“But the organization can’t run for days or weeks or months or however long this fucking farce lasts. I will be the winner anyway. Isn’t there some clause in there about who runs the organization while the heir is decided?” Enzo snarls.
“Yes, you are required to run it together,” Archard says.
Together.
I silently laugh. Good luck with getting us to agree on anything.
But the way Enzo is staring at me, I think he wants to do a lot more than run an empire together. He wants to slam our bodies together, and he wouldn’t be giving me any control in the matter. I would have to surrender my body to him.
“Come on then, we have an empire to run,” Enzo snarls.
2
Enzo
The contract is signed.
I never thought this day would come—the end.
I thought I’d be forever trapped in a lie I could never escape. I thought pretending Kai was dead would save me. I thought not having a Miller line to fight for their right to the throne would have satisfied me.
Instead, it made me restless.
I didn’t earn my position.
I was given it.
But now, I can claim it rightfully.
You hear that, Dad?! In a few weeks, this will all be over, and I’ll be the winner. I’m the rightful heir. I will be Black.
I exhale deeply, trying to let go of every drop of discomfort my father caused me over the years—the pushing, torture, ruthlessness. I should let every painful feeling go.
I can’t.
Not until I’ve won.
Then I can pretend all the suffering I went through was worth it. Then I can prove my father wrong.
Kai M
iller may be strong. In fact, she’s the most relentless person I’ve ever met. But unless all five rounds are who can withstand suffering the longest, she has no chance of winning. Even if I hadn’t trained my entire life for this job.
Her chances are hopeless.
I could have prepared hard for a year and still beat her. Not because she’s a woman, but because of the last six years. Her body is badly beaten and still recovering. She barely has enough fat covering her bones, let alone real muscle. And despite being capable of doing whatever it takes to survive, she’s still too kind to do this job.
Kai would only ever kill in self-defense, not because it was necessary for the greater good of the organization.
She would never take from those less than her.
Never yell or demonstrate her power to show her strength.
Kai has a heart, even if she keeps it locked away behind a metal cage.
I’m heartless.
My father made sure of that years ago. I’m the only one merciless enough to do the job.