Page 74 of Royally Bad

Chuckling, he slid deeper into his chair. “I’ve got other things to worry about.” Without prompting, he went on. “I’m starting to think that Brick wantedSammyspecifically. That he wasn’t after our family at all.”

My father’s words turned my blood cold. “But why? She’s got no history with him.” He didn’t blink, he just kept watching me thoughtfully. “Dad. She doesn’tknowhim. She couldn’t.”

“Maybe. And maybe not.”

“That’s fucking cryptic as hell,” I said. “If you learned something about her, tell me.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he said, “Sammy might have a more solid relationship with the Deep Shots than I initially assumed. I’ve got people looking into it. We’ll know soon.”

What he was saying was impossible. The Deep Shots were agang,they were all about guns and gambling. Sammy made wedding dresses and liked vanilla ice cream. Her deepest secret was her boring story about drunkenly registering online to marry people.

He was wrong about her. He’d learn that for certain soon enough.

I considered my words. “I guess it’s a waiting game again.”

“It always is.” He sounded resigned, pushing himself out of his chair with a labored grunt. “Just keep that girlhere.”His finger stabbed into my collarbone. “Brick will slip up eventually, and if not, my informants will reveal the truth—whatever it is. Then we can decide what to do.”

His informants.I had a suspicion he was putting every one of the Badd Maids to work overtime to figure this mystery out.

There IS no mystery,I reminded myself firmly. But what if I was wrong? This was ballooning in a way I hadn’t expected.

I’d only just started to understand who Sammy was to me.

Who the hell was she to everyone else?

Swimming in a sea of disconnection, I struggled for the shore. Everything he said, it made no sense. Sammy Sage wasno one.Well, to me she was someone, but to this gang, she had no connection.

I was sure of it.

He started to move past me. “I’m going to call around some more, see what I can dig up. We’ll consult on this later.” Pausing, Maverick gripped my upper arms. “You know I meant well when I put her down there, right?”

Sourness bubbled in my stomach. But the longer I looked into his hard face, the more I sensed the desperation behind his question. People often said we had the same eyes. I saw them imploring me, and fuck it, I thought about the way I’d implored Sammy to understand me.

I didn’t agree with his decisions ...

But I knew the need to be understood.

“Yes,” I whispered.

He gripped me harder, then he released me with a gentle shoulder pat. “Good man. Go get her, bring her upstairs. It’s time.”

It was the first thing he’d said that I definitely agreed with.

Costello was blocking the door to her chambers. His eyes came up, focusing on me the closer I got. “At ease,” I teased him. “I’m going in, and you can go upstairs and eat.”

His lips stretched out in a thin line. “Is this a trick? I’m still amazed you talked Thorne into letting her out that one time.”

In spite of his doubt, he unlocked the door and opened it for me. “It’s not a trick,” I said. Tapping the door hinges, I alerted Sammy that I was there. “Dad says she’s free to leave this room now.”

Costello’s icy eyes froze over. “You’re definitely lying.”

“I’m not. Ask him yourself.” We were close enough that I sensed my brother tensing up. My veins flickered; I didn’t want another fight, the guy was a fucking animal when he had to be. But if I had to tear through him to get to Sammy ...

“Hey!” she chirped, ruining the intensity. Waving, she crossed around the big, round bed and came to meet me. She was wearing a pair of long, white pants and a matching top that flowed with her movements.

Sweeping her into my arms, I kissed her throat and thrilled with her shock. Even like this, her body yielded to me; she breathed out sharply, her nails clinging to my shoulders.

Dipping her farther, I crept my hand to the small of her back, licking her lower lip. The heat in her eyes mirrored mine. “I’ve got good news,” I mumbled.

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