Empire of Lies

mi

stab Matteo Romano in the thigh, the blade sinking into the flesh. Blood

drawl bored, wiping a splatter of blood

tuck in his thigh, a river of blood flowing down his leg. I sigh mor

knife down, tearing through muscle and skin. He gr

about sending a message. This traitor had infiltrated my ranks, pretended

test my limits, stepping on my tail li

od at his job, efficient. But after the wedding-the sham of a ceremon

rling into a slow poisonous grin. I signa

ng things so mu

atteo's eyes widen in pure terror, and the sight fuels the dark satisfactio

but it's too late. I crouch down in front of him, bringing our faces mere inches apa

r, "but only after I'm done with you." I straighten and

they cling to, the lies they tell themselves to feel powerful-it all dissolve

o tries to pull away, his wrists straining against the rope binding

ightly letting a drop fall onto the cement floor. It hisses, sizzling

ll tell you everything," he stammers, eyes wide as he stares at the b

ed apart. The scream that follows, is like music to my ears. I watch, fascinated by the way th

ell, some of them have probably been on the receiving end of it before they le

head upwards, forcing him to look at me. "Now Matteo, you t

hick in the air. "It was Volkova." he gasps, "Your new father

and menacing

d lean closer, my voicing dripping to a dead

Nothing! You-there's nothing

ied. "But you see, Matteo, the pr

his throat in a swift motion, not flinching as the blood splashes on me. His eyes

rn to my men. "Clean this up and sen

loud thud. This marriage, this so-called alliance is nothing

ooking, their ash color blending with the charcoal curtains drawn across the towering windows. The tiled floor b

She hasn't noticed me yet, lost in her own thoughts, but as I close the distance between us, her body stiffens

e's afraid, but rather than the usual fear everyone looks a

rest

. But before I can respond, she silences me w

." she adds, stepping towards me,

ing fully well she's pointing at the cut on her lip. Maybe I bit her harder than I

dens even further her eyes p

ks cou

scared

twitches and I shrug n

ce lowering to a dangerous hiss. "If y

ach other down. Her hatred for me, radiates between us, mirroring

across my lips. "Didn't daddy teach you to

hing sharp. But I brush past her before she can. Her fury, h

s over my shoulder, low and taun

iling. I climb the stairs leaving her there, seething. The thought of her blood-their blood-

spent nineteen years building towards something bigger. She

stop me from en