You're right. Maybe I was just too optimistic in thinking that Tom wouldn't be so utterly stupid and instead could take Clovis and Brutus' relationship in a unique direction. That maybe there was a soft side to this self proclaimed psychopath and would lead to an internal struggle between two diametrically opposed sides to him.
But no. What we got instead was the leftover scraps that was swept up from the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy's cutting room floor. Clovis is just yet another two dimensional "I AM EVIL FOR NO REASON" villain. Screw character depth, am I right? Himbo had to die because REASONS!
As someone currently studying and working on my own stories, I just find this generic and predictable "twist" to be quite insulting and I can't in good faith continue reading it anymore.