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.

doesn't change the devil

tainted estate, Kelly trudged through the

swallow her whole, but her iron will pushed her

shouted, spotting

her pistol in one fluid

skull, and he dropped like

sent a hail of gunfire back

through branches and leaves, one striking

a hoarse

voice yelled, spurring his fellow

her arm, Kelly bit back

its mark, and the men collapsed into the

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 savage kick that slammed into

clattering against a rock before landing uselessly on the wet

men Kelly had shot groaned in agony-they'd been unlucky enough to get hit but not killed. One moaned,

sickly grin, drawing his own

a shot

moss, the man's eyes going

other sputtered, voice choked with

loose a dark laugh. "Some people are so deep in the dark, they'll set anyone on fire just to watch them burn. Try not to

honestly? It makes me happy to see you die. No

he shot the second man point-blank, sending him sprawling in a

turned back to Kelly, a predatory hunger burning

"I've had my eye on you. I