Cruel King (Royal Elite #0) by Rina Kent

Aiden, Xan, Ronan, and Cole stand by my side as Chris shivers on the ground alongside his minions.

My knuckles are bleeding from beating him to a pulp. He just admitted to being behind the photos. He wanted to get back at me so he ruined my ‘plaything’. That got him a punch that broke his nose.

The two juniors, David and Michael remain huddled in the corner, stammering that they didn’t do anything.

I pull Chris by the collar until I’m breathing in his face. “Now, tell me everything.”

“You told us no fucking mistakes,” he snarls, showing bloodied teeth. “She heard us talking and I had to shut her the fuck up.”

“So you planned an accident?”

“What the fuck?” He coughs blood. “We had nothing to do with the accident. We only chased her to shut her up.”

My hold falters on his collar. I planned the fire. I had Chris and the two juniors execute it with me because I didn’t want Aiden and his gang to get a whiff of my rebellion against Jonathan.

The shivering juniors in the corner who keep repeating that they only did what they’re told aren’t to blame. I am.

I knew that Chris is volatile and has a knack for danger, but I still used that to my advantage. Michael and David are just pawns who would do anything for their captain. Including arson — and possibly murder.

I might not have driven the car that hit Astrid that night, but I played a role in it.

“We only did what Christopher said.” Michael looks about ready to pee himself. “I wanted to tell the police everything, but my stepfather will kick me out of the house if I have any criminal record.”

“We’re sorry, Captain.” David stammers. “P-please forgive us.”

“That depends.” I push Chris up when he almost falls to the ground.

“On what?” Michael asks.

“Tell me everything you saw that night.” I glare down on Chris. “And you. Tell me why the fuck you’ve been sleeping with Astrid’s stepsister.”

When the three of them are finished, the image starts forming in my head.

I’m only missing one link.

Just a little something.

And I have to risk my future to see the end of it.

For Astrid, it’s fucking worth it.





“K-King?” Nicole stares up at me with wide eyes as I stand in front of their door.

I spent all night watching footage after footage of that party and keeping screenshots and short clips for evidence

There a few interesting things that came to light.

Nicole casts a cautious glance behind her then closes the door and steps outside. “You’re not supposed to be here, my stepfather will kill you.”

I glance behind her, even though the door is shut. “Is Astrid here?”

She twists her lips. “You should leave.”

“Not going to happen.” I push past her, stop and look down at her. “There’s something I’m curious about, Nicole.”

She licks her lips, flipping her blonde hair back. “What is it.”

“Did you fuck Daniel after you put something in his drink?”

Her face turns white. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I pull out my phone and show her two clips that prove her implication. She put pills in glass shots and offered one to Daniel. He took the other and shoved it in Astrid’s hand.

Nicole starts shaking and swallowing hard.

“Now,” I continue, “There are no cameras inside the rooms, so tell me, were you fucking Daniel while Astrid had an accident?”

“K-King, I… I… didn’t mean for it go that far, I promise.”

I barge into her space. “I have enough evidence for Daniel to sue you for rape.”

“That… that’s not…”

“What was your plan exactly? Have him and Astrid fuck? Are you a voyeur or is this some other fucked up kink?”

“That drink was supposed to be mine, not Astrid’s! Daniel is supposed to be mine, not hers. But he had to snatch my damn drink and give it to his stupid Astrid. I studied with him all my life but she waltzes in here one day and he becomes best friends with her overnight. What does she have that I don’t?”

“So you decided to rape him?”

Her lips tremble. “I… I didn’t. You don’t know what happened, so shut up.”

“Then, mind telling me why you whored yourself to Chris after?”

“I only did that to make Daniel jealous.”

“Let me guess. It didn’t work. So you used Chris to find out if anyone knows what you did that night or if there’s any footage to implicate you.”

“No. I didn’t even know there were cameras. Do you think I’m stupid enough to have done it if I did?”

Huh. That changes things.

The door opens and Nicole wipes her cheeks, murmuring, “Please.”

“Is something the matter?” A woman asks in a posh voice.

Victoria Clifford, Nicole’s mother, stares between us with a cool, welcoming expression.

“Nothing is wrong, Mother,” Nicole pleads with her eyes again.

She’ll end up falling, but I don’t have time for her now.

“May I help you?” Victoria asks me.

“Yes. I’m here to see Lord Clifford.”