Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
I searched the men for Darius, looking for his black T-shirt and dark hair, turning bodies over when I thought they could be him to get a good look at their faces. But none of them was ever Darius, and I continued my search, kicking every man over to be sure.
“Searching for a loved one?” Luca asked, coming to my side with a cigar hanging out of the corner of his mouth like the shoot-out had been a mere hookup to him.
I looked at the sea of dead men, losing their lives in a battle that never should have been fought in the first place. The Skull King should have been eliminated a long time ago—and I should have been the one to do it. This was all my fault, and not because I’d sacrificed my reign for a woman, but because I didn’t kill him sooner. “Darius.”
Luca took a drag before he released the smoke in a big cloud. “I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”
“Rocco said I shot him in the head, but I need to make sure.”
Luca continued to survey the dead like he’d seen it all before. “If he managed to crawl away, he probably bled out in an alleyway somewhere. And if he managed to survive, he’s gonna lie low. He’s lost his men and is painfully aware of the strength of your allies.”
“Fishing for a compliment?”
He took another drag before he dropped the cigar on a dead guy’s chest. He raised his boot and smashed it against the body to put out the fire and smear ash into the cotton. “It’s good to have friends in high places . . . all I’m saying.”
“What you’re saying is I owe you.”
He gave a shrug.
“Even though you’re here because you owe me.”
He gave another shrug. “I just gave you back your empire. The debts are not equal in value.”
“Instead of owing each other, perhaps we should forge an alliance. It’s in our best interest to maintain our respective republics. Not an easy job.”
“It’s an interesting prospect,” he said noncommittally as he looked into the distance.
“I’m sure it’ll be even more interesting the next time the Fifth Republic needs assistance.”
“We’ll require no assistance as long as I’m the First French Emperor. But whoever my successor is . . . they might need a hand.” He turned back to me.
“You’ve just started, and you’re already planning to leave?”
He was quiet for a while as he stared at me with a bored look, as if he wasn’t sure if he should even bother responding to my question. “I’ve met someone.”
I smirked. “I know how that goes . . .”
“Yeah,” he said as he looked off again. “My men have started to round up the gangs. Those who resist will be hand-delivered to you before we depart so you can choose how you want to handle it.”
“Thank you,” I said. “And even though you’re here to pay a debt, the Roman Republic will always come to your aid if you need it.” Luca and his men had been critical to this movement, and now that the criminals I policed knew my power reached beyond our borders, there was far less chance there would be another pushback. Even if the Republic was compromised, they would hold their breath and wait. I needed to know that power was in my back pocket, and the best way to do that was to extend an olive branch to Luca—the most powerful ally I could have.
He stared at me for several heartbeats before he barely gave me a nod . . . and walked off.
I didn’t have time to call Aurelia, but I sent her a text. I took care of Darius and his men. Rocco and I are fine. Call you when I can.
Her reply was immediate, like she’d been sitting on the couch with Medusa, the phone gripped in her hand. Thank god.
I pocketed my phone and returned to where the cars were parked in the street. The police and the military had arrived, but there was nothing for them to do except help with the bodies.
President Barsetti’s suit was covered in dirt and grime, but he looked unharmed otherwise. When he spotted me, he cut short his conversation with one of his military sergeants and hurried over. “You all right?”
I nodded, the wound stitched and wrapped tightly in gauze. It was the same place where I’d been shot for Medusa, and I knew this recovery would be a lot worse since it was the second time. “You?”
“I’m fine,” he said like he couldn’t care less how he was doing. “You came back.”
“Yeah. I did.”
He stared at me for a while, as if processing his resentment in order to release it. “Good. Rome needs its emperor.”
My decision had been made without needing the time to consider it. It was instinct, something I just knew. “It’ll take me some time to get Rome back in order, to put the gangs back on their schedules, and to make sure the Skull Kings are permanently dismantled, but once that’s done, I’m done.”