Page 34 of Royally Bad

Her question felt like an accusation, but I didn’t know why. “He said his name was Jameson. He was this tall, reedy kind of guy. He spoke to me for barely a minute in the kitchen.” I realized they were all hanging on my words. “Reddish hair, kind of pale.”

I almost added that he’d had a crooked, sweet smile, but the memory of his sneer when he’d stalked me through my home made it impossible to associate anything sweet with him.

Kain put his hand on my shoulder. That was when I noticed I was shaking. Francesca looked me over, from my bare feet to my long, white nightshirt.

I didn’t have a bra on; I hugged myself, suddenly uncomfortable under their stares.

“I’ll need you to look over photos from the wedding,” Maverick said to me.

“Not tonight.” It was Frannie who spoke, her arm circling my shoulders and brushing away her brother’s. His eyes darkened, but she didn’t care. “Sammy needs to rest. Can’t you all see how freaked out the poor girl is?”

I didn’t feel like a poor girl, but Francesca was getting me away from this weird interrogation. I appreciated that, because Iwasburnt out. I itched for a hot shower and a warm bed.

Blue Eyes spoke, his voice quiet but hard. It was the kind you couldn’t ignore. “Francesca is right.”

She scoffed. “Of course I am, Costello.”

Costello?So that was his name. The longer I looked at him, the more he reminded me of a feral wolf. He watched me from under the heavy fringe of his eyelashes, light skin contrasting against the rich, mahogany, ruffled hair on his head.

A warm, welcoming scent prickled my nose. It was electric: distilled alpha male. Kain had drawn close to me again, his body subtly separating me from the rest of his brothers—especially Costello.

Kain brushed my fingers beside my hip. “Fran is right, everyone back off. We’re not getting anything done tonight. She can look at photos tomorrow when she’s fresh.”

I was so thankful I came close to hugging him.

Maverick shook his head, grunting low in his throat. “Fine. Get her settled in, make sure she has anything she asks for.” His chin swung through the air, aimed at the other two brothers. “Come with me to the den. Kain, join us as quick as you can.”

He nodded, standing like a sentinel beside me long after the other men had tracked from the room. Kain’s shadow fell over me; I was kissing distance from his Adam’s apple. His heat was all-encompassing, his nearness sapping the last of my strength away.

I was supposed to be angry with him ... not comfortable.

Not eager.

I saw the corner of his mouth rise. The tempo of my heart was infectious. It demanded I move, so I did. I backed up, my bare heel crunching on something that bit into my sensitive skin. “Shit!” I screamed, stumbling sideways.

Kain caught me, supporting me as Francesca bent down. “Oh, no!” she gasped, noticing the shattered photo. Lifting it, I saw that it contained the smiling faces of five kids of various ages, as well as two older people—Maverick and Carmina.

Fran shook the last of the glass shards off of the family portrait. They tumbled like diamonds over the laminated floor of the hallway. “Are you okay, Sammy?” she asked.

“It’s just a small cut.” Balancing on Kain, I eyed my heel. A tiny fleck of blood shone there. “Show me to your bathroom, I’ll clean it out.”

Francesca shook her head. “Gawd, why aren’t you wearing any shoes?”

“I was getting ready for bed when that guy attacked me.”

Her face fell. “Oh. Sorry.” Too quickly, she glared at her brother. “Well? Carry her upstairs.”

“Oh, no!” I laughed nervously. “That’s not—”

“You heard the lady,” he said, scooping me up. “I didn’t think I’d get to hold you like this twice in one day.”

“Whaaaat?”Frannie gasped, flapping her hands like a bird.

Blushing to my ears, I bit my tongue. “Please don’t ask.”

Kain took a path I remembered. I recognized the stairs that led to the landing and past his bedroom. Just passing by it made me feel scandalous.

The bathroom we entered was gigantic. The tub on one side was big enough for a horse, and the shower could have held multiple people. He set me on the edge of the double sink, grabbing a few tissues and wetting them.

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