“Stupid cock-sucking faggot.” It was impossible to tell where that angry voice came from.
Darling didn’t react to the insult in any way. Instead, he smiled coldly. “My father always said that you know the absolute second you’ve won a fight. It’s when your opposition has run out of logic with which to battle, and the name-calling commences. But really, how unimaginative of you. There are thousands of other insults that are so much more creative and demeaning. And I would actually respect you if you had the nerve to stand by your convictions and face me when you insult me.” He scanned the crowd with a sneer of contempt. “Homosexual or not, no one can ever accuse me of cowardice. If I’m going to insult someone, I at least have the balls to do it to their face.”
The gerents began shouting in outrage.
Zarya’s eyes widened as fear for Darling tore through her. “They’re going to eat him alive.”
Syn shook his head. “Oh no… Wait for it.”
She was aghast at his nonchalance. “For what? The bloodshed?”
True to Syn’s words, Darling allowed them to scream for several more minutes.
Finally, he rose to his feet. They quieted instantly, with the majority of them scanning the room to see where Darling had positioned his guards. Which made sense since anyone else would have called for their arrest.
Instead, Darling took a deep breath. “I seriously hope that all of you have gotten that out of your systems. We can sit here and you can insult me, my parentage, my lifestyle, hell, let’s even throw in the color of my shoes for good measure, or we can do what we’re supposed to do. Take care of our people.”
With a fierce set to his jaw, he swept the delegates with a condemning countenance. “I know under Arturo’s reign that many of you took liberties you shouldn’t have. I know he arrested or exiled anyone who didn’t agree with him, and confiscated their lands and titles. Those who supported him were given the luxury of his turning a blind eye to all their activities, no matter how illegal or immoral. So long as you paid his fees, he left you alone.”
Darling paused to let that seep into their collective minds before he spoke in a cold tone. “I am not my uncle. I am not my father, but I do subscribe to the twenty rules he taught me from the cradle. One, if you’re afraid to fight, then you’ll never win. Two, in times of tragedy and turmoil, you’ll learn who your true friends are. Treasure them because they are few and far between. Three, know your enemies, and never become your own worst one. Four, be grateful for those enemies. They will keep you honest and ever striving to better yourself. Five, listen to all good advice, but never substitute someone else’s judgment for your own. Six, all men and women lie. But never lie to yourself. Seven, many will flatter you. Befriend the ones who don’t, for they will remind you that you’re human and not infallible. Eight, never fear the truth. It’s the lies that will destroy you. Nine, your worst decisions will always be those that are made out of fear. Think all matters through with a clear head. Ten, your mistakes won’t define you, but your memories, good and bad, will. Eleven, be grateful for your mistakes as they will tell you who and what you’re not. Twelve, don’t be afraid to examine the past, it’s how you learn what you don’t want to do again. Thirteen, there’s a lot to be said for not knowing better. Fourteen, all men die. Not everyone lives. Fifteen, on your deathbed, your greatest regrets will be what you didn’t do. Sixteen, don’t be afraid to love. Yes, it’s a weakness that can be used against you. But it’s also a source of the greatest strength you will ever know. Seventeen, the past is history written in stone that can’t be altered. The future is transitory and never guaranteed. Today is the only thing you can change for certain. Have the courage to do so and make the most of it because it could be all you’ll ever have. Eighteen, you can be in a crowd, surrounded by people, and still be lonely. Nineteen, love all, regardless of what they do. Trust only those you have to. Harm none until they harm you. And twenty… Never be afraid to kill or destroy your enemies. They won’t hesitate to kill or destroy you.”
The gerents glanced about nervously.
Darling met Drake’s gaze and his brother gave him a nod of proud approval. “Number twenty is the only thing I share with my uncle. But unlike Arturo, I don’t believe in torture. I don’t believe in imprisonment. I trade in execution. You come at me, expect to die.”
“Are you threatening us?”