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 doesn't change the devil

trudged through the dense undergrowth, teeth gritted against

threatening to swallow her whole, but her

of Kingston's men shouted, spotting her through the trees.

in one fluid move, firing

and he dropped like a rag

hail of

branches and leaves, one

with a hoarse cry,

voice yelled, spurring his fellow men into a

down her arm, Kelly bit back the pain and squeezed off three

found its mark, and the men

shadows. "You really are 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 a

a rock before landing

groaned in agony-they'd been unlucky

sickly grin, drawing his own

warning, he fired a shot into the first

the moss, the man's

sputtered, voice choked

"Some people are so deep in the dark, they'll set anyone on fire just to watch them

happy to

the second man point-blank, sending him sprawling

to Kelly, a predatory hunger burning

leer. "I've had my