12. Tradition

*Rebel POV*

Xavier was light on his feet, moving freely around the boxing ring as if taking a stroll in the park, not facing Vincent—the second-best fighter we had after Kyle.

He was getting under Vincent’s skin, and it seemed to be working. Vincent was strong, but patience was never his strong suit.

After months of leaving the business under Kyle's supervision, I was finally back to take charge again.

Angelina hadn’t been thrilled, but as promised, I’d stayed back until my first-term exams were over, and she had honored our agreement.

Today was one of the days I actually looked forward to: rank promotions through boxing matches.

It was a Kings tradition.

Evan had started it to make sure his gang members had a fair chance to prove their skills and to keep them sharp and actively participating.

Vincent went for it, swinging his fist at Xavier's face, but before he could even graze a hair on Xavier’s head, Xavier slipped and threw an uppercut, knocking Vincent out cold.

The crowd that had been cheering for Vincent fell silent. It was over quickly but executed perfectly.

With that, the only person standing between Xavier and the final win was Kyle.

I looked to my side and met Kyle’s gaze. He nodded and prepared to fight.

He took off his hoodie, leaving only his boxer shorts. Flashing his muscles a bit, he jumped the ropes to get into the ring and face his opponent.

Kyle was many things, but he was also a big show-off, and the others seemed to love him for it.

The noise returned, with cheers for both Kyle and Xavier, echoing so loudly it could be heard for miles from the gym floor.

Raymond rang the bell, signaling the start of the match.

Xavier and Kyle tapped gloves before circling each other like predators, locking eyes, trying to read each other’s moves.

Xavier made the first move but missed as Kyle dodged quickly. He was nearly untouchable in the ring.

It looked like a dance. Both were in sync, moving skillfully.

Only in the last few seconds did Xavier break through Kyle’s defenses and land a hit, but Kyle was also in motion, and his punches were stronger.

When the bell sounded, Kyle was the clear winner.

He immediately went to check on Xavier, whose nose was bleeding, and offered him first aid.

I left them to it and returned to my room for the rest of the day. I had other matters to attend to.

Like keeping tabs on Drake Marshall.

In a short period, he and Ryan had become inseparable. I hadn’t forbidden my little brother from making friends, but there was something about Drake Marshall—a gut feeling I couldn’t shake.

I’d also found him snooping around the house a few times, mostly near my room. He tried to feed me some excuse, but I wasn’t buying it.

Yet his background was spotless. His parents had died when he was ten, and after spending two years in an orphanage, he’d been adopted by a decent family. Bright kid. No trouble on record.

Still, I couldn’t shake my suspicion. I just didn’t want Ryan getting caught up in anything dangerous.

I’d asked Karim to keep an eye on them in my absence and not let Angelina find out. Unlike me, she wouldn’t wait for Ryan to be hurt before removing the threat. She was fiercely protective of her son, especially since Evan had gone.

I couldn’t blame her. If I were in her position, I’d do the same.

---

That night, everyone gathered around the dining table—a tradition Evan had started—for a feast celebrating the rank promotions. But before that, the new ranks were to be announced by the leader, a.k.a. me.

I sat at the head of the table, with Kyle seated to my right, a fitting place for my right-hand man. The others stood in line, waiting for the results to be revealed.

“Do the honors, my queen,” Kyle said with a wink. He knew I didn’t like this part, and what was the point when everyone already knew who’d won?

Shooting him a glare, I cleared my throat and sat up straight, glancing at the others, who were clearly waiting to dive into the food prepared for them.

“There’s no doubt Kyle Martin was today’s winner, keeping his position as the Kings’ right-hand man. But there’s one more member who deserves recognition tonight.”

“Xavier Delano, step forward,” I called out to the gang's newest and fastest-rising member.

He stepped forward with a confident glint in his eyes, dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, giving off a slightly sinister vibe. The others had followed the rules and wore jackets with the gang's crest. Normally, I’d admire rule-breaking, but for some reason, something about this guy felt off. Kyle hadn’t stopped praising him the entire time I’d been gone—and Kyle didn’t usually give anyone that much credit.

Maybe it was nothing. Or maybe not.

For now, I planned to keep a close watch on Xavier Delano.

Putting on a faint smile, I looked him in the eye, meeting his intense gaze. “Gentlemen, here’s the new in-charge of all the clubs in New York under the Kings' jurisdiction.”

He’d lost the last match to Kyle, who kept his seat, but seeing Delano’s dedication, Kyle had requested that he receive a reward.

Kyle and the others, celebrating with food and drinks, seemed happy for Delano’s achievement; though, there were a few in the room who didn’t seem to take the news

well.

I left them to it and returned to the work that had piled up in my absence.