Page 139 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

“Has he?” Noah questions, thrumming his fingers on the armrests.

“Not really.” I glance at my brother, who’s talking to the nurse behind the desk.

He keeps yanking his fingers through his hair and shifting his weight.

“I think this situation is getting to him.” I slump back in the chair and let my head rest against the wall behind me. “He’s not used to this kind of stuff.”

“You mean, having to take care of you?” Noah says while stretching his legs.

He’s right, but I’m not about to sit here and talk about Finn. Instead, I ask, “You want to explain why you were down in northside?”

He fiddles with the zipper on his hoodie. “Not really.”

I suck in a breath through my nose, trying to keep my patience. “I think, since Finn and I came and saved your ass, you should give us an explanation.”

He stares at the floor. “I can’t.”

I press the towel harder against my side and wince. “Why not?”

“Because I can’t.” When he lifts his gaze to mine, his eyes are full of what looks like fear.

What is he so afraid of?

“What the hell happened?” I ask. “And I mean, with everything. We used to be like brothers.”

He smashes his lips together and stares at the door. “Used to be. Not anymore.” With that, he stands. “I’m going to go get some fresh air.” He rushes across the room and exits through the sliding glass doors.

What in the hell is he hiding? Because while we might not be like brothers anymore, I still know him well enough that I can tell he has a secret, one that has him afraid.

Thirty minutes later, I’m being checked out by a doctor. I think Finn used our family name to move the process along, which makes me feel both bad and relieved. It’s a complicated feeling, knowing we’re using our wealth to get what we want, but the pain is also starting to spread.

The wound is too round to get stitches, but the doctor cleans it, bandages it up, and gives me some painkillers. He doesn’t even act suspicious when I tell him it’s a bullet wound.

By the time we leave the hospital, the sun has risen over the peaks of the mountains, and the pain medication is making me drowsy. I end up falling asleep in the car.

When I wake up, we’re back at the academy. Finn has parked my car in a spot near the front, and Noah is bailing out of the back seat.

Finn shakes his head as he watches him stride toward the academy. “He’s annoying the shit out of me,” he mumbles as he pockets the keys.

“He has a secret,” I say through a yawn. “And it has him spooked.”

Finn glances at me as he shoves the car door open. “How do you know that?”

I shrug, blinking a few times. “While you were talking to the nurse, I asked him what happened, and he got tense then took off. I could tell he was scared.”

A crease etches between his brows. “What the hell do you think it could be?” He reaches to grab his phone from the middle console, and I notice he has dried blood on his hand—my blood.

Because I was shot.

I’m unsure if the reality of that has fully set in.

I have blood all over my shirt, as well, but I put on a jacket that was in the back seat so it’s mainly concealed.

“I’m not sure,” I tell him tiredly.

“Well, why does he not just tell us?”

“We’re not friends anymore. Why would he tell us?”

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