The Almighty Dominance

Alfred Kingston shook his head slowly, his voice edged with disdain.

"Alex, I'll admit you have courage. But the line between bravery and stupidity is razor-thin."

"And right now, you're nothing but a fool who doesn't even know his own limits. You're nothing-worthless. You're not even qualified to be our enemy."

Alex's gaze was unflinching. "Mr. Kingston, a man is meant to be destroyed, not defeated."

Alfred's lips curled into a bitter smile. He exhaled sharply, then barked, "Fine! Very well! You're fearless, I'll give you that. If you want to be destroyed, so be it."

"But for the sake of our past ties, I'll give you one chance. Stop seeing Jasmine. Cut all ties with her, and I won't hold this against you. But if you persist, you'll face the consequences. We will crush you. Now get out."

He rose from his chair, his body language final-conversation over.

Alex rose to his feet and walked toward the door. After a few steps, he stopped and turned. His voice was calm, deliberate.

"Mr. Kingston."

Alfred's eyes narrowed. "What? Have you changed your mind?"

Alex shook his head. "I will never change my mind. But because of our past connection, I'll say this. Your health is failing. I doubt you'll last another week."

The words hit like a hammer. Alfred's brow furrowed, his voice harsh. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Alex's gaze hardened, cutting like a blade. "Your skin is dark, your pupils clouded with a sickly hue. If I'm not mistaken, you've been poisoned."

Alfred snapped back, fury and disbelief flaring.

"Nonsense! You think you can scare me with cheap tricks? Just because you're a doctor, you want me to beg for my life? You underestimate me!"

"Mr. Kingston," Alex's voice was grave, steady. "I'm not joking. This isn't a normal poison. Within a week, it will flare up, and when it does... it will kill you."

"Enough!" Alfred roared, refusing to hear more. "Get out of my sight."

"I've done all I can," Alex said quietly, then walked toward the exit. But as he opened the door, he froze. Charles Kingston stood in the doorway.

Alex's eyes flicked between father and son. A dry smile touched his lips. "So... father and son are back on the same side?"

"We are family. We never

have been misunderstandings because of outsiders like you, but blood is

I won't get involved in

blocked

"I want you to deliver a warning to

for what

"What are you talking

has no right to sit in that governor's

back, "She has documents showing the Guise

into a snarl. "And I have information she

if she's unfit to be governor... who's more fitting?

his voice sharp with

kill you and finish Guise's revenge, his last will gives me the right to

at the absurdity. He turned

of Paris? And you two

shrugged, cold

And I warn you, Alex-this has

eyes hardened. "He wants to kill me, Alfred. That makes it my

shifted to Kelly. "And you? You stand with him

Alex's eyes without flinching. Her voice

him. He's a Kingston, and so am I. We Kingstons

carved itself into Alex's chest. He stared at her, then shook his

walked out, leaving them behind. Hours

above him, stars scattered like distant fires, but none of

stood alone, his mind

Alfred Kingston, Kelly Kingston, Lyra Thompson, and Sophia

now that

Kelly, both state governors, had chosen to side with Charles in his claim for Paris. Sophia would stand

fate tangled in his schemes-her marriage promised to Logan, heir of Manhattan State, a

fists. The dream he once held slipped through his fingers like sand, scattering into

that remained was disappointment, sharp and

"Alex."

the silence. He turned