Cruel War (The Gilded Sovereign 1)

A scream ricochets through my chest and bounces off the walls. Arms envelop me as more tears stain my cheeks as they trickle in heated rivulets across my face. Philipe’s warm breath is at my ear.

“Calm the fuck down,” he bites out when I kick at him. “If you don’t, I’ll tie you up again,” he warns, and I stall all movement. The pain that stings my neck is agonizing, and I’m speechless when I realize my father tried to kill me.

He wanted me dead.

He never wanted me to be a Crown.

But not everyone gets what they want.

Until now.

“Take me to see Ares, please? I need to know more about the Sovereign. I want to learn about my heritage that’s linked to the society.”

Respect paints Philipe’s handsome face, and he nods, offering me a hand before leading me to my future.

33

Ares

“He was.”

“But I don’t understand why he would do that.”

“He loves her.”

“Does she love him?”

My eyes crack open, the glare of white hospital lights greets me. At the end of the bed, near the metal foot end, is my father and brother. They’re arguing about something, but I can’t quite make out what it is.

I watch them for a moment, taking note of the two men in my life who were meant to be role models and turned out… differently. My hands and feet feel as if I’ve had them in ice. I’m cold even though I’m covered with a blanket and a sheet.

“Hey,” I greet my brother, making sure my focus is on him, not the man who shot me. “Where’s Dahlia?”

“She’s outside,” Philipe tells me.

“Son,” Dad says, but I can’t deal with him right now. He shot me, and this time, he will pay. I’ll make sure of it.

“Call Tarian in here,” I tell my brother, and he nods. There’s a solemnness to him, and when his forest colored eyes meet mine, I notice the guilt sitting in his stare. He knows what happened. Would Dahlia have gotten through to him? Has she made him see that what our father did was wrong?

“Ares,” Dad says, causing me to turn to him as soon as Philipe is out the door. “I was trying to look out for you. That girl is dangerous. She’s a liability that we don’t need.”

“No, Dad. She’s a liability that you don’t need. I love her, and I’m not going to walk away from her because you deemed the relationship unacceptable. You shot me. Do you even realize you could’ve killed me?”

Tarian enters the room before my father can say a word. He glances between us, and I can see he’s unsure as to what’s happening. I shouldn’t even be talking to the asshole who shot me, but I have a plan.

“Tar,” I greet him with an easy smile. The moment I shift to sit up, pain shoots through me, and I can’t help but groan. This is ridiculous. I can’t do shit. “I need that information you got for me,” I tell him.

He offers a small nod before handing me my phone. While I scroll through my phone, I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning. My best friend came through. I look over at my father. “You’re not getting away with all your bullshit anymore, Dad,” I tell him, hoping he doesn’t see what I’m doing. “Having Patrick Milton kill mom was one thing, trying to shoot your own son because he chose to live his life, that’s another. What else have you done?”

Tarian and I turn our attention to my dad who’s turning red with rage, but I’m no longer afraid. He can’t kill me now; there are witnesses, so he has to take my inquiries and either respond or walk out.

“I did what needed to be done,” he informs me, both hands on the mattress beside me. “One day, when you’re head of that table, you’ll see that what I did was warranted. Killing your mother was one order that Milton actually obeyed. He was a liability.”

“It seems everyone who doesn’t agree with you is a liability.”

“I will rule this family the way I see fit. Dahlia Milton will either walk out of this town without my son, or she’ll be buried on our property, and you can visit her when I’m not around.”

My blood turns to ice at his words. I shake my head. “No, Dad. Let me tell you what’s going to happen, you’re going to prison.”

A sharp, cruel laugh escapes him at my words. I knew he wouldn’t believe me. How could he? I’m his son, and I’m meant to love him. To respect him. But I lost that the moment I realized what a monster he truly is.

The door swishes open, causing me to glance at the entrance. Dahlia is standing there beside Philipe. She’s changed into a pair of gray sweatpants that look awfully familiar. The T-shirt that’s hanging from her slim frame is also mine, and I want to smile.