The Price of Loyalty

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📖 Until You Beg

Chapter Fourteen – The Price of Loyalty

By Peace Lovie

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The morning after the attack, the penthouse was cold.

Too clean.

Too quiet.

Cassian sat alone in the dining room, untouched coffee in front of him, staring into the dark like it owed him answers.

Zariah hadn't spoken to him since the night before.

Not once.

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She came down the stairs slowly.

Wearing black silk.

Eyes unreadable.

He stood up immediately.

"You haven't slept," she said.

He shook his head. "Didn't feel right."

She nodded.

"I haven't either."

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The air between them buzzed — full of everything unsaid.

"I didn't betray you, Zariah," he said. "Luca's desperate. That audio was edited."

"Maybe," she replied softly. "But he's still inside your world."

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Cassian's jaw flexed.

"Not for long."

"You said that before."

"I'm not lying."

She looked at him.

"No. You're just good at leaving things out."

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A long silence.

Then she asked, "If it came down to me or your empire... what would you choose?"

Cassian didn't hesitate.

"You."

She blinked.

He stepped closer.

"I've killed men for less. You think I wouldn't burn everything for you?"

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Zariah looked up at him, her voice low.

"Then prove it."

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She held out a flash drive.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Your bank accounts. Your safe houses. Every shadow you've ever stood in."

Cassian stared at it, unmoving.

"If you're really choosing me," she said, "delete them all. Burn the bridges. Walk into the fire with me."

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He didn't take it.

For the first time in days, his silence scared her.

"This is everything I've built—"

"It's everything that's destroying us." Her voice cracked. "You say you love me. But you still hold onto the parts that can ruin me."

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Cassian looked at the drive.

Then at her.

And finally… took it.

But he didn't plug it in.

Not yet.

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Zariah turned and walked away, jaw tight, eyes glassy.

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Later that night, Elias came to her.

"There's a meeting," he said. "Luca's people. Cassian's invited."

"I'm coming," Zariah replied.

Elias looked uneasy.

"Zariah, this isn't a negotiation. They want blood."

"Then they'll get mine—or his."

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The warehouse was ice cold.

Dim lights. Too many guns. Too many eyes.

Cassian arrived first.

Zariah followed him in silence, every step echoing like a heartbeat.

Then—Luca walked out from the shadows.

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He looked older. Meaner. Smiling like a man with nothing left to lose.

"Well, well," he said. "The queen arrives."

Cassian stepped forward.

"No games. What do you want?"

Luca's eyes flicked to Zariah.

"Her."

Cassian's jaw clenched.

"She's not yours."

"She was never yours either," Luca sneered. "You stole her. Just like you stole her father's life."

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Zariah stepped between them.

"You want to play martyr, Luca?" she said coldly. "You ordered a hit on your own cousin last month. Don't pretend you care about blood."

He smiled wider.

"Still got that fire."

Then he pulled out a phone and pressed play.

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Cassian's voice, again.

> "If she gets too close to the truth, I'll do what needs to be done."

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Zariah's breath caught.

It wasn't the same audio.

This one… she'd never heard before.

And Cassian?

He looked frozen.

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"That wasn't me," he said slowly.

Zariah's heart twisted.

But she forced her voice to stay level.

"Then prove it."

Cassian looked at her. "What?"

"You still have the flash drive?"

He nodded.

"Destroy it. Right now. In front of him."

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Luca laughed.

"Oh, this is rich."

But Cassian didn't smile.

He pulled the drive from his pocket.

Paused.

Looked at Zariah — and saw everything in her eyes.

Pain. Strength. A need to finally be chosen.

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Then—he crushed it beneath his heel.

Snapped it in two.

And let the pieces fall.

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Zariah didn't flinch.

But inside, something fragile broke.

Because for the first time…

He didn't choose power.

He chose her.

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Luca's eyes narrowed.

"You'll regret that."

"No," Cassian said. "You will."

He turned, pulled Zariah close, and whispered something only she could hear:

> "I'd rather lose everything… than lose you."

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Gunfire erupted seconds later.

Elias tackled Zariah behind a crate. Cassian drew his gun. Luca's men scattered.

But Zariah?

She didn't run.

She watched the fire.

Because it finally made sense.

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This wasn't about revenge anymore.

It was about rebirth.

And when the smoke cleared…

Cassian came out alive.

And Zariah?

She walked beside him.

Not as his weakness.

But as his equal.

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