Page 19 of Wrathful King

“I do. I’d burn the world for her.”

As the two of us observed each other, something shifted. I had always been taught that if you controlled the power, money, and fear, you’d control the world. I’d justified my every move and choice over the last twenty years with that conviction.

Until Reina. Power and wealth were no longer my priority. My wife was the center of my life, and the only reason I planned on maintaining the power now was to protect her.

“Tell me what happened, Amon. Then we’ll come up with a plan together.”

“I have a plan,” I gritted. “Kian’s on his way. We get into Cortes’s compound, and we get her out.”

“Then let me help.”

I caught Dante’s terse nod in my periphery. We could use Romero as an additional resource. At this fucking point, my ego wouldn’t be getting in the way. While Reina was out there, alone and vulnerable, our differences no longer mattered.

The tension coiled in Romero’s shoulders as I caught him up on everything that happened since our wedding: the helicopter from my yacht, landing in the Philippines, the attack, and ultimately waking up without his daughter, being nursed to health. He listened quietly, taking it all in.

Romero rubbed his chin pensively. “The Yakuza has wanted to get its hands on her for years. When I learned your cousin worked with Perez Cortes, I put the marriage agreement in place. To protect my daughters.” The anguish in his voice matched the one in my chest. “He… If she’s even still alive…” He swallowed. We all knew what Perez did to women. “He’ll destroy her.”

Fuck, I couldn’t mentally go there. I wouldn’t. My chest hurt so fucking much, and I knew it had nothing to do with the bullet wounds.

“I should have kept her on my yacht,” I rasped, my guard down and my bloody heart in my hands. I’d lost her twice already and it had all but fucking destroyed me. This plan had to succeed. “I should have recognized the signs of betrayal.”

By my mother and Hiroshi. It had to be them.

“Amon, you’re a Romero. I have full faith you’ll get my baby girl back.”

I would, even if it was the last thing I did. I wouldn’t allow fuckinganyoneto dim her light.

When I glanced up, I found a determined look on his face. “This family sticks together. Through thick and thin. And I refuse to let the underworld be the last thing my baby girl sees in this life.”

The world was about to burn.

8

REINA

Drip. Drip. Drip.

I blinked my eyes open and a gasp tore from my lips.

Blood. A lot of it.

I was lying limp on the cold tile in a pool of red liquid.

No, no. Please, no.

Mamma’s eyes met mine, then her ghostly pale hand reached out to stroke my cheek.

“Mamma…” I choked on my tears. Or maybe it was blood, I wasn’t sure. “Why are you crying?”

My palm covered her hand on my cheek, and despite the coolness of her touch, I leaned into it for comfort. She was so cold that goosebumps rose on my skin.

“I’m sorry for everything, baby.”

A dark shadow fell over her face and my heart squeezed. I wanted to blurt out that I loved her, that I’d protect her, but I couldn’t find a single word that was willing to slip past my lips.

She smiled and stroked my cheek gently, tears swimming in her eyes. “You and Phoenix will do better, won’t you?”

I nodded, even though I didn’t understand her words. The woman from the store upset her today. “Mamma, what’s illeg—” I struggled to repeat the word that woman spat in Mamma’s face. “Ille… gi… timate.”