His Crode Clutches

Merciless legacy!

|| Author POV ||

‘Does Rosa have a crush on Mr. Salvatore?’ Aria thought.

She blinked at the thought, surprised by how naturally it fit.

The stares, the way Rosa zoned out when he’s teaching, the faint blush sometimes, it all made sense now.

Aria didn’t say anything at first. She just watched Rosa, who was still lost in her thoughts, fingers nervously playing with the hem of her sleeve.

Aria leaned in slightly, her voice low but teasing.

“Rosa, you okay? You’ve been staring at the door like someone’s gonna walk in with a bouquet.”

Rosa blinked, startled. “H-huh?”

Aria chuckled. “Nothing. Just… weird seeing you this quiet. Especially when he’s not around.”

There was a pause. “Who?” Rosa asked.

“I’m talking about Mr. Salvatore, of course.”

Rosa’s eyes widened slightly as she immediately shook her head. “N-no.”

“I see… I was just kidding.” Aria assured with a smile, shaking the thought out of her mind.

Maybe she misunderstood?

Rosa looked at the teacher, trying to act normal, her heartbeat thumping against her chest, making her feel anxious.

------

The sun had already begun to set, casting a soft golden glow across the garden. The scent of blooming flowers lingered in the air, and the rustling of leaves was the only sound.

Albert was carefully wheeled out into the garden by his caretaker, his body settled in the wheelchair.

Killian was already seated on a bench nearby, his back straight, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He didn’t acknowledge their arrival immediately, his mind somewhere far off.

The caretaker took Albert beside the bench and stepped away, leaving the two men alone.

Albert’s voice broke the quiet as he glanced at Killian.

“Sometimes, it’s good to sit out here. Clears the mind.”

Killian didn’t respond at first. His eyes lingered on the distance, where the colors of the sky slowly blended together.

“It’s peaceful here.” he muttered finally, but it sounded more like an observation than an answer.

The old man chuckled softly, his hands rested on the arms of his chair. “You’ve always been like this, Killian. Silent and cold.”

Killian’s eyes shifted slightly.

Albert watched Killian quietly for a moment.

“You never did like talking much, did you?”

“It’s been so long since I handed my world to you. You are the leader now, Killian. I’m finally at peace. Leaving that world wasn’t easy, but it was meant to be yours. That position, that power, it belongs to you now. I know you’re the only one worthy of it.” Albert spoke with a calm yet firm tone.

Killian remained silent for a moment, his gaze distant as the words slowly settled in his mind.

“I wasn’t even your flesh and blood, yet you raised me like your own.” Killian’s voice was gentle.

Albert let out a low laugh, a soft, almost nostalgic sound. “Blood means nothing when a bond is forged in the heart, my boy.”

He shifted in his chair, his hands resting on the armrests with a sigh. “You’ve inherited a world, a dangerous, ruthless one. The mafia world—it devours those who aren’t strong enough to rule it.” He paused, locking eyes with Killian.

“It’s not about power alone. It’s about survival, manipulation, and knowing who you can trust. I’ve seen good men fall, men I thought invincible.”

Killian listened carefully, absorbing every word.

Albert’s expression grew more serious. “The day I decided to pass everything to you, I knew you had the will to take on this world.” His gaze grew distant as he continued, a hint of weariness creeping into his voice. “The underworld is ruthless. There’s no space for weakness, no place for mercy. Trust is a luxury, and betrayal is the price of every move. You’ve seen the game from the inside, you know how to play it. But remember, in this world, you don’t just fight for power, you fight to keep it.”

Albert leaned forward slightly, his expression hardening. “You’ve inherited more than just the throne, Killian. You’ve inherited every enemy, every burden, and every shadow that comes with it. The ones who are loyal today may be your enemies tomorrow.”

Killian nodded.

“I know whom I can trust.” Albert spoke with a steady confidence, his voice filled with both pride and resignation. “And I made the wisest decision of my life by handing this to someone worthy, someone like you. I raised you, Killian. I saw that fire in your eyes, the darkness that never went out. I saw it from the very beginning.”

Killian’s expression remained cold, his posture rigid, but Albert could see the subtle shift, the crack in the cold mask Killian wore so well.

“You’ve earned it.” Albert added quietly.

The surroundings turned silent. Their thoughts mingled separately with the stillness of nature.

“And what about her?” Albert broke the silence.

Killian looked at him. He knew exactly who he was referring to. Albert always had an eye on him.

“She’s staying with me.” Killian replied calmly.

Albert chuckled softly. “That’s good. Don’t tell me you forced her into it. I know you didn’t.”

Killian’s lips twitched, but his expression remained stoic. “The closest ones mean nothing. Her own blood turned their backs on her.” Killian muttered.

Albert’s expression turned serious as he processed the words, his gaze drifting into the distance. “I see.” He nodded slowly.

“Now the responsibility is yours to protect her. Make sure of it.”

---

|| At night. ||

As the smoke twisted out in the cold air, Killian stood by the rooftop railing, staring down at the world below.

The cold clawed at the world, but he wore only a thin black t-shirt that clung to the hardened lines of his body, as if daring the winter to touch him.

The darkness suited him. It always had.

He flicked the ashes into the void below before taking another slow drag, the smoke curling into the frozen night.

And then, the soft echo of footsteps neared, faint against the rooftop’s hollow silence but Killian didn’t turn.

“You came sooner than expected.”

Elara stepped beside him and leaned lightly on the railing.

Killian didn’t move.

His eyes, colder than the winter wind, stayed fixed on the distant forest, as if the world behind him didn’t exist at all. He didn’t care at all.

Elara pursed her lips at the silence. “It’s been a long time, we haven’t met. Won’t you ask me how I am?”

Killian’s eyes flickered with something dark before he puffed the mist away.

His voice, low and razor-sharp, finally broke the stillness without looking her way. “If you were broken, you wouldn’t be standing here.”

Elara looked at his side. Those words from him sounded utterly rude, but she knew he was always like this, cold, rude, and arrogant.

Elara glanced at his profile. His words had been cruel, but she wasn’t surprised. Killian was built from ice and iron.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I mean—” she tried, but Killian didn’t wait to hear the rest.

He crushed the cigarette into the railing, and the ash scattered into the night.

Without sparing her a glance, he turned on his heel, his boots scraping against the rooftop floor.

Elara stiffened as he walked past her without a word, her heart pounding against a silence that felt almost violent.

The chill in the air bit into her skin, but it was nothing compared to the sharp, raw sting of humiliation burning inside her.

She dared to speak, only to be treated like she was nothing more than the cold mist swirling at his feet.

Killian didn’t even spare her a glance.

Not a word. Not a second.

It was as if she didn’t exist at all.

Elara bit the inside of her cheek to keep the tears at bay, forcing herself to swallow the ache clawing up her throat.

Maybe she was foolish to think she could ever reach him again, the man who now belonged to the darkness far more than he ever belonged to anyone.

He was the leader of the merciless legacy.