,” he admitted. “I wanted to spare you.”

“And you thought you’d learn who that body part belonged to… How?” Winston asked incredulously.

Royce just shrugged. “People talk.”

“What does she have against you?” Byron asked, ignoring Royce, who was obviously full of shit. “Why is she shooting at you?”

I shrugged, unwilling to admit her sister’s name slipped through my lips after I’d come into my hand like a teenage boy. It would require more explanation, and I wasn’t willing to go there with them.

“Maybe if you show her the old you…” Winston watched me as I stilled. My brothers still looked for that Kingston—unwilling to come to terms with his metaphorical death.

My life had become tightly intertwined with the underworld. I could cut all ties, but even then, I’d forever be the ghost. The killer. The boy who fought to survive.

“Do you want to kill her?” Royce joked, sipping his beer with a smirk. “Or want us to give you pointers on how to win her over?”

“Jesus, don’t take any advice from Royce,” Winston muttered. “You’re gonna lose your woman before you even get her.”

“Just tell us what help you need from us,” Byron offered, picking up on my silence.

I downed my drink in one go and locked eyes with Winston. “I’m gonna need that jet, big brother,” I reminded him. It was something I’d lined up with him almost a year ago. Of course, I never thought it’d take this long to get my hands onher.

He nodded.

“Are you sure it’s smart to fuck with anything related to Sofia Volkov? Anyone with a will to live would keep the fuck away.” Alessio’s question was warranted, but I wasn’t just anyone, and my will to live was extinguished eight years ago.

“Except she isn’t with Sofia,” I said. Once she was in Cortes’s clutches, it’d be harder to get her back. If she was about to be put up for auction, he’d be damn sure to make her life hell. “Perez plans to use her for a flesh auction, or the Marabella arrangements if he doesn’t fetch the right price.”

My brothers’ eyes on me, I suddenly knew without a doubt that—with them on my side—nothing could stop me.