Page 33 of Royally Bad

“Yes.” I’d never heard such certainty from anyone. “I couldn’t live with myself if that happened.”

The skin around my eyes tightened. “We’re strangers, don’t care so much.” I was trying to distance myself, but his honest admission was wrapping around my ribs. I couldn’t breathe without tasting him, and my ears were full of his promises.

His fears.

Kain’s mouth made a shape it never should have.Is he going to kiss me? Now, here, after everything?

His voice slid over my lips, stirring my heart. “I don’t know how to not care about you.”

Gravity pressed on the top of my head until every grim thought began to compact and crumble. Down they went, past my eyes, which were trapped by his, through my lungs, which were full of the same air he breathed.

Each bit of hate collapsed until there was nothing left in me but a thread of disbelief. How did Kain do this to me? I’d wanted to hurt him ... to make him see he was wrong.

I didn’t know what I believed anymore.

But I did know that I wanted to kiss him.

Behind us, a feminine voice squeaked, “What the hell? Kain, don’t make out with your side chicks right out here where everyone can—Sammy?” Francesca was gawking at me, her skin covered in some kind of mint-smelling cream, her long hair piled on her scalp.

Hot shame kicked me in the teeth. Ripping away from Kain, I choked on some sort of explanation for why I was here. Why she’d witnessed me about to kiss her brother.

Francesca rushed at me, her hands tangling in mine. I wasn’t ready for her hug, she was deceptively strong. “Sammy! What are youdoinghere?”

Holding her at arm’s length, I glanced at Kain. “It’s a long story.”

“I love long stories!”

Scrunching my tongue against the back of my teeth, I thought over what to say. Kain pushed forward, acting like he hadn’t just been pulling back the veil to the vibrant emotion in his soul. “She’s going to be staying with us for a while.”

His sister froze. I watched the gloss in her eyes turn into suspicion. “Something happened. Tell me.”

“Fran—”

“Kain,”she seethed. “Fucking tell me.”

Footsteps marched down the hall, three men rounding the corner. I recognized two of them: Maverick and his intimidating son, Hawthorne. The third was a lean man only a hair taller than all of them, his smooth skin marred by a scar that stretched from right eyebrow to the bridge of his nose.

If anything, the old wound added to his sharp looks. I couldn’t have said if he was more gorgeous now than when he’d gotten the scar. I just knew that few people could have made such a blemish look so bold—so complementary.

He locked his eyes on mine: blue like Maverick’s, lighter than even Kain’s.

Hawthorne pulled up short, studying all of us. “You guys having a party?”

“Daddy!” Francesca shouted, whirling on him. “What’s going on? Why is everyone here?”

“Good to see you, too, Sis,” the stranger said.

She ignored him, her stare was forever frozen on Maverick’s face. I paid attention, though, because I felt like I needed to learn who everyone in this family was if I was going to get out of here.

Another brother,I thought curiously. Was he older or younger than Kain? I needed to start taking notes.

Maverick looked down his nose at his daughter. Whatever kindness was in his voice was rivaled by the severity of his words. “Our family is being threatened. Your brothers are here to help me take precautions.”

“Threatened?” She pushed a hand to her mouth. I caught her wary look in my direction. “Sammy’s in danger, too, isn’t she?”

I tried to smile, but everyone’s somber faces made it a struggle. “Someone attacked me tonight, but I’m fine.”

“Who?”she demanded.

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