Page 70 of Royally Ruined

The den was warm, a fireplace crackling to one side. Red-and-gold rugs covered the floors, crawling over each inch. As a kid I would have loved this room with its variety of chairs and coffee tables; it was a perfect place to play don’t touch the floor.

It might as well have been real lava. I walked into it and prepared to burn.

Maverick didn’t rise, that was my first hint that he didn’t fear me. He didn’t think I’d slipped into his home to hurt him. Was I that transparent? He nodded at the woman beside me. “Leave us.”

The second we were alone, I lifted my chin. “We need to talk.”

He looked me up and down. “I can’t believe I let you walk right past me that night at the hotel. When Rush called to tell me what had happened at Costello’s place, and I realizedyouwere the waitress Darien was after ...” Maverick slid his glasses off. After rubbing the lenses, he set them aside and considered me with fresh eyes. It was just like our first meeting at Kain’s wedding, only this time I was more than some stranger his son was dating.

I was something else entirely, and both of us knew it.

He whispered, “I’ve rarely felt so foolish, dear girl. I didn’t enjoy it.”

Stepping closer, I eyeballed the room. “It’s quiet. Is no one home but your servants?”

“I don’t think that matters.” His black eyes glinted like a tiger’s. “Where’s Costello?”

“Like you said, I don’t think that matters.”

“Looks like he’s decided to take the coward’s route and abandon us both.”

Acid washed up the back of my throat. “He’s not a coward. Do you evenknowhim?”

“Better than you do, girl. I raised that boy to be powerful, brave, and to dedicate himself to this family. I should have realized when he fractured us the first time that he wasn’t worthy of so much effort.”

It was pure disdain that made me move until I was standing over Maverick. Even sitting down, the man reminded me of an avalanche. But I was too stunned to be scared. “Costello didn’t fracture this family.Youdid.”

His laugh came from his belly. “Excuse me?”

“It’s the truth!” My voice was carrying, echoing in the den. I needed this man to hear me, to understand where my anger came from. “I know what happened years ago. How you blamed Costello for the attack on your daughter. But it wasn’t his fault! He risked hislifeto save her, and he did it all because he thought it was how you wanted him to act.”

Costello’s words boomed around in my skull.Kings have to make the hard choices, and every choice they make, especially when it comes to family, falls on them.

Flaring his nostrils, Maverick dug his hands into the arms of his chair. “You’ve got a mouth on you. Are you trying to blame me for his decisions? Costello was a fool to go to the police.”

“But he didn’t. It wasn’t him.” Telling Costello’s secret hadn’t been my intention. But facing off with his father, hearing him call his son a fool, it was too much.

He was grim in his silence. Then he said, “He really told you everything.”

I lowered my arms to my sides. “Why aren’t you shocked?” This news was huge; it should have made it clear that Maverick had treated his son terribly without cause. Any normal person would hang their head in shame. At least they’d look sick ... or surprised. The big man watched me closely. He didn’t move or blink.

And then I understood.

“You knew,” I whispered. “You knew all along that Lulabelle was the one who went to the cops.”

He studied me and tasted my words. “And if I did, what does that change? A man must make hard decisions to ensure his family remains safe and whole. I’ve always done that. Always.”

“But ... then why allow Costello to think you believed him?”

His jaw swayed from side to side; he suddenly looked very tired. “It doesn’t matter why I did anything. What matters is what you’re going to do. You came here for a reason, and I assume it was about more than chastising me.”

There was a wildfire in my guts. Clenching my fists, I said, “Costello loves you and this whole family. Even after being treated like scum for something he took the blame for, he kept on loving you. I can’t bear the idea of him being hurt anymore. Especially not because of me.”

Maverick had started to lean forward. It was a minor movement, but I noticed.

“The handoff,” I said slowly. “I know about it. And I’m here to tell you I’ll do it. Just give me the location, the time, and this will be over with.”

A log popped in the fire, red embers dancing in Maverick’s stare. His tone was low and full of poison. “Why would I tell you, when I can drag you there myself? I’ve got no reason to trust you’ll go on your own.”

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