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Chapter 215
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Claiming His Queen Chapter 216
LARON"Do you have a hobby, buddy? football?" The only good thing about being here was the food; other than that, it was all a waste of time, Laron thought as he stuffed his mouth with steak, not to mention the high-placed man looking into his face and forcing conversations.Some distance away from Laron and Luigi, Kyra stood nearby, feeding and caressing a horse. Her excitement contrasting with the gentleness she used to brush its mane.She seemed so different from her usual self; the soft care she had used on him back at the art and craft studio was on full display, and for a moment, he was jealous of the horse and detested the man who owned it.As Kyra waved and Luigi waved back, the smile on his face disappeared. Why did this man always invade his space?Maybe if he ignored him, he would be left alone."I play golf sometimes." Luigi picked up his half-field glass of wine. "What do you play?" "Nothing." His answer was a snap; perhaps the wealthy boy would catch on quickly and ta
Claiming His Queen Chapter 217
SALVATOREFor the first time in weeks, he was out of the manor and, as far as he could tell, unsupervised.The conclusion derived from watching his back constantly as he drove and he hadn't spotted a car following him. He sat opposite Father Armando now, a desk between them and the returned rosary lying pretty on it. God, how he yearned to get it clasped around his neck once again."It's been hard to reach you these days," Father Armando said, observing him. "I see you also lost weight." He wasn't sure he could take it any longer; he'd have to find a way out of Sicily, even if it meant shoving his pride down his throat and calling Adler. "It's been hard to reach you for weeks; I was worried," Father Armando said, observing him. "That's valid because here you are a shadow of yourself.""Not that bad,"' Salvatore answered, knowing he was lying to himself; he had stood before the mirror hours ago, staring at his hollow eyes and gaunt cheeks. "Why am I here?"Father Armando sighed, the
Claiming His Queen Chapter 218
RUNEHe couldn't feel his hands—no, not hands—no, he couldn't feel his body. Whenever a nurse hurried in or out through the door, he quickly stood up and inquired about her condition.They told him nothing; every damn time he had stood there blocking their way and demanding they tell him how she fared, they had either asked him to calm down or hurriedly gone past him."What have I done?" He placed the back of his head on the wall and gazed up at the ceiling in despair. He'd have gone past her immediately; they heard the gunshot and realized Laron was no longer present.However, consumed by rage, he failed to notice anything else. So furious that when she called out Laron's name from outside, his immediate urge was to confront her and vehemently deny the truth of her words."Oh God," he whimpered. All he wanted was positive news. The wound was so fatal that he could deduce himself, but if magic did happen, she wouldn't die. She wouldn't leave him!From the far end of the room, Adler ca
Claiming His Queen Chapter 219
Adler"...Hi, it's Lily. There's a high chance I'm taking a bath or my man has imprisoned me. Please leave a message at the first beep."Adler smiled. Once again, she wasn't picking up his calls. It was almost two weeks since he lost control; maybe it was about time she forgave him.If she wanted him to grovel at her feet, so be it. But she could at least pick up the phone; there was no man to imprison her now.The first beep brought him back from his thoughts.He could try leaving a message, although he had nothing to say.He cleared his throat. "Hey, Lily, it's Adler. I'm just checking to see how you're doing."Adler stopped. No, hell no, he was doing it wrong. "God, Lily, I'm so sorry. All I wanted was to keep you safe, but I was so stupid, I took it too far. If you had spoken to me, you'd know that you helped a great deal. You were right and I was wrong. I don't care what your conditions are; I just need you to forgive me."He hesitated, then hit the send icon.Dropping the phone
Claiming His Queen Chapter 220
Adler's heart sank as he swiftly made a quick stop before the already blazing church.The firefighters had gathered around the church, all attempting to extinguish the relentless blaze.Dashing out of the vehicle, Adler raced towards the church. Noticing the police forming a human barricade to keep him and the crowd at bay, Adler urgently gestured for them to make way.They recognized him, but not without giving him a warning glance of the danger he was about to get into. However, Salvatore was there.Lily didn't need bad news at this stage; she had had enough. If he wasn't already dead, he needed to get the idiot out of there.Flames had taken over the church, from the pulpit to the room, and they were also inching along the stairs. It was a risky move to ascend, but if he acted swiftly, he could descend before the stairs became engulfed in flames.Placing the damp cloth over his head to shield himself from the heat, Adler charged up the stairs, shouting "Priest" at the top of his lu
Claiming His Queen Chapter 221
RUNEHe gently brushed her hair off her face, listening to the musical sound of her breath. Pale-faced and vulnerable on the bed, she looked like an angel—a beautiful, helpless one.Rune covered her warm, stiff hand with his; the only proof that she had life in her was the beeps of the heart rate monitor that had kept him awake throughout the night.The doctor had said she was making progress but still had a fifty-fifty chance of surviving. He had prayed, and if he could call his hunger strikes fasting, then he did that, but she was showing less chance of opening those eyes.The nurses would frequently enter the room and offer to watch over her so that he could freshen up, but he consistently refused their offers.The only time he took his eyes off her was when Laron called, in his scared trembling voice to inquire if Kyra was getting better.Rune, choosing the easiest route to avoid further worrying him, always gave a reassuring nod, though deep down, uncertainty gnawed at him like a
Claiming His Queen Chapter 222
RUNE"Mr. Rune," a soothing voice called, and a soft touch tapped him out of his slumber. When he looked up, he saw a nurse looking at him with pity. "Miss Kyra wants to see you now."Did she? Rune rubbed at his eyes. How long had he been asleep in the hospital's visitor area waiting for Luigi?Long enough if it was already dark. Sighing, he stood up, thanked the nurse, and walked towards her ward.He knew he wasn't prepared to receive whatever she was about to tell him, but he had to take it all in good grace. She had her life to live now, but he wished he could be happy for her.Reaching her ward, he knocked, and when she answered, he ambled in.Finding out Luigi was absent soothed his aching heart more than he wanted it to, and beside Kyra on the hospital bed was Laron, sprawled against her and sound asleep."He slept off immediately; Luigi left hours ago." Kyra, as if reading his mind, explained, "You left in haste; I thought you were gone."He stopped a safe distance away, still
Claiming His Queen Chapter 223
RUSLAN.He died. Just as simple as that.Ruslan frowned, staring at the report papers; it was unbelievable. Adler had seemed immortal; the fire was only to shake him up and remind him that he was still lurking in the shadows.However, it had all gotten out of hand, and his purpose had slipped through his fingers. This was all he thought he wanted, so why did it feel void?"Conduct more searches," he flung the paper back to his men. "I want a DNA test on every body, every bone, every tooth, and even the fucking ashes."The men, about five of them, sauntered for the flying papers flying around, "But boss, he's really dead; the fire destroyed everything. Don sacrificed himself for his friend.""I'm saying nobody does that." Ruslan fell onto a couch in his bedroom. "Most especially not Adler. Something feels wrong; the game isn't over; Adler can't just die when he wants to." "Boss, what do you want us to do?" one of the men asked.What? Adler was a unique individual, adept at evading ris
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Claiming His Queen Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER**RUNE—KYRA**"...I'm just saying it's not fair Laron gets to spend the summer break with Luigi," Rune followed Kyra to Laron's wardrobe. "Luigi gets all of his weekends. What time do I get to have?"Kyra snatched Rune's equestrian leggings and walked back to the bed. "You're exaggerating again." She folded the leggings and tucked them into Laron's nearly overflowing box before turning to him. "You gave him the go-ahead, remember?""Yeah, but that was before I realized it was for a whole month. He's monopolizing all of Laron's free time," Rune sighed, flopping onto Laron's bed dramatically. "I just miss hanging out with my son, you know?"She stayed silent, and when he looked up, she was staring at him."Why?""Well," she zipped the bag close and walked up to him, "why does it seem like you haven't learned how to tell Laron no?"Rune frowned. "What are you saying? I tell him no all the time.""No, you don't." She straddled him, placing her hand flat on his chest. "Alri
Claiming His Queen Chapter 240
ADLERWhen he reached the Villa, the memories came hurling in. The last time he had been here, under that open shed, Larissa and Dimitri were having the time of their lives.He could still remember the lively evening, how he heard the chatters as soon as he parked, looking around him at the goons on every turn.Presently there was no single soul on this premises, but Adler knew better.Parking Kyra's motorcycle right in the center of the compound, he observed the house, its windows, all dark, except one of them, on the ground floor, the orange glow giving it an eerie touch.The gun firm in his left hand, Adler moved through the shadows, the moonlight his aid as he advanced headfirst through the entrance.Maneuvering his way through doors, following the orange glow, he placed his finger readily on the trigger, listening for a sound.But nothing came, just the faint silence.He felt it was coming to this, watching his opponent spiral down a rabbit hole as he struggled with the obsession
Claiming His Queen 239
ADLER**FOUR MONTHS AGO**He could hear the elevator go down and for the first time in his life since the afternoon his mother died, he wanted to drop to his knees and give it all up.It was over. The wet towel seemed to burn against his skin, the wet towel over his head was now hot lava, and the metal around his finger was rapidly heating up and cutting off his circulation.He couldn't make it, there was no use trying, for what he had done, this was well-deserved, two hells in one lifetime, he dared anyone to beat that?But Lily? His mind tugged. What about Lily? The thought that he was never going to see her again was too great a loss to take without trying.Adler rose.Then came the beam, whirling down and landing on where his lower legs were supposed to have been if he hadn't rolled over just in time, his palm flattened on the hot ground.Holy fuck! He snapped it back to himself and hastily yanked out the hot ring, hoping to save it but then kicked against the idea when the band s
Claiming His Queen Chapter 238
SALVATORESalvatore stirred, his lids opening as he gradually regained consciousness, eyes meeting the bright lights of the chandeliers above him.His head felt like a shattered egg, memories mangled and hitting him piece by piece, as the familiar aura registered. He was still in the manor, he could tell, but where exactly?The wails of a baby had his eyes snapping fully open, and Salvatore was sitting up in a jolt. The pain that went through him was like torrents, his head felt heavy, and the world around him seemed to spin."Hey look, our main guest is awake," Victor's taunts clouded his ears. "Christ, don't go back to sleep again, we've been waiting."Salvatore struggled to his feet, the sight before him sending his heart thudding.Victor sat on a settee, crossed-legged, with Eva beside him, hair stuck to her wet face, and her red-rimmed eyes staring forward, the hopelessness in them so obvious.If Constance's cries came from the crib, next to a goon, then where was Lily? He turne
Claiming His Queen 237
RUNERune could taste the blood that coated his mouth. Still, he gritted his teeth, refusing to let the cries out. With his hands held back, the old man pounded his fist into his abdomen unrelentingly.The pain was excruciating, each blow sending shockwaves through his body. Rune's vision blurred, but he forced himself to stay conscious, to keep thinking.There was no way out of this, he knew. They were behind closed doors, in a room that smelled like dust and cobwebs; no one could hear him here.Well, no one except Laron, whom he constantly ordered to shut his eyes. The boy stood before the second goon, eyes shut, yet tears still rolled down his face.Every sniffle he heard from Laron cut through like a knife, and he wished he could do something, be the super dad Laron believed in, but right now the only thing he could do was stare at the floor."Had enough?" the old man sneered, his knuckles smeared with Rune's blood. "I thought to make this easier on you, but..." He grabbed a handf
Claiming His Queen Chapter 236
SALVATORE"...What did you use this time?" Salvatore asked, slamming the booth shut. "Will they live?"Rune blinked, staring wide-eyed at him. "You wanted them to live?"Kyra's head shot up from the driver's seat. "What did you do?"Rune chuckled, raising both hands in mock surrender. "I'm kidding. The soldiers are alive. They'll feel some type of way tomorrow, but that's just Ketamine for ya."Salvatore fought the urge to pull out a pistol and aim at the fucker's right leg. This wasn't the time to be stupid; tension was high, and it was D-day.Just like Rune had promised, the compound had few goons, and they also seemed to be in panic. It would be this way until they got out of this godforsaken place."The back gate is empty," Rune whispered as he walked up to Kyra, cupping her face with both hands and kissing her full on the lips. "See you on the other side in a few minutes, Princess."But she drew him back in. Urgh, Salvatore groaned and turned away. Those two behaved like they wer
Claiming His Queen Chapter 235
SALVATORE"...There's been another attack." Victor inhaled the smoke from the lit end of his cigar. "It happened at the same time as the fire yesterday. Ruslan is finally convinced of my innocence."Salvatore shared a glance with Kyra and then back at Victor. Was he actually saying the fire he had started to disrupt the engagement and that had somehow gotten out of hand was connected with an attack?Quietly wincing as the cloth grazed his partially burnt arm, Salvatore returned his gaze to Victor, who was suddenly deep in thought."I'll be gone again," Victor waved away the smoke, "but this time for a few days. Again, Salvatore will stay behind. I wish it didn't have to be so, but I need someone I can trust to keep Eva safe."He resisted the urge to share another glance with his sister. Even though he couldn't read anything on her straight countenance, he knew she was still mad at him."Can you?" Victor asked. "I can easily put her under Kyra's care. Give my father's favorite princess
Claiming His Queen Chapter 234
EVASince Victor came back, he had been so busy he barely found time to see her. The days seemed even more void, the future gloomy. Hiding away in the confines of this room, she listened to the sound of the chapter of her life closing.Now she climbed down the bed, went to her wardrobe, and crouching to her knees, pulled open a compartment and brought out a small wooden box. It had been months since she last looked at its contents, afraid it would bring back unwanted memories and reignite her obsession with him, but here she was.Eva looked behind her at the door, then back at the box. Taking a deep breath, she flipped open the cover, staring absently at the contents inside a little beaded necklace that held a crucifix. His crucifix.She had sunk so low as to steal a part of him while he slept. She doubted he ever searched for it. If he did, he’d know it was missing and no longer in the pretty house that smelled of him.She struggled, praying for the embarrassment to wash over her so
Claiming His Queen Chapter 233
LILY"I was six when I discovered that the convent sisters who came once a week to take children from the orphanage were anything but angels," Ruslan said, rocking my daughter's cradle. "It became clear why the boys never came back, and the girls who did barely lived."Twenty minutes ago, I had laid my sleeping daughter in her crib and rushed into the bathroom for a quick soak, despite knowing she wouldn't stir.Two seconds ago, I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around my chest and damp hair still dripping, only to see Ruslan standing over Constance's crib and staring at her.Even though he didn't touch her, my racing pulse refused to die down.But he paid no heed to my presence and continued, "They needed us in a coal mine in this little spot in Serbia." He paused, his gaze remote. "Our starved, wiry, agile bodies were the perfect fit for narrow spaces, running errands, and sometimes checking if the explosives had completed their work."My hawk-like eyes on Constance made it
