Page 37 of Ruthless Lord

Charlie

D ad remains handcuffed to the bed. Stefano was kind enough to put a blanket over him at least. He’s glaring at us, but I don’t hear a word he says.

It helps that Stefano puts a gun to his head.

Emily sits in a chair in the corner. She’s wrapped in a silk kimono and smiling smugly. I have trouble making sense of what’s happening, but this is real.

“You’re fucking my dad,” I say finally.

She looks at her nails. “Is that what we were doing?”

“My dad.” I struggle against the need to vomit. “What are you even doing here?”

“It’s not obvious yet?” She laughs lightly. I’ve never heard her talk like this. The Emily I know is usually so kind and gentle, but now it’s like she’s a vicious, hateful monster. Like someone awful took over my friend’s body.

“They’re working together,” Stefano supplies.

I shake my head. “That doesn’t make sense. You were my grandfather’s assistant.”

“I was your father’s spy in your grandfather’s apartment,” Emily corrects, rolling her eyes. “But then a new opportunity presented itself.”

“This whole time, you were pretending.” I step toward her, trembling with anger. “You were lying to me.”

“I was playing you.” She seems so proud of herself. “And you were so willing to practically give me whatever I needed.”

“This is so fucking fucked up.” I ball my hands into fists, trying to make them stop shaking, but they won’t. Betrayal burns through my guts. “I thought we were friends. I thought…”

“Honestly, it’s sad. You have everything. Money, looks, a good brain, solid clothes. But poor, pathetic Charlie doesn’t have any friends . It was almost too easy.”

“Fuck.” I sink down to sit on the edge of the bed.

How could I have been so stupid? Emily shows me a little bit of kindness, and suddenly she’s my bestie. I should’ve known that every single person who works for my family is a vicious snake. Especially those in my grandfather’s personal apartment.

No wonder he gave her away so quickly. He probably knew she was a spy from the start.

And I blundered in like an idiot.

“Want me to kill them?” Stefano asks casually. “Might be easier that way.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Dad snarls, struggling against his handcuffs.

“Best thing for grief is a little violent revenge.”

I hold up a hand. “Not right now. But I’m not saying no.”

Emily’s smug grin fades slightly. “What do you want, Charlie? What the hell are you even doing here?”

I rub my face with both hands, trying to get control of myself. This is overwhelming on a lot of levels. But slowly, the fire in my belly starts to rekindle, and a flame of hatred consumes me.

This is the family my grandfather created. He didn’t have to turn everyone against each other, but he’s always had this sick idea about survival of the fittest and competition making everyone stronger. Instead of working together, he makes us always tear each other apart.

That’s why he made me the heir. I figured that out a while back. It wasn’t because I deserved it more than anyone else.

It was purely to piss off my father and make him work twice as hard.

My whole life’s been like this. One long struggle against the people I should care most about.

But I’ve had enough.

No more playing those games. No more doing my grandfather’s bidding.

I can end this right now.

“You two are going to get proof that Grandfather’s been the one pulling the strings from the start.”

Emily’s face falls slightly as she glances at my dad. “And how do you know that?”

I turn my back on her. Dad’s looking at me with a smug grin, still bound to the bed.

“Ready to talk?”

He shrugs casually. “Maybe if you ask your husband to put the gun away.”

“I like my gun,” Stefano grumbles.

“It’s okay. Do what he asks.” I wait until Stefano stashes the pistol back into his waistband. “Now, if he’s not helpful, start breaking his fingers.”

“What the fuck?” Dad stares at me with pure outrage. “You’re joking?”

“She’s not joking.” Stefano looks pleased. “And don’t curse around my wife.”

“This is fucking madness. Charlie?—”

Stefano punches him once in the face. It’s not even a hard blow, but I doubt Dad’s been hit very many times in his life. He stares in outrage, jaw turning pink, as real fear finally slips into his expression.

“You hit me!” he says, outraged.

“Sure did.”

“That hurt!”

“Should’ve.”

“You fu—” Dad stops himself, cringing back. “Okay, okay, I’ll watch my mouth.”

“Damn fucking right you will.” Stefano gestures at me politely. “You have the floor again, darling.”

“Thank you, dear.” I walk to the foot of the bed where Dad can see me without having to turn his head. “Here’s the deal I’m offering, and it’s better than anything else you might get. Are you paying attention?”

He tugs at his wrist chains. “Not much choice here.”

“Good. Say one thing for Emily, at least she isn’t stupid enough to fuck a snake without chaining him up first.”

“The handcuffs were his idea,” she mutters, arms crossed and pouting.

I rub the bridge of my nose. “God, you’re disgusting. Okay, I don’t care, just listen to me.” I meet my father’s gaze again. “I want you to catch Grandfather admitting that he’s been moving against the Marino Famiglia this whole time. I want all his plans on tape.”

Dad scoffs. “That won’t happen. You know Papa doesn’t put anything in writing, and he won’t speak of anything important over the phone. He’s paranoid.”

“That’s why you’ll have to try twice as hard.”

“Why? So you’ll spare my life?” He sneers, shaking his head. “You wouldn’t kill me anyway.”

My eyebrows raise. “I wouldn’t?” I step closer to him, barely keeping myself restrained.

“You’ve done nothing but hurt me for a long time.

You bullied me into marrying Stefano, although I should thank you for that.

You’ve blackmailed me, insulted me, undermined me, and embarrassed me at every turn.

You haven’t been a father to me for a very long time. ”

“You’re just not a killer.” His chin tilts up. “Besides, I’m too important. If I went missing, the police would come sniffing around you and your husband.”

“Sorry, I think you’re misunderstanding here.” I hold up a hand. “I’m not the one who’s going to do the killing.” I point at Stefano. “ He’ll do the killing, and from what I hear, he’s very good at getting away with it.”

“The rumors are true,” Stefano adds helpfully.

“You’re playing a different game now, Dad. This isn’t family power politics anymore. This is life or death. And it’s your life hanging in the balance.” I wave a hand at Emily as if she’s an afterthought. “Your mistress’s life too.”

“Hey! I didn’t do anything!” Emily shrinks back when I stare at her. “I mean, nothing worth murdering me for.”

Dad seethes. He looks furious. I doubt he’s ever been in a position like this.

Well, no, he’s definitely been like this before, chained up to his bed, which is an extremely gross and disorienting thought, but not actually weak and vulnerable.

Even chained, he’s still always been the one in charge.

That’s probably why he fucks girls like Emily.

Weak, vain, vampiric assholes he can use and toss aside at a whim.

Now though, he’s playing with fire.

He’s playing with my husband .

“Let’s say I do it.” He tilts his head to the side. I know that look. He’s doing the calculations. “What do I get?”

“Continued life,” Stefano offers.

“Overrated,” Dad says flippantly. Which is obviously a bluff.

“I have something better. Something you very much want.” I put my fists on my hips and stare him down. “If you pull this off, I’ll step aside as heir to the Westbrook family. Grandfather hasn’t changed the will yet. I’ll make sure everything goes to you.”

Dad’s eyes widen. I knew the selfish prick would like that. Stefano turns to stare at me, his expression hardening, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking. Probably nothing good. I don’t care though.

This is my decision.

“You’re serious,” Dad says softly. “You really will give it up, won’t you?”

“I never wanted it to begin with. I think you’d be better at running that nest of vipers anyway. What do you say, Dad? Stab your own father in the back to get what you want?”

“Gladly,” he says quickly, not even thinking about it. “You have a deal.” His fingers waggle. “Should we shake?”

“Stefano, hit him one more time.”

“Wait, what the?—”

Stefano slams a fist into his mouth. He groans, coughing, and spits blood to the side.

“That’s a reminder of the stakes. You can either end up getting everything you want, or—” I gesture at my husband. “Your call.”

Dad shows me bloody teeth in a big smile. “Maybe your grandfather chose right when he picked you.”

“Fuck that.” I turn my back on the bed. “Come on, Stefano. Let’s leave these two to figure out how they’re going to pull this off.”

He grunts and follows me to the door. But before I can go, Emily hurries over, holding her kimono closed with one hand.

“Charlie, hold on.” She glances over her shoulder, voice lowering. “I’m so sorry. It was all his idea. I know you won’t believe me, but I really did?—”

I whip my fist back before smashing it right into her nose. I twist my hip and lean my shoulder into it, punching just like Stefano told me to.

“Ow, shit,” I say, shaking my hand, as Emily staggers backward and falls to the floor, yelping and screaming in pain. Blood’s gushing from her nose, ruining the rug.

“Nice punch,” Stefano says, putting an arm across my shoulders and steering me away back into the hall. When we’re alone again, he pulls me tighter against his side. “You shouldn’t have done that. The Westbrook fortune?—”

“I don’t want it.” I face him, hands on his chest, and get on my toes to kiss him lightly. “I never wanted it. Not really. It gave me a reason to get up in the morning, but now—” I let that hang in the air.

He kisses me harder. “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. And don’t worry. I still have a hefty trust fund.” I pat his chest lightly before striding off. “You still married a rich girl.”

“Thank God,” he says, pretending to sound relieved.