Chapter 7
546words
Miranda lunged for the map, eyes wide with panic.
"Security, show Miss Moore to the door."
"No! You can't do this to me!"
She fought like a wild animal as the guards dragged her away, her screams echoing down the hallway.
Alex dropped to his knees, clutching at my legs.
"Lily, please," he begged. "We're engaged. You're supposed to be my wife."
"That was another lifetime. There's nothing between us now."
"No," he insisted. "I don't believe you've stopped loving me."
I stood motionless as Alex gazed up at me, his eyes swimming with tears.
"You once told me you weren't interested in physical intimacy," he said softly. "That if you ever changed your mind, it would mean I was truly special to you."
"Lily, I want you now. Only you."
I didn't flinch, just slowly extracted my hand from his grip.
His fingers trembled as he rose to his feet, eyes locked on mine.
He stepped closer, invading my space.
"Just kiss me," he whispered. "And I'll be yours forever."
The tips of his ears turned red as he waited for me to make the first move.
He closed his eyes, utterly confident in his power over me.
The crack of my palm against his cheek echoed through the room.
"Lily, what—"
"You disgust me, Alex."
"The very sight of you makes me sick."
Every time I remembered him with Miranda, bile rose in my throat.
Alex thrusting into Miranda, his hands gripping her hips…
"Get out."
The color drained from his face as he stumbled backward, then fled the room.
"You'll regret this, Lily!" he called back.
I refused to take back any of the men who had betrayed me. Betray me once, you're dead to me forever.
Their loyalty meter had hit zero and would never rise again.
The Johnson Gang rose from the ashes with fresh blood and the few who had remained loyal. This time, we had the full might of the Dunn Family behind us.
We reclaimed our former glory in record time, while the Moore Gang crumbled without Miranda's leadership.
I publicly blacklisted the Moore Gang, and the rats who had abandoned ship came crawling back one by one.
This was the dozenth person to come groveling at my feet.
"Miss Johnson," the old man gushed, "your reputation doesn't do you justice. It's an honor to finally meet you."
The gray-haired man before me—at least two decades my senior—pumped my hand enthusiastically.
"I understand you were quite close with the Moore Gang?"
"Absolutely not!" he sputtered. "Mere business transactions, nothing more!"
He couldn't distance himself from Miranda fast enough.
"Is that so? And will these 'business transactions' continue?"
"Never again! Between you and the Moore Gang, there's no question where our loyalty lies."
"Everyone knows you're the true power in this city—the First Dragon of City A."
Just as I was about to accept his pledge, my phone buzzed.
Miranda.
The man who'd just left was Miranda's closest business partner—her ace in the hole. She never imagined he'd abandon her so quickly.
"Lily? It's been a while."
"Skip the small talk, Miranda. What do you want?"
She forced a laugh that sounded more like a whimper.
"You must have heard what's happening to me…"
