CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
Four months later…
SAINT
Istride toward the entrance of the building.
My eyes scan several soldiers standing in their positions to secure the Red Vault.
It takes every goddamn thing in me to be here after the trauma I experienced at the hands of my father.
I've never really gotten the chance to meet eye to eye with the motherfucker who used Elio as a pawn in his dirty games.
I would be at the war front if I wanted to ruin any fucking organization, not hide behind another man and use him to push my agenda.
It's been four months, but stalking down this hall makes my blood boil. Even though the memories of the terrible experience we had in our separate lives were gone, I couldn't shake off the tremor running through my bones.
I'm here for Vincent Bishop, and him alone.
This is his reckoning.
A reminder to anyone who'd dare to touch what's mine. I’ve killed for my Elio, and I would do it over and over again no matter who it was. But Vincent, I won't give him a quick death. I'll torture him until I break his spirit.
Nobody stalks my city, goes against my family, and tries to burn what I’ve built to the ground and goes scot-free. I'll come after you with everything we have.
The soldier on duty unlocks the door, and I stride into the dark, cold space with Bernard and the doctor behind me. There, in the darkness, Vincent hangs from the ceiling, hands bound in chains. His head falls forward, long locs shielding his face, limbs dangling inches above the steel floor.
A hoarse chuckle drills out of him, then he coughs repeatedly before he laughs again. “Came to visit.” He lifts his gaze to me.
“No. Just here for a reminder.” I take off my jacket and hand it to Bernard. He takes it and stands aside in the dark corner. “How are my soldiers treating you?”
“Like shit.” He spits on the floor and grins.
“That’s what I pay them for.” I chuckle and fold my sleeves up to my elbows. “I’ll be here every two weeks to check on you.”
“I have been expecting you. Pathetic that it took you more than four months to show up. Where's your pup?”
“Away from the likes of you. Elio is thriving.” I meet his gaze with a grin.
“Quite sad that you let a traitor into your family. I’d slit his throat if I were in your place.”
A disappointed breath leaves me as I meet his gaze.
I’m just here to teach him a lesson, and this motherfucker unknowingly pushed me too far.
I've changed my mind. He’ll have it far worse tonight.
“I think it’s best if you accept your failure.
” I move behind him and pull a knife. “I mean, you had months to tear my family apart, and you still lost. You're basically a pawn if you look at it from my perspective. All this for Daddy’s validation.” His body vibrates when the steel rests against his skin.
He struggles against the chains. There's no way he'd break through reinforced steel. And with that, I know I've hit a nerve.
“Don’t…” he barks, muscles flexing as he pulls the chains, but his efforts are futile.
“I’ll leave a mark that will remind you of every wrong thing you have ever done.” My grip tightens as I carve into his skin.
One grueling letter after another.
The steel presses into his skin, tearing his flesh open. Blood gathers at the edges of the blade, sliding down his back.
He doesn’t make a sound. Only quiet, ruthless grunts.
I won't stop.
I cut deep enough to leave a long-lasting scar, as I leave the truth imprinted on his skin.
F-A-I-L-U-R-E.
I wipe the blood against his skin and walk around him, fastening my grip around his jaw.
“Every time you look in the mirror in the afterlife, Vincent Bishop. Remember that I, Saint King, did this to you. I did this as revenge for everything you did to him.” My hand tightens around the blade so hard my veins pop in my arm.
“Go to hell, motherfucker.” I pull the blade and slash it across his throat.
Blood gushes down his neck, eyes wide as he stares at me in absolute shock. I clean my blade on his skin and look over my shoulder. “Make sure he survives.” I tell the doctor, and he barrels toward Vincent’s body.
“I need assistance!” The man in white scrubs yells. I head out of the cell while three soldiers come running in with a stretcher and pincers.
The love of my life is waiting for me at home, and we’re running late to the function we’re supposed to attend. Bernard and I enter the boat, which takes us off the island to where our ride waits.
Security stands at all the perimeters of the venue as we arrive on the island from the boat. A glamorous red carpet leads through the hall, which opens into a dance room. “We are here.” I tell Elio as we stop at the entrance and take in the beautiful sight Prince Kane had put together.
Prestigious ladies and gentlemen drift across the tiled floors of the space in designer gowns and tailored suits, their hands wrapped around champagne flutes, basking in the golden glow of the lights.
A live orchestra plays in the corner of the room.
Servers move through the crowd with silver trays laden with rare vintages.
To the people of Genesis City, the celebration marked the grand opening of Scarlet Rose Hotels, Prince Kane’s latest waterfront development.
It was perfect, especially since it offered a lot of new opportunities for the workers in Genesis.
But the truth remained that Prince Kane would move his family’s illegal underground fight club business to these islands where his dealings would remain unsuspected.
I didn’t think his goal was to restart their family syndicate.
Either way, the underworld welcomes him with open hands.
We built this together and still had a contract that binds us to our agreement. Even though Olivia and I had made some adjustments to the contract since I couldn’t keep the end of the bargain.
Virgil still hadn’t been found, and Cross was tired of looking. After staying months on the Red Island and even scouting the seas, he found nothing.
Aside from tonight’s celebration, the family business was going exceedingly well. Things had returned to what they used to be, especially since Vincent hadn’t seen the light of day for months.
I’d gladly let him rot in there after everything they did to the man I love.
Speaking of the man I love, I haven’t been able to get enough of him. He’s with me every minute of the day, and I fucking want more. I’m obsessed with him. And he loves that. We’ve been on several dates together, and I have the perfect surprise for him at the end of the night.
Two surprises actually.
And I can barely keep in my excitement because I want it to be the perfect moment.
As we look around the building, I’m completely blown away by the housing designs, and Elio and I both agree that this is putting our money to good use.
As the guests celebrate the successful completion of Scarlet Rose Hotels, Elio and I join a few of the couples on the dance floor. I hold Elio close as we both sway to the gentle melody of the orchestra. I keep my eyes on him, a smile on my lips as we move in synchronicity with each other.
This moment means a lot to me. I’m finally free to be myself without the fear of losing everything. And that heaviness that has sat in my chest all my life feels less heavy as every day passes with him close to me.
It’s beautiful being here with him.
“You look breathtaking tonight.”
“Thank you, darling.” He grins and leans closer, pressing a kiss on my lips.
I shut my eyes and inhale sharply, and all I see are the beautiful memories we have made over the past months. The softness. And it’s all with him. The man I want to spend the rest of my life with.
As the night continues, we leave the dance room and sit outside with other guests.
Prince Kane makes a speech in front of the guests.
When he mentions my name, everyone around me cheers and applauds as I wave at everyone.
The celebration ends with so many congratulations from other powerful men in the city.
I make sure I see Prince Kane before Elio and I leave the island for the city.
Bernard’s already waiting when we arrive at the shores of the sea.
He takes us to the car under the luminous glow of the rising moon and drives us back to Kingston City.
And with Elio tucked into my arm, all I can think of is him. How far we have come together. How much I have sacrificed for him, for us, and how I have never and will never wake up with regret any day.
I love us, and I always will.
ELIO
Four months of working side by side with the family.
Four months of sleeping and waking up right next to the man my heart beats for.
Even though there was a time he flew out of the country to meet up with associates.
I fucking missed holding and being with him that week.
And I literally glued myself to him when he came back to Kingston.
The truth is that it gets easier. Eventually, the good memories drown out the bad.
I’ve started to believe that this is permanent.
All the darkness that I have faced has ended.
Even though I can’t erase those memories, I have learned to live with them and understand that my past doesn’t define me unless I give it power.
I have been speaking with Dr. Khadija about how I truly want to dedicate my life to something new.
Something other than working with the family.
Saint mostly doesn’t allow me anywhere near the bad stuff because he’s so protective of me.
Even though we’ve been training a lot together, and I have only taken him down twice, which is good.
I have sneaked out a few times with Cross to distribute products to the Runners of the syndicate.
So far, I think I want to go back to university and figure out a way to help other people who were once like me.
People who have suffered several forms of abuse and need help.
I also want to own a business that’ll help me donate to orphanages and make sure kids get good homes that’ll love and care for them.
I haven’t really told Saint about it, but I will when we get home.
All my dreams won’t happen in the blink of an eye, so I’m taking them one after the other. Dr. Khadija was really proud when I broke the news to her, and it makes me realize how resilient I have been even when I’ve gotten so close to losing it all.
I still found something to hold onto. Not everyone makes it, but those who have had similar experiences like me, or even worse, I want them to have a chance to see the world beyond survival.
Saint and I had also started working on renovating the King mansion into something different. Something that doesn’t remind him of the horrors of growing up as the son of a tyrant father.
It doesn’t take long, and we arrive at Kingston City. Bernard drives us to the penthouse where we have been staying for months. When the car comes to a halt in the parking lot, we both hop out and take the elevator to the top of the glass-and-steel building.
The light comes on as we step into the apartment together. I take off my shirt and toss it on the couch, turning to Saint, who’s behind me. “I’m so tired tonight, and…” The words trail off when I see the position he’s in.
Fuck me!
He’s on his knees.
He’s on his fucking knees, and he holds out a red ring box toward me.
“I have waited almost a week to do this,” he chuckles nervously.
“You mean so much to me, baby. More than you can imagine, and I love you with all my heart. Everything about you is beautiful, and your presence revives me every second of every day. You make me want to keep going. I’m not perfect, but baby, you make me want to be better.
It would be a fever dream to have you as mine for the rest of my life.
My Elio. My sun. My husband.” A tear rolls down his cheek as he says those beautiful words.
“Please, baby, do me the honor of marrying me.” His fingers tremble slightly around the ring box.
“Yes, darling. Yes.” Excitement courses through every nerve in me.
I’m unable to contain all the emotions. He grins and laughs as he takes the ring and places it carefully on my fingers.
“It’s so perfect, I love it.” I stare at the ring with glistening eyes.
“I love you. I love you so fucking much, baby.” I close the gap between us without question, kissing him ferociously.
Because he’s mine. The dark. The danger. All of it. Mine.
“I love you too, baby.” He smiles and presses another kiss on my lips. “And I still have one more surprise.”
“I want to say something first.”
“Go on.” His eyes shine with affection.
“I think I’ve figured out what I want to do. It’s a lot.”
“Nothing’s too much for you, my love. We take it one step after the other.”
“I want to go back to school. I think there are people out there who need my help, and I want to help them. If I study, I get the knowledge it takes to open a foundation for victims, a place that gives them space to heal and try new things.”
He nods, a smile on his lips as he watches me go on and on passionately.
“And I also want to donate to an orphanage and help kids find foster homes where they’ll get all the care and love they need.”
“I’ll be here, baby, cheering you on while you make it all come through. You have my full support.” His voice matches my tone of excitement, making it impossible to tell who’s happier at this moment.
“I love you, Saint.” I say with tears in my eyes.
“Thank you for being patient with me, for choosing me, for staying by my side even when I felt I couldn’t handle it anymore.
I never thought I’d have this or feel like this, but I’m glad it’s with you.
I’m glad I get to wake up every day and see your beautiful face. I love you so much, baby.”
“I love you, Elio Layton-King.”
“I love you. I love you.” I kiss him over and over, and he giggles and flushes. “And what did you want to say?”
“I have been busy with work, and I figured you missed me, so I got us plane tickets. We are flying out of the country for a vacation.”
“Oh, my God!” I scream, giddy. “You’re the freaking best.”
“Only for you, baby.” He grins and lifts me into his arms.
It still feels surreal to be here, to feel this much joy with him. But it also reminds me how much I’ve transformed, how I no longer have to survive.
Pawns can’t become Kings. That’s the rule of the game.
But let it be written in history that Elio Layton is the first pawn who became a King.