Cruel War (The Gilded Sovereign 1)

“Tomorrow, I’ll be out of your hair, and away from Dahlia,” he whispers, leaning in. “Do you think she wants me?” He tilts his head to glance over at her as she slips the tank top she’s wearing over her slim frame.

“Fuck off, Philipe.”

“Just about, I think it’s time I let you run the house,” he tells me, sitting back as he regards me. “But remember, little brother, I’m not too far away.” With a wink, he rises and goes over to Dahlia who’s watching us with a shrewd glare.

“Are you two fighting?”

“Debating,” Philipe tells her. “I’m leaving tonight. Perhaps you and Ares would like to visit New York sometime?” He winks at her before planting a chaste kiss on her cheek.

“You have to come back, though.” Her voice is filled with hope, and I wonder if she likes having a big brother around.

“I’ll be back, sweetheart,” he tells her. “Look after him, he’s a loose cannon without you around.”

“Fuck off, bro,” I bite out as I near them. Tarian enters the moment Philipe leaves, and Etienne joins us a moment later with a grin on his face.

“Yo,” he greets me, giving me a one-armed hug. “Hey, pretty lady,” he coos at my girl, and I’m ready to punch him the fuck out. “Hey hey, I’m just greeting her.” He looks at me sheepishly, and I can’t help but chuckle at the god of love before me. Jesus, he’s so cliché.

“Where to?” Tarian glances between us.

“Party at the Lake House?” I offer, knowing I have two large properties in my grasp, and with my father sitting in prison for the rest of his natural and unnatural life, I plan to make the next few years of my life worth the pain we went through.

Dahlia

The table we’re seated at is long, made of heavy stone, and each seat is filled with the men who have been there for me since the night Abner shot Ares. And I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through it without them.

I glance around taking in Philipe, Ares, Tarian, and Etienne. I don’t feel alone in the world anymore. Even though I have my grandmother, she doesn’t understand what this society means. It opens doors, it allows those at the table power. Most of the past Crowns abused their power and used it to hurt others.

But we’re a new generation.

We will right their wrongs.

“We had a hit on Fergus,” Tarian speaks, handing the iPad to Philipe. “He’s been seen in Europe. We don’t know where the daughter is, and it looks like our connections have gone silent again.”

“We’ll find her and him,” Ares looks at me as he says this. He knows I’m anxious to learn where my friend could’ve disappeared to. His hand finds mine, as he offers me a small smile — one that makes my heart do stupid things in my chest.

“Anything else?” Philipe questions. Silence is his response, and he nods. “Good, I’m flying back to New York tonight. I’ll put feelers out in Europe; hopefully, someone will get us something we can use.”

“I’m flying to London next week,” Etienne suddenly bursts out.

All eyes are on him when Philipe asks, “Why?” I know he liked Rukaiya, and I wonder if he’s going to see if he can find her. Perhaps he has the connections to do it. Maybe, just maybe, he does know where she is.

“I need to get away from Tynewood for a while. Also, my mother wants to go to some fashion show.” He doesn’t look at Ares or me, and my senses prickle with awareness. He’s hiding something.

“Well, since you’re heading to that side of the pond, I have a few things to discuss with you,” Ares says suddenly. “How about a drink at the house before everyone goes their separate ways?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes, come on, you owe it to me to see if I can handle my beer while you’re gone.” Ares chuckles when he gets the finger from Etienne as a response.

“Fine. Let’s go,” he finally acquiesces, and soon, we’re in the cars heading to the Lancaster house.

“Do you think maybe Etienne knows where Rukaiya is?” I ask, as we slowly make our way up the long drive moments later.

Ares is quiet, forcing me to glance his way. His focus is on the windshield, but his knuckles are white as he grips the steering wheel.

“What are you not telling me?”

“There are a lot of secrets in this world, little flower,” Ares tells me. “And sometimes, it’s best that you don’t know what the plan is, because, if it goes sideways, you won’t be dragged through the mud.”

“Ares, for god’s sake, you better tell me what the fuck is going on.” We come to a stop outside the house; Ares kills the engine and turns his attention on me. Hazel eyes hold me, hostage, piercing me right to the very core.