ut around the room.
The cottage has a tiny living room connected to an eat-in kitchen and table for three. But this room currently includes a hundred of my best men and women.
“This is why you need a better plan,” Liesel says, indicating to all the men and woman gathered ready to fight on my behalf.
“We put out a message that you needed help to get back the woman you love.”
I try to say I don’t love her, but Liesel doesn’t give me room to talk.
“We said the mission was dangerous, personal, and voluntary. That no one had to participate. That you would never ask for their help in something so personal. This is just a fraction of the people who answered. These people believe in you. They believe you are good and worthy of leading them. They love their jobs, and they protect their families fiercely. This is your family. You can’t just abandon them to a psycho. Most of them wouldn’t follow him. They would either end up dead fighting against him or lose the only job they’ve ever known.”
I swallow hard as I stare at all the people who believe in me.
“Sir,” one of the women stands up. “You may not remember me, but you saved me from a terrible situation. I was sold, and you found me and brought me back to my family. You paid for my therapy. And then when I couldn’t find other employment, you gave me a job at your club. I’ve shared my story, and most people in this room know someone you’ve helped, if not them personally. Thank you.”
A man stands up. “Most of the men in this room worked for your father. We didn’t care who he was because he paid well, and we all enjoyed using our weapons. We were fucked up and needed an outlet, and that was shooting and killing people. But your father was cruel and didn’t give us second chances if we fucked up. He was a hard man to work for. And the reason we all kept working was you. We saw you at the club growing up. We saw the goodness in you from a young age. You weren’t a saint, and you never will be, but you care about people. You protect people that need it. And we knew you would become a great leader when you finally took over.”
“Thank you,” I croak out, trying to keep my emotions in.
“And we are all bloody pissed about what Milo did to Surrender. That was our home he came in and destroyed. We want revenge.”
I nod solemnly. To me, Surrender was a nightmare filled with memories of my father, but to them, it was their home. Their place of work, where they came to relax, and where they were safe.
Liesel grabs my arm and pulls me away before I have a meltdown and cry in front of all these people who depend on me. She raises her eyebrow at me.
“You do have a heart.”
I glare at her.
She smirks back and touches the scruff on my cheek. I know she still loves me. She probably always will. But any feelings I had for her beyond being my friend who I should protect, have long disappeared.
“This can’t be just a mission to save Kai. This has to be about everyone. About destroying Milo, their enemy. About ensuring you are the leader of the Black empire. And about finding an heir who can take over for you when you are gone.”
I nod slowly as I stare into her eyes. Liesel is right. “I don’t know how I can accomplish all that.”
“Well, one—kill Milo. And two—find a new heir,” she says, but there is a mix of sadness and desperation in her voice. “Even if that means creating a new heir.”
“Kai can’t have children, though.”
She nods. “I know. And I’m truly heartbroken for her. She will never be able to become the leader. But she was never meant to be. You were born for this. Raised to be a fearless king. And a king always has to have an heir.”
I shake my head. I don’t want to hear this. I refuse to have children with anyone who isn’t Kai. I must have other relatives somewhere who can have children and become my heirs. Or I can find a loophole in the rules. Kai may not be able to lead, but I can. I just have to win one more stupid game and find an heir who I can mold into a leader. Then all those people in the other room will be safe.
“Does it make me a horrible leader if I still want to put Kai’s needs above theirs?” I ask.
Liesel puts both her arms around my neck. “No, it makes you human. And as much as you want to put Kai’s needs first, I know you. You won’t hurt those people to protect Kai. You will find a way to protect all of them.”
I nod.
Langston comes into the small bedroom we’ve ducked inside of and sees Liesel’s arms around me.
He frowns at us.
“Yes?” I ask, stepping back, so Liesel’s hands fall to her side. If Langston thinks anything is happening between Liesel and me, he’s crazy.
“I’ve gone over the security info Yolie provided and the information you told us about the guards. We have him outmanned, at least of what we can tell, but he still has the home advantage. We could barge in and get through the gates, but we would be exposed. We would lose a lot of our team. And I’m not sure we would win. As much as I don’t want to say this, it would be better if Kai found a way to give us an opportunity. A way in that didn’t expose us. A way to distract Milo and his men.”
“So, we wait.”