Page 66 of His Kingdom

“He’s in a mood. Probably because he thought you were making a run for it.” He chuckles.

“How does he know where I am?”

Sammie shrugs. “No idea. You’ll have to take that one up with your husband.”

“You’re lying, but don’t worry becauseI willtake it up with him,” I grumble before changing the subject. “Do you have a girlfriend? Or boyfriend? Or even both?”

“Neither.” He shivers, as if the mere thought of being in a relationship is the worst thing that could happen to him.

“Does Carlo?”

“No.” Sammie laughs again.

“Okay then. Nice chat,” I groan.

“Look, we just aren’t used to this. It’s always been the four of us. Mostly three, because Emmanuel was taken to Mexico and only visited on holidays. But we’ve always just had each other.”

“And now you have me.” I smile. “And Carlo has Jazzy. Do you think her mom will turn up for her? I can’t believe someone would just leave their child.”

“That’s because you come from a good family. Good parents. We didn’t all grow up like that.” Sammie turns to me. “And if she is his, then she has all of us. We’re a package deal.”

“I do have good parents. As much as my mother grates on my nerves, she never would have left me, and my parents worked hard to provide for us.” Speaking of, I really need to call my mother. And probably my sister. I’m not ready to forgive Melanie, but I do want to make sure she’s okay.

“I like you for Louie,” Sammie tells me as we pull up in front of the Royal Flush Casino. “Don’t hurt him.”

“I won’t.” I couldn’t imagine hurting him. “I’m just going to make a quick call before we go up.”

“Okay, I’ll wait outside for you.”

I take a deep breath, close my eyes for a minute, and then force myself to scroll through my contacts until I find my sister’s number. “Charlotte? Oh my god, I’m so glad you called. Are you okay?” she answers almost instantly.

“Am I okay?” I ask her. “You know what? I think I am… Are you?”

“I am so sorry. That should have been the first thing I said. There is no excuse for what I did. I don’t know why I did it, and I really am sorry,” she rushes out in one long breath.

“I don’t know what to say, Melanie.”

“I know.”

“He’s dead,” I blurt, leaving out the part that I’m the reason why.

“I know. Are you okay, though? I mean, you loved him. Of course you’re not okay.”

“You thought I loved him and you still slept with him? How long? How long were you fucking my fiancé behind my back?” I hiss into the phone.

“I… It was only that one time, Charlotte. I swear.” She starts crying.

“Stop. You don’t get to cry. It was supposed to be my wedding night,” I remind her.

“I know. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“We are never going to be the same. You know that, right? How am I ever going to trust you again?”

“I’ll do whatever it takes. I will do anything, Charlotte. Just tell me what to do,” she pleads. “Let me come to you.”

“No.” I shake my head, even though she can’t see me, and a stray tear falls down my cheek. “I got married last night. And I don’t want you anywhere near my husband. I don’t trust you.”

“You what? To whom? You went and got married. Your fiancé just died.”

---