RUTHLESS KING

EPILOGUE

Three Months Later
Dante
I never thought I’d see the day. My little brother with a woman on his arm,
a woman he’s so crazy about he’s counting down the days to propose. A
twinkle brightens his eyes as he watches Stella talk to her friend, Rose.
Luca’s hosting dinner parties now. Another thing I never thought I’d see.
He’s already bought a big fat diamond engagement ring too. It’s been at my
place for safe keeping. Stella insisted he couldn’t propose until they’d
officially dated for six months, and the month she spent as his ‘captive’
didn’t count. And now they were halfway there. I’d even seen my brother’s
calendar with thick exes marking down the fateful day.
He's completely impazzito.
But damn, happiness looks good on him.
I watch Luca and Stella from across the room as they schmooze with the
commissioner and his wife, then move on to the mayor and the missus.
Luca was born for this shit. Stella, too, is perfect. Together, they’ll go far.
Me, I’m just lucky they’d forgiven my inexcusable offenses. It had only taken me four shots to the chest and countless weeks of
rehab to prove myself. But I would do it ten times over to save my
fratellino and his amore. I could be an asshole sometimes, but I still loved
my brother and only wanted to protect him. It was one of the reasons I
hadn’t assumed my birthright, but that was another long story. I had no
intentions of actually forcing myself on Stella that day. I just wanted to
scare the shit out of her. Still, it was unforgiveable.
Truth was, I like Stella. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help myself.
She’s sweet and good and has been through so much shit, but somehow
remains that way. Unlike my brother and me whose souls have long since
withered away as a result of our dark pasts.
Stella is Luca’s bright, shiny star. She illuminates all his murky shadows
and finds the light. Every day he shines brighter.
And dammit, I am jealous as all hell.
Happy for him, but still envious that he’s found something I’ll never
have.
I force a smile as the happy couple saunters toward me. “Please, don’t
let me tear you away from your fans, fratellino.”
Luca smacks the back of my head. My little brother has made a terrible
habit of hitting me constantly. I guess he has to release the rage somehow.
“Watch it,” I growl. “You don’t want the mayor thinking you’re
anything but his little golden boy, now do you?”
“Sorry.” He throws me a sheepish smile. “Old habits die hard.”
Stella snuggles into his side; the expression of utter adoration as she
gazes up at my brother pinches at my cold heart. “Oh, everyone loves Luca,
you know that, Dante. The commissioner is trying to get him to run for his
office when he retires next year.”
“Of course, he is.” I fix my gaze to my brother’s. “You gonna do it, little
bro?” “I don’t know. I have enough going on with King Industries and our
other activities.” He whispers the last part.
After taking those gunshots meant for Luca and Stella, my brother
welcomed me back into the fold. With Stella in his life, he’s trying to take a
step back from our less legitimate half of the business. He finally needs me.
Jianjun never did retaliate for his son’s death, but it’s like walking on
eggshells around China Town. It’s a powder keg ready to explode. Luca and
Stella need to be far away from the shrapnel. Which leaves me mostly in
charge.
It’s my birthright after all. Now protecting them means going back on
my word to our father.
“I could see it,” says Stella, drawing me from my thoughts.
“Commissioner Valentino.” She smirks and presses a quick kiss to his
cheek that has my brother preening like a damned peacock.
“That’s King Commissioner Valentino.” He chuckles and kisses her full
on the lips.
If the penthouse wasn’t full of guests, he’d devour her right in the
middle of the living room. The happy couple fuck like rabbits. I’d
experienced it firsthand on many an unfortunate visit. Now, I never stop by
without warning.
“What’s so funny?” Stella’s friend Rose bounces between us, her perky
breasts nearly tumbling out of her low-cut mini dress. Her long blonde hair
cascades down her shoulders effortlessly. The girl looks like a damned
Barbie doll.
“My brother likes to be referred to as the king,” I offer.
Luca rolls his eyes. “That’s not at all true.”
“Only in bed,” Stella counters with a wicked grin.
“I am the king in bed, am I not, princess?” He nuzzles her neck, and I
quickly avert my gaze as she starts to giggle. “Oh no, I have not had enough champagne for this.” Rose tips back her
flute and guzzles down the contents. “You two are nauseatingly cute, but I
draw the line at sex talk.”
A grin pulls at the corner of my lip. Rose is feisty and gorgeous, and the
sight of her makes my cock stand at attention, but she’s a fucking hot mess.
She’s nothing like the restrained, wealthy socialites I typically entertain.
“Why didn’t you bring Caroline?” Luca asks as if he’s read my
goddammed mind.
Stella’s mouth twists into a pout at the mention of Luca’s one-time fling
and my occasional hook up.
I jerk my thumb at his future wife. “That’s why.”
“What?” Stella’s expression morphs into a look of exaggerated
innocence.
“Please, we all know you hate the girl,” says Rose. “She’s a total snob
and kind of a bitch.” She swats at my arm playfully. “No offense, D. I’m
sure she’s a great lay.”
Clenching my jaw, I suppress a smile. She’s got Caroline pegged to a
tee, but the only hopes I have of stepping out from behind my little
brother’s shadow is bagging an heiress. I can’t live as Luca’s second for the
rest of my days.
It’s enough that everyone believes Papà chose him over me.
A sharp squeal sends my heart catapulting against my ribs, and my hand
darts to the gun stashed beneath my waistband. Damned PTSD.
“Oops, sorry.” Rose rifles through her clutch and silences her phone, the
ringtone the most irritating sound I’ve ever heard. It reminds me of a
distress call from a ship. For a second, I was certain we were on the Titanic,
and we were about to go down.
The second after she pockets the phone, it rings again.
“Shit,” she mutters.
“Who is it?” Stella asks. Rose shakes her head and adds in a dramatic eyeroll. “Remember that
guy I was dating?”
“Please don’t tell me it’s another one of Dr. Winchester’s patients.”
Rose sucks in her lower lip and casts her eyes to the floor. “Yeah, um
….”
“Rose! You’re not supposed to be dating patients. That’s so not the idea
of real-life work experience. You could lose your internship.”
She waves a nonchalant hand. “Dr. Winchester is super cool, and
besides, I don’t date the crazies.”
“So why is this guy calling you nonstop?” I ask as the phone rings yet
again.
She smirks up at me. “What can I say? Caroline’s not the only one
who’s a great lay.”
Stella groans and digs her elbow into her friend’s side. “You have to be
careful, Rose. You have no idea what these guys are seeing a psychiatrist
for.”
“I check their files before I agree to a date, duh.”
“Oh, cazzo,” Stella mutters. “You are so going to get fired for this.”
The cell rings again, and I snatch it from Rose’s hand, the ear-splitting
noise making my temples throb. “Stop calling Rose,” I growl over the
phone. Both of the girls gasp.
“Who the fuck are you?” some douche asks.
“I’m her fucking boyfriend, you little shit. Unless you want me to rip
your heart out with my bare hands, I suggest you delete her number and
erase everything about her from your mind.”
The line goes dead, and a satisfied grin curls my lips. Damn, that felt
good. It’s been months since I’d gotten into a good scuffle because of my
injuries. Maybe it’s time to get back to it.
I hand the phone back, and Rose tosses me a smile. “My hero.”
I laugh, my entire chest vibrating. “I’m no one’s hero, sweetheart.” And I had no intention of ever becoming one.