Kings of Decay: A Dark Enemies-to-Lovers Romance (The Winston Brothers Duet Book 1) by Ariel London

Author:Ariel London [London, Ariel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-10-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter twenty-two

Ainsley

The mine was a gaping wound in the earth , a testament to humanity's insatiable hunger for resources.

It gaped before me like a monstrous maw, its jagged teeth formed by the rough-hewn rock face. Rusty scaffolding clung precariously to the edges, a skeletal framework against the bruised twilight sky. The entrance was a dark, forbidding tunnel, disappearing into the earth like a descent into hell itself.

The air hung thick with the metallic tang of zinc, a scent that clung to the back of my throat and coated my lungs with each breath. Dust motes danced in the harsh glare of the floodlights, illuminating the cavernous expanse of the mine. The ground vibrated with the rhythmic chug of machinery, a constant reminder of the relentless excavation that had become the lifeblood of this town.

Heaps of excavated rock formed miniature mountains, casting long, distorted shadows that danced and shifted in the artificial light. The ground was a patchwork of mud and gravel, scarred by the tracks of heavy machinery and the relentless passage of time. The air thrummed with low, constant vibration, the heartbeat of the mine, a reminder of the ceaseless industry that fueled this town and, ultimately, my father's corrupt empire.

I watched the miners, their faces grimy, their bodies hunched under the weight of their labor. They moved with a weary familiarity, their movements ingrained after years of hard work.

I leaned against a rusted support beam, the cold metal biting into my back. My gaze drifted towards the entrance, a distant pinprick of light in the overwhelming darkness.

The mine was more than just a source of employment; it was a symbol of my father's power, his iron grip on this town. He had built his empire on the backs of these miners, exploiting their labor and the land itself to fuel his ambition. And we, his sons, were pawns in his game, bound to this place by blood and obligation.

And yet, his name wasn't officially on the deed. My father was a silent partner in this place, but everyone knew, anyway.

I turned back to the offices that were lined up on the edge of the mine. They were little more than camping trailers loaded with wires and spotty satellite internet.

My homework for this afternoon was keeping an eye on our beloved Mayor and making sure he didn't step out of line while talking to the press. There was already a buzz in the area thanks to that trooper's body being found this morning. Thankfully, the wolves had taken care of most of his body, so no one doubted it was just an unfortunate accident.

Mr. Woods was back to driving his basic SUV, now that his G-Wagon was nothing but charred metal in the middle of the forest. He was dressed plainly in slacks and a button-up shirt, trying to emulate the working-class image that his voters wanted. His glasses kept slipping down his sweaty face.

The mayor stood stiffly, his eyes flicking back and forth between me and the interviewer as he spoke about his goals for the upcoming election after Christmas.

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