The Almighty Dominance

BIT bared his teeth, then drove Charles into the wall with a sickening thud that rattled every pane of glass in the room.

The impact stole what little breath Charles had left; he crumpled to the floor, coughing, violently until tears rimmed his eyes. "Look at you," Bill jeered, lips curled in disgust. "You've pissed yourself, haven't you? Pathetic little coward."

Charles stayed on his knees, shaking so hard he could barely keep Upright

His lungs burned, and his mind spun with shame. All he could do was stare at the polished floor, wishing he could sink into it and vanish.

Bill gave a dismissive snort as he turned to leave.

"You call yourself a man?" he spat, gaze sweeping over Charles with searing contempt. "You're nothing but a piss-soaked dog lying in its own filth."

When Bill finally stalked out, his derisive laughter lingered in the hallway like a rancid smell.

Charles remained where he was, forcing himself to breathe. His chest rose and fell in a ragged rhythm, each breath tugging at the raw ache in his ribs.

Slowly, a voice inside him stirred.

'Be patient, Charles. You might be crawling now, but if you're smart, you'll bide your time and claw your way back to the top. Your father wants to discard you, and Jasmine looks at you like trash. Prove them wrong.'

Charles's trembling hands balled into fists, his nails digging so hard into his palms they threatened to draw blood.

A flicker of ambition sparked in his eyes.

'You'll conquer Vancouver. And Vermont. You'll be the king.'

Alow, unsettling laugh escaped him, soft at first, then louder, echoing in the empty

room.

devil changes you. And soon, you start to forget who

the dense undergrowth, teeth

swallow

is!" one of Kingston's men shouted, spotting her through

her pistol in one fluid move, firing before he

through his skull, and

hail of gunfire

and leaves, one striking

a hoarse cry, vision

yelled, spurring his fellow men

Kelly bit back the pain and squeezed off three more

men collapsed into the undergrowth. Chapter

a wild one, aren't you?" Luke stepped forward, casual and amused, as if surveying prey he finally cornered. Kelly lifted her pistol, but he lashed out with

flew from her grip, clattering against a rock before landing uselessly on

him, two of the Kingston men Kelly had shot groaned in agony-they'd been unlucky enough to get hit

regarded them with a sickly grin, drawing his

shot into the first man's

the moss,

voice choked with terror. "We're on

the dark, they'll set

happy to

second man point-blank,

back to Kelly, a predatory hunger burning in

His lips curled into a leer. "I've had my eye on you. I always go after what I