Page 100 of Royal Havoc

Instead of answering, he pulls into a hidden trail behind the cottage, stopping long enough to give a thumbprint to access the hidden gate. The small trail winds through the tree line around the back of the estate. He parks near the cliffs behind a row of tall hedges. I follow him from the Jeep and notice a hidden door under the Onyxberry bushes.

Again he uses his thumbprint, then gets Amethyst’s lethargic, sleeping body because he was smart and knocked her annoying ass out with a tranquilizer to transport her.

“Go to the cottage and shower. I’ll be there in ten minutes to wrap your arm,” he orders before disappearing down the hidden steps in the ground.

The hot water glides over my wounds, washing the blood and grime from my weakened body. Bits of details uncovered from my past wreaking my cluttered brain.

After shuffling from the shower, I stand, taking in my battered reflection. Water drips from my hair, slithering over bruised skin. Gently, I dab at the cut on my forearm, thankful it's mostly surface damage.

Once I’m dried off, I hurry into the closet since Hendrix should be here soon to bandage me up. I grab a shirt and stiffen when I hear a thud. Realizing it’s not the crazy bitch coming to torment me but a small box that’s fallen.

It’s about the size of a shoe box, covered in black roses with my name written on top. I dress quickly, then sit on the edge of the bed, staring at it wonderingly.

Nolan had to have mixed this up when we went through her stuff and boxed things up.

The tape crackles under my fingers. It’s full to the top of unopened letters and cards, all addressed to me from him.

Tears drip from my eyes, splashing on the paper. Years of my past were packed away, hidden, and rediscovered.

I find him waiting at the kitchen table with two shots poured. I set the butterfly bandages, roll of material, and tape on the table before I sit beside him.

He scoots the shot towards me. “For pain,” he says quietly.

I drink the shot, quietly placing the glass on the table, and lay my arm out for him. It’s an odd moment, sitting in front of a person you thought didn’t want you, only to find out they loved you more than anyone.

I’ll tell him about the letters once I’m able to go through all of them.

“I hated the Four bullshit as much as you,” he starts, pulling me from my thoughts as he opens all the packages. “Having money turns some people into monsters. Like Rowland.” He gently looks over the wound. “I was paired with a nice girl named Hannah. Neither of us cared about money. We were happy kids until her father struck a deal with Rowland behind my dad’s back.” Carefully, he begins sticking the butterfly bandages along the wound, acting as stitches. “Owen’s, her slimy father, gifted her and her twin to the Row to make sure they disappeared so he could take a seat at the table with a son as his oldest.”

“Men are idiots,” I mumble, wincing when he presses one of the bandages too hard.

“Sorry. You’re right. We’re idiots. I couldn’t find any information about Hannah or her sister after they disappeared. It was like they were ghosts for years.”

“So you don’t know what happened to her?”

He grabs the roll of material and starts to wrap my arm. “Opal wanted power and money. She hated that I didn’t worship her and told me I was dead inside,” he chuckles at the last part. “She tried to leave. Rowland wouldn’t even listen to her because she was pregnant with Amethyst, and Whithe ranked above him.”

“He was a prick the one time I met him.”

Hendrix laughs, nodding in agreement. “Opal was ignored most of her life. I think it drove her crazy trying to be seen in a world of men and money. Amethyst worshiped her. She was everything Opal ever wanted. I loved her, too, but it wasn’t the same. She was obsessed with Opal.” He finishes wrapping my arm and tapes the bandage.

“Thanks,” I tell him as he takes his shot.

He spins the glass on the table, leaning back in the chair. “Rowland forced her to want more kids, so she could try for a son. He thought he could strike a deal with me to take the Sterling name.”

“Would you?” I ask curiously.

He smiles wickedly. “No.”

“Good, continue,” I urge, grabbing the bottle to pour us another shot.

“You were my Dark Queen. We connected the second you took your first tiny breath. Opal hated it because you weren’t Amethyst. You never paid her any attention.”

“Why did you leave me with her?” I ask, disguising the tears building in my throat.

He releases a long breath, rubbing his tired eyes with his palms. “After I found you on the cliffs, bleeding. I went mental. Opal believed all of Amethyst’s lies. But I saw her. I watched her hurt you. I wanted her gone. For your safety and to punish Opal,” he admits, suddenly sounding exhausted. “Rowland agreed to take her to The Row, if I allowed your name to be changed to Sterling.”

“What good did that do? I’m a girl,” I question.

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