Chapter 119: No Weakness
Kade
"Are you done?"
My head snapped up at the sound of her voice.
Cold.
Sharp.
Controlled.
I met my mother’s gaze instantly, anger already burning inside me as I stared back at her from the couch.
She looked furious.
Not loud or emotional, but genuinely displeased in that terrifying way only she could manage. The expression alone shocked me because I could count on one hand the number of times I had seen her look at me like that.
And somehow that angered me even more.
"Are you done whining?" she asked icily. "Do you think if the same thing had happened to Nico, he would’ve reacted this way?"
The comparison hit exactly where she knew it would.
I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw hurt.
Nico.
Always Nico.
The comparisons never stopped.
It didn’t matter that he was almost ten years older than me. It didn’t matter that he’d spent far longer around the business, around violence, around people like her.
No.
I still had to measure up.
I still had to be stronger.
Better.
Untouchable.
Weakness wasn’t allowed in this family.
And somehow, despite everything I had just survived, she still found a way to look disappointed in me.
My scars still hurt.
Every movement reminded me of what they had done to me.
If I couldn’t vent to my own mother, then who exactly was I supposed to go to? The women I slept with? The friends who only stayed around because of my money and family name?
"You have to take responsibility for your life, Kade," she continued coldly. "I fear I may have babied you too much."
The words nearly made me explode.
Father had just died.
And yes, Mother hated him. She never even tried to hide it.
But I loved him.
Worshipped him, honestly.
He cared about me.
He actually talked to me.
He promised he’d eventually hand over most of the companies under his control. I still had the seal he gave me hidden away, along with the key to the safety deposit box he entrusted to me personally.
I had barely even started mourning him before I got abducted.
And the worst part?
They hadn’t tortured me for information.
They tortured me because they wanted to hurt her.
I was nothing more than leverage.
"You are strong, Kade," Mother said firmly. "Your wounds will heal. You’ll recover. The moment I realized you were missing, I searched everywhere for you."
I forced my face blank.
Because even as she spoke, I remembered the kidnappers talking.
Talking about how she didn’t care whether I lived or died.
Talking about how she cared more about her companies and power than her own son.
Maybe they lied.
Maybe they didn’t.
But now I couldn’t stop hearing those words every time I looked at her.
"Can you at least tell me who they are?" I asked finally, my voice just as cold as hers now.
She immediately looked away slightly like she was preparing another excuse, but something in my expression must have stopped her.
After a long pause, she finally answered.
"They call him the King."
My eyes narrowed immediately.
"I don’t know who he truly is," she admitted. "But they have connections everywhere. I believe they’re responsible for your father’s death, and they’ve been attacking other mafia dons too."
"Why?" I asked instantly.
There had to be a reason.
Groups didn’t suddenly start attacking powerful families for nothing. If they wanted control, why not make a move last year? Or the year before?
Mother hesitated.
For the first time since this conversation began, uncertainty crossed her face.
Then finally she spoke.
"Mivite."
The word alone made my eyes widen.
Of course I knew what it was.
Everyone important did.
The world’s energy resources were slowly depleting, and mivite had become the newest obsession among governments, corporations, and criminal organizations alike.
Even a tiny amount could power an entire building for years.
The only problem was how impossibly rare it was.
Rare.
Expensive.
And not even fully available on the market yet.
"It was discovered in the north," she continued quietly.
I sat up straighter immediately, understanding far more than before.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The attacks.
The kidnappings.
The desperation.
And one thing became painfully clear.
Mother would never have surrendered the companies.
Never.
Not even for me.
I knew her too well.
She loved me in her own way.
But she loved power more.
There were still ways for her to have more children if she truly wanted heirs. Surrogates existed. Women could be paid.
If I died, she would mourn me.
Then move on.
Because power was the one thing Bianca Castillo would never willingly release.
"We need the other half that’s with Carmen," I said carefully. "And we need her dead."
Mother’s gaze sharpened instantly.
Relief flickered briefly across her face.
She understood exactly what I meant.
At the same time, another thought settled heavily into my mind.
I needed to finally check the safety deposit box Father left me.
I’d avoided it because opening it felt too final, too connected to his death.
But now?
Now I needed answers.
Mother suddenly stood and crossed toward me before pulling me into a hug.
For a second, I froze.
Then slowly I leaned against her, pressing my face against her chest while her arms wrapped around me tightly.
"I love you, Kade," she whispered softly, running her fingers through my hair. "I’ll never let anyone hurt you again if I can help it."
Her voice lowered dangerously.
"I’ll find whoever did this to you and destroy them. I promise."
For the first time since returning home, some of the tightness in my chest eased.
"We’ll find him together," I murmured. "I’ll help."
I already knew she wouldn’t refuse.
Not now.
Not when she needed me close where she could watch me.
Where she could control me.
I closed my eyes briefly against her chest and made a silent decision.
I would grow stronger.
Better.
Colder.
And I would eliminate anyone standing in my way if necessary.
Even Nico.
The thought no longer shocked me the way it once would have.
Nico.
Carmen.
Anyone.
They were all potential enemies now.
And eventually, they would come for us again.
Which meant we had to destroy them first.
I stayed in my mother’s arms for a little while longer before finally pulling away.
But deep down, I already understood something important.
I would never come to her looking for comfort again.
Not truly.
After saying my goodbyes, I left the main building and headed toward another section of the estate.
For now, I needed distraction.
Women.
Violence.
Anything to silence the memories clawing through my head.
And afterward, I would start sending men out to track down every single person involved in my kidnapping.
Maybe I couldn’t reach the King yet.
But pawns could still bleed.
