Page 115 of Ruthless Lord

“Should I clean up?”

“Let the staff do it. That’s what they’re paid for.”

“You know your father wasn’t wrong about the investigations, right?”

“I don’t really care.”

“Good. I don’t either.” I find a couple paperback books in his bedroom and carry them to the kitchenette. I turn on the stove and light the books on fire before tossing one onto a rug and the other onto the couch. I have to light a few more before the flames start to spread. “But just to be sure, I’m going to burn this place down.”

“There’s a fire suppression system.”

“Davide already turned it off.” I walk to the door, ignoring the sizzle of flesh and the stink of burning hair. “Hope you don’t have anything here you want.”

“Not a single fucking thing.”

Chapter 36

Charlie

It’s a sad day when someone dies.

Normally, anyway.

Mourners sob beside Grandfather’s grave. Women I’ve never seen before. I can’t tell if they were mistresses or what. Maybe he promised them the world in exchange for what they gave him. Or maybe they’re just trying to get attention. I don’t really know, and it doesn’t really matter.

Stefano remains by my side all day. The service is a blur and the burial is a blink. All the shit the priest says, my father’s simpering eulogy, it’s all just noise.

Harrison Westbrook wasn’t a great man.

He made money. He was definitely good at that. But in life, he was a ruthless, bitter, vicious old bastard. He treated me and everyone else in his life like property. If you weren’t useful, he didn’t give a fuck about you.

Everyone’s acting like the world lost a giant. Like just because he built a company means he was a worthwhile human.

But he wasn’t.

Harrison Westbrook was a piece of shit.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” A state senator shakes my hand and slips me his card. “Feel free to call my office anytime. I had a good relationship with your grandfather.”

A business magnate follows, a man I’ve only ever seen on TV. Another card shoved into my hand. I get lunch and dinner invitations, along with more than a few suggestive smiles and winks.

“Grandfather had a lot of shady deals,” I say to Stefano as the crowd slowly begins to thin out. Most of the people here are busy talking to each other, making new connections, building new alliances, and they couldn’t care less about the burned-up corpse tossed in a hole down there.

Good riddance. I couldn’t agree more.

“That’s how they all are.” Stefano’s voice is a low rumble. “Throw a rock and chances are pretty terrible that you’ll hit an honest man.”

“Throw a dozen and same thing.”

“Feels strange, doesn’t it?” He smirks at me, tugging me closer. “All this attention?”

“Bizarre, honestly.”

“They still think you’re the heir.”

I sigh and nod slightly. “We haven’t made it public yet.”

“Once they realize your father’s the one taking over, suddenly all those invites and cards won’t matter anymore.”