Page 171 of Ruin Me With Lies

“Ah,there he is,” Vale laughs, spreading his arms.“Stefano fucking Castello.Never one to back down.Not even when he’s already lost.Always pushing, right to the bitter end.”

“Is this all you’ve got prepared for your villain monologue?”I ask, voice flat.“Because I have to say, I’m bored.You could’ve at least waxed poetic aboutwhyyou’re doing this.But you haven’t.Because there’s no reason, is there?No real cause.No righteous crusade.Justjealousy.And self-hate.”

His jaw ticks, but I keep on.

“What the fuck have I ever done to you except support you like any loyal family would?You wouldn’t even have a pot to piss in without me.But that’s what eats you alive, right?ThatIgave you the power you parade around with now.That’s why you rallied up with my enemies and came after the very hand that feeds you.Raw, unadulterated jealousy is your only reason.”I shift my stance.Dig in.“There.I’ve wrapped up your backstory for you.”

Keeping my focus dead on him, I realign my aim.“Now, are we gonna spray some bullets or what?Let’s get this shit over with.”

Rage flushes Vale’s face a vengeful red, lips curling into a snarl.“Alright.You want a show?”he growls.“Kneel.”

“For what?My life?”I bark out a laugh.“You, of all people, should know, I do not fear death.I will never beg for my—”

“Not yours.”He jabs the gun against Raya’s skull.“Hers.”

My jaw locks.And he grins, victorious.Knowing he’s got me for good.

For the first time, I let myselflookat her.

There’s fear carved into her face, but it doesn’t touch her eyes.Fear looks ill-fitted on her, like it doesn’t belong.It’s…off.Her eyes are so cold and detached they’re almost unrecognizable.Maybe she’s disassociating?Or maybe…

Maybetheseare her real eyes.The ones Eleni described.

Is this the real her?

Time seems to slow as her undaunted eyes hold mine.Steady.Sharp.Unflinching.

Then, with the smallest movement, she jerks her head side to side.Once.Then again.

At first, I think it’s Vale yanking her hair.But…no.She’s telling meno.Don’t do it.Don’t kneel.Don’t fold to emotion to save her.Be the man she prefers—cold, calculated, in control.Untouchable.

And I would’ve been.If she hadn’t lied her way into my life.If she hadn’t swept my feet out from under me and made me fall.

For most of my life, my only weakness, my closest thing to an Achilles’ heel, was my twin.Until she came along.This liar, with her silver tongue, her brilliant mind, her conniving eyes.

And somewhere in the chaos of the last few months…she became my kryptonite.

“Most women want the man who would burn the world down to save them.But I’m not one of them,” she’d said.

Her words echo in my head like a prophecy.Did sheknowthis would happen?A moment where I’d be forced to choose between her and my empire?

I look around at my outnumbered men.I’m theirleader.Leaders don’tkneel.Not for anyone.Not ever.They stand.They command.Theyleadwith strength, fearlessness, conviction.To kneel is the pinnacle of disgrace.

And Vale knows that.He knows what it would mean.

Once I kneel, all respect for me is gone.No one follows a weak king.And Ilovebeing king.Love being on top.Love being revered and fucking feared.It feeds my pride, my ego, my identity.

And yet…

Noneof it, none of that high, comes close to what I feel when I’m with her.Nothing compares to that all-consuming…thingthat ignites when we touch.When those beautiful fucking eyes connect with mine.It’s new.It’s terrifying.It fuckingweakensme.

But I don’t want to lose it.I want to fight for it.Forher.Even if it means giving everything else up.I’ll take the shame.I’ll face the loss of respect.I’ll give it all up if it means I get to save her.

Without another thought, I drop to one knee.Then the other.“Please.Let her go.”I set down my guns.“You want all this?Everything I’ve built?Fucking take it.Just let her go.”

Vale stares down at me in disbelief, stunned, as though he didn’t actually expect me to do it.

It takes him a moment to recover, to realize he’s truly won.Squaring his shoulders, he sneers, “Pitiful.” Then gestures around the room with a victorious gleam, his voice rising with manic excitement.“Behold!The king of Vegas, everyone!On hisknees!For a useless cunt.”He laughs, raw and triumphant.“Thisis the man you all fear?This is the man you follow?This pathetic weakling?”His eyes flash, wild and unstable.“This right here, this disgraceful display isproofwe need a new head.Someone who would never demean himself over cheap pussy.”He turns, raising his voice higher.“It’s time for—”