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Prologue

Matteo

I can sent aroma thick and heavy in my nostrils as I amble across the warehouse

Each step through the crimson terrain reminds me of all I lost and why I am here now

My father died

My mother died

Fuck, even my brother died

The war to , bloody, and jam-packed with casualties

But in the end, I won

I always do

I know this reprieve fro in the shadows

The underworld is like the Hydra You cut off one head, and two row in its place

I know this time is no different I need to prepare for war

There has been a lull for the past few months

I pay a great deal of s

There is no question he is co for me for years

Ever since e

He believed he should have been the one to take over

Deehtful heir

Technically, he’s not wrong Had his father lived, this kingdom would have been his

But regardless of what could have been, I’e and the best option

At thirty-five, I have already lived more than most I had been raised half my life to take over my family’s business

On the books, n a legitimate enterprise

Behind that, n everything

The door swings open, and in walks ht-hand man and cousin, Lorenzo

“What do you have for me?” I spit out

His dark eyes are narrowed As soon as they look atabout him is that he doesn’t just work for e with the rigid, cold stare he gives

“Nothing good,” he states, and the custoone

I lean forward in my chair “Go on”

“He’s o”