Page 67 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

River’s gaze dissects me. “Those were the guys that jumped you?”

I nod. “There were other people there, too, but Drew—the guy banging on the window—is like their ring leader. We used to kind of be friends when we were kids.”

“That guy used to be your friend?” Finn questions skeptically as he parks the car in an open space near the far back. Even the parking spaces here are bigger and are filled with luxury cars.

“He was until a few years ago. Then he started running with this group of people who deal drugs, and he turned into an asshole. Plus, I didn’t want to be associated with that kind of shit—I already have too much of that in my life.” Realizing I’m rambling, I bite down on my tongue. “But yeah, anyway.”

Finn studies me for a slamming heartbeat before pushing his door open. He climbs out, stretching out his long legs, and I follow suit, leaving the door open so River can hop out. He does so with a stretch, putting his arms above his head. Then he pops his neck and shoves the door shut. Finn pushes the key fob, and the car locks with a beep and a flash of the headlights. Then we start toward an elevator in the far-left corner.

“So, if that guy used to be your friend,” Finn asks as he pockets his key fob and phone, “then how in the hell did he end up so pissed off at you that he’d try to chase you down in the middle of the city?”

We arrive at the elevator, and beside the doors is a small screen, to which Finn swipes his thumb across. The screen illuminates, revealing a code box, and Finn punches in a few numbers. The elevator doors glide open with a ding. And I’m left standing there with my jaw hanging to my knees.

Finn strolls into the elevator, and River takes a step forward, but when he notes my expression, he pauses.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“It’s nothing.” I feel so alarmingly out of place as I step onto the elevator that has marble floor and windowed walls.

“Clearly, it’s not nothing.” River gets onto the elevator, too, then slants against the back window that shows a view of a pool located in the center of a landscaped park trimmed with flourishing trees, the leaves crisp with autumn.

I stand away from the windows, not wanting to touch any of the polished surfaces and leaving smudges. “I’m just not used to all this.” I gesture at the windows as the elevator doors slide shut. “Everything’s just so … nice.”

Finn and River trade a look, and then Finn grins at me. “Relax.” He drapes his arm around me and pulls me against him. “It’s not a big deal, I promise.”

“It is, too, a big deal,” I insist. “Everything is just so nice and clean, and I feel like if I touch anything, I’m going to ruin it.”

Finn rubs his free hand across his mouth to conceal a smile.

I narrow my eyes at him. “It’s not funny, so stop smiling.”

“I’m sorry,” Finn apologizes, but his smile breaks through. “It’s just that you’re so damn adorable.”

“I told you to stop calling me that,” I warn. “And FYI, you smell really bad.”

His lips part. “I do not.”

“You do, too.” I smile sweetly at him. “And that’s payback for calling me adorable.”

“So, let me get this straight,” Finn says amusedly. “I call you adorable, and you return the favor by telling me I stink?”

I shrug. “I’m not adorable.”

“So, I don’t stink then,” Finn states.

“No, you definitely stink.” I exaggeratedly fan my hand in front of my nose.

River snickers from behind us.

Finn shoots him a dirty look, to which River responds with another laugh.

“Sorry, but this is hilarious,” River tells him apologetically then looks at me. “He’s not used to hearing the truth. Usually, everyone kisses his ass.”

“Like you’re one to talk,” Finn quips. “Everyone kisses your ass, too.”

“No, they’re afraid of my ass.” River crosses his arms and stares out the window as the elevator goes so high that the pool looks like a tiny puddle.

“Are they?” Finn challenges. “Or do they think you’re just anti-social?”

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