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Chapter 220
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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
Claiming His Queen Chapter 224
LILY'It's a girl' was the last I heard, coupled with the musical shrill of my daughter's screams, before I let the unconscious take me.Now I was awake, faced with the same reality I wanted to escape—the sense of loss washing over me.He had said he was coming, said he was coming back to me, but now I was just going to accept that he was gone, just like that? And my baby? A few wards away from me—fighting for her life.It had to be a cruel nightmare. Life couldn't be so unbearable; it couldn't take two people away from me in one week. How could it snatch from him from the daughter he had always wanted? My heart ached with a pain I had never known before. The weight of my grief threatened to suffocate me as I lay on the hospital bed, my tears staining the pillow beneath my head.How could I raise our child without having him by my side? How could I find the strength to carry on, knowing that he would never hold our daughter, never watch her grow, and never share in the joys and chall
Claiming His Queen Chapter 225
The next week, I spent time in my room with my daughter, whom I had named Constance after my mother. She was a beautiful child, carrying more of Adler's features than she did mine.Every time she looked at me with those piercing greens, I fought the urge to breakdown before her crib. It hurt that she was never going to know the man she took after.Salvatore came around often, even without a reason. Sometimes he brought a doctor; two days ago, he had hints of getting me a therapist, but I shut the offer down before a chance to think it through.Judging that I spent most of my time asleep, he needed the sessions more than I did, for although he no longer used the crutch, each day his health deteriorated.His cheekbones, with sunken eyes and patched lips, were sharper than a knife, and when he smiled at Constance, it never reached his pupils.I hadn't seen him in a few days, and when I called, his phone was off.One morning, I woke to my baby's cries and sunlight streaming through the op
Claiming His Queen Chapter 226
EVA"It's been a year." He looked at her from under dark lashes, "You left without saying goodbye."If his eyes were hands, she would have been naked. His cigar lay forgotten on the tray, and she wished he'd crush the amber rather than let it pollute her air."I see you got your wishes granted," she said, looking around the office she once remembered as Adler's. Her throat became heavy. "Aren't you quite the opportunist, Don?"He chuckled and looked down at the ring on his finger. "I almost thought you came by to celebrate with me, but you've always been cruel to me." He looked up again. "So tell me now, what can I do for you?"She quickly replied, "My sister. Victor, I know you too well to know what you're up to. I've come to plead with you not to.""Plead with me?" He cupped his chin. "No way you're pleading with that hatred in those beautiful eyes, Evie."She would have known it wouldn't be easy to hide a feeling so deep. Eva dropped her gaze to the floor."Alright, sweetie," he re
Claiming His Queen Chapter 227
AUTHOR'S POV4 MONTHS LATER Domenico stood beside the frail woman on her sick bed. There was a time when he would hold her hand, and she'd open those eyes and smile at him, but that had changed over the years. His mother's hatred for him intensified after Adler died. He could see the accusations in her eyes when she looked at him, and despite the fact that he was here because she had called for him, he still dreaded what he would face when she woke up.His father, not his mother, was the source of the musty smell in the room, which was filled with heated blankets and old books.Leaning against the wall with a shoulder, Domenico watched her face, his arms folded across his chest. Tempted to wake her up so they could get her guilt trips over with, Domenico resisted the urge instead, checking his watch and looking out of the window.Finally, she stirred, and he held his breath, watching her lids flutter open before finally becoming stable. And that alone poked the sleeping guilt in him
Claiming His Queen Chapter 228
EVAThat was close. Eva sighed.Knowing Victor, his ego was bruised, and he would never consider popping the question again as a form of punishment.He was genuinely offended, but still, Victor will do everything to hurt her except put her away.The last 4 months had been a circus, with his intentions to live her obsessed with him vivid.Poor Salvatore always played an audience role and later managed his boss's tantrums. She shrugged; they deserved each other anyway.Eva replaced her frown with a beaming smile as soon as she opened the door to reveal Lily, her niece. Constance was lying on the bed, and Lily was sitting beside her, sifting through papers with a somber countenance."You were quick, "Lily said as soon as she picked up Constance from the bed. "What did he want from you?""Nothing much." Eva replied, making faces at the baby, who cackled loudly. "He wants me to accompany him to an event." I turned him down."Her sister climbed out of bed, the papers still in her right hand
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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
