Page 181 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

“River,” I groan. “You’ve got to stop saying stuff like that to me. It’ll make me feel too spoiled, and then I’ll turn into a bratty princess that expects things.”

He chuckles, his eyes crinkling around the corners. “I doubt that. And me helping you isn’t spoiling you. It’s what you deserve.”

“Aw, my brother, the Romeo,” Finn cracks a joke as he shifts the SUV into park.

“Oh, shut up,” River retorts, throwing a dirty look at Finn. “I’m just telling her the truth. Not being overly romantic.”

“You might not be trying to, but I bet Maddy’s about to swoon in the back seat.” Finn dazzles me with a cheeky grin as he rotates around and rests his elbow on the back seat.

I offer him a bored look in return. “No swooning here.”

“Liar,” he taunts, causing me to swat his arm playfully.

“I’m with River,” I say. “You should shut up before I put you in a headlock and make you swoon into unconsciousness.”

Finn blinks, taken aback, but then he busts up laughing. “You’re so weird, and I love it.” With that, he hops out of the vehicle and closes the door.

“Your brother’s kind of annoying,” I state as I push open the door.

“You think he’s annoying to have as a friend? Try being his twin,” River replies as he scoots toward me.

I shove the door open and hop out, my boots scuffing against the pavement. River follows suit, and as I stretch my arms above my head, he grazes his fingers along my lower back, as if he can’t resist the urge to touch me.

I can’t stop a smile from gracing my lips, but that soon goes peace out as I face the apartment. The lights are off inside, but that only makes me more wary—I learned early on that darkness doesn’t mean no one is around.

I nervously fidget as I approach the front door with the key in my hand. I loathe that my fingers tremble ever so slightly as I unlock the door and push it open. The air reeks of booze and cigarettes, but that’s typical.

I step in and flip the light on, only for darkness to remain.

Of course. Duh. Like earlier, the power has been turned off.

Grimacing, I face the guys. “There’s no power.”

“I’ll turn the car around, and we can use the headlights,” Finn offers, backing away.

Part of me wonders if he’s procrastinating going inside. Not that I’d blame him.

I flip on the flashlight on my phone before stepping inside. River remains right behind me with his hand on my back.

As we make it to the middle of the living room, his hand travels around my side and his fingers curl around my hip. I feel safe, even in the darkness, and the feeling is weird, making me a bit uneasy.

Yeah, I’m a regular basket case.

River and I spend the next few minutes making sure no one is in the apartment. It’s empty and, surprisingly, the boxes are still there, though I’m unsure if all the papers are.

We begin loading everything up in the SUV. I don’t have a lot of belongings, which works to our benefit since there’s not a lot of room in the back. The guys mainly remain quiet as they carry my stuff out. I assume they’re unsettled about being here.

Then Finn abruptly stops me on my way back into the apartment.

“Hey, Mads,” he says after capturing a hold of my arm.

I squint against the brightness of the headlights to look at him. “Yeah?”

“I …” His lips part then shut. “If you ever need anything, I’m here for you, okay?”

I nod, and he walks off.

I enter the apartment, his words replaying in my mind. How did I go from having no one to having people who will help me with no strings attached?

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