Heart Of A Destitute

TER

CH

*

ights flashing past me, I couldn't help

excess and poor decisions, but

self-made man who had built h

mansion on the outskirts of the city. My upbringing was a serie

e was a constant pressure to

d the thrill of high-stakes gambling, the rush of

n't help myself. The more he tried

hroes of a losing streak. My father's money was slipping thro

ugh night," James had said, sl

e kind that made you believe he

h my hair. "You could say that.

low. "What if I told you I

eptically. "And wh

osition that could benefit both of us. B

ided me through the next few h

, my losses recouped and then some. As we

air a welcome relief. "So, what's

ing. "I need your help to take down my father's emp

does Julian have

he main heir to my father's fortune. The only wa

e us the leverage we need to

You want me to marry your s

ow easy it is for me to turn a losing situation into a wi

k sinking in. But James had saved me

r, of finally breaking free from my father'

'll do it. But thi

me on the back. "Trust

e. He orchestrated my meeting with Julian, telling me she

e deals were made in the shadows an

ke hanging in the air. I had found Julian sitting a

It didn't take long for her to open up to me

*

ffice, the weight of our p

ith floor-to-ceiling windows offer

ower, much like the

king the silence. "The Mayor is i

desk, his expression unre

rd from the Mayor. He's getting inv

look on his face. "Interesting. The Mayor,

wned.

ye. "We eliminate him. Without the Mayo

sage to anyone else th

hat's a risky move.

We'll make it look like an accid

, nodding slowly. "A

a toast to our dark al

feeling that we were playing a dangerous gam

s clear: we were in this together, and we

*

n my apartment, the weight of m

lt cold and impersonal, a stark

to quiet the doubts and fears

nce and trust, and how I was betra

k now. All I could do was mov

e city lights, I couldn't help b

would everything come crashing do

a steely resolve, I steeled m

I was determined to see it throu