But now that Salvatore is dead, I can live his dream.”
Viviana jumps from where she is sitting into my lap.
“I’m so happy for you.” She lets out a sigh of relief, and now I’m sure I made the right decision.
Every day that I left her these past few months, I could see the fear in her eyes. Now it’s gone.
“I have one more surprise.”
“Another? Eeep,” she squeals. “I love surprises!”
I stand from the couch and hold out my hand for her to take.
Now, together, we walk out of the library. I lead her to the foyer.
That’s where Julia and Jonathan are waiting with the surprise.
When she turns the corner, a gasp leaves her mouth.
It was a long road, a long year, but all the hard work was worth it.
“Ana . . .” A sob breaks through her lips, and tears flow down her cheeks.
The woman who raised my wife stands in the doorway.
She’s still frail, and sometimes her mind gets jumbled from the years of medication, but every day, she gets a little better with the help of the best doctors in the world. A part of her once lost is restored.
“My girl, my Vivi.” The term of endearment makes my wife cry harder.
Slowly, she walks up to her, and they embrace.
They hug for a minute before we escort Viviana and the family into the den. Tonight, a dinner will be prepared to celebrate family.
Lorenzo will be joining us too, as well as Roberto. My family.
Life has changed for me over the past year, but I realize now, power is not important. Neither is money and fame.
All that matters is this . . .
Having people to cherish, people to love.
That’s when you are finally complete.
Talk to Cassius!
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Sneak Peak:
Haven’t met Cyrus Reed yet? Now is your chance! Corrupt Kingdom is available on Amazon, Audible, or Paperback! Read a sneak peak now!
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Sneak Peak Of Corrupt Kingdom
Chapter One
Cyrus
I’m the king. This is my castle, and if I had a throne, I’d be fucking sitting on it.
I set my cognac glass on the staircase’s banister, watching it teetering near the edge. Below me, one of my subjects holds court in my mansion, no shits given, but once I descend the steps, he’ll remember his place.
I own him.
I own everyone here.
Officially, my bank is the wealthiest private bank in the world. Unofficially, it is the gateway to the underworld. Every penny earned by criminals passes through me. Unlike most of the banks on Wall Street, I don’t pretend to be something I’m not. The money that lies in my vaults is dirty as fuck because I don’t cater to a normal clientele.
No.
Mine is of a different breed.
The lowest dregs of life.
They are drug dealers. Gunrunners. They are the cartel and the mafia. At times, they are even the shady politicians who run countries, and the trust fund babies who fuck up.
To them, I’m their savior. No more hiding bags of cash under their beds. Nope. Instead, they all come to me to clean their money and, once it’s spotless, grow it.
Even though I’m technically one of them—a criminal—I can’t stand them. Although that really means nothing, as I can’t stand anyone. But their cash is green. Fuck, theirs might be greener. A new shade stained by the life taken to make it.
Tonight, the money they don’t deposit in my bank will be brought here instead. It will arrive dirty, smeared with the sins from which they earned it, but by the time the evening ends, the tainted blood will be gone, and they’ll leave with bills as clean as freshly washed laundry.
My house is ready, and the staff is prepared. The game will begin soon, so all I have to do now is wait.
I hate this shit, but it’s a necessary evil. Here, I’ll learn secrets. Possess fortunes. I will amass an empire.
This is my corrupt kingdom, where I am a god.
Time comes to a halt as I wait at the top of my stairs. My gaze drifts across the foyer as each guest arrives. The crowd assembles in the center of the room, waiting for instructions, but really, they’re waiting for the poker game