Page 72 of Royally Ruined

“She had her reasons,” I began.

His eyes flew at me like hawks. “Do you know how her father got hurt?”

I didn’t. I’d seen him limping, had drawn my own conclusions, but that was all.

Stapler said, “Years ago. Big shoot-out. You’ve been on the Hill, don’t tell me you don’t know how it gets.”

“If you’re expecting me to incriminate myself ...”

He took a deep puff and blew smoke. “I expect you to have some fucking empathy. That girl’s whole life has been surrounded by men in blue. Men like me, that your family would happily see in the ground.” I stayed silent, but under the table, I squeezed my knees. “Heather’s father was hurt, he was forced to retire. Now I find out she’s been working at one of your family’s dirty clubs.”

My eyes narrowed. “The clubs are clean.”

“Bullshit.” He tapped ash into his empty soda can. “You love her, don’t you?”

“Excuse me?” I snapped, trying to get a bead on where he was going with this. Stapler folded his hands on the table. He watched me closely. I’d been interrogated by him before, I didn’t plan to squirm. But I was close.

He said, “You love her. I can tell. So here’s how this is going to go. I’m going to help Heather get out of this situation, and you’ll do whatever you can to help. But when this is over with ... you’re out of her life.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Please. I don’t threaten.” The tip of the cigarette was cherry red. Then it died out. “Were you listening to me? You and your family bring death. Your lifestyle brings pain. If you love her ... you’ll realize the best thing you can do is stay as far from her as possible.”

Slamming the car door, I began to walk. Everything Stapler had said to me had been right. I’d always known it. But running with Scotch had allowed me to stay near her ... it had given me a reason to keep us close.

Once Darien was gone, what then?

And her plan ... it’s insane.Just hearing Scotch mention going near Darien was maddening. Reasoning with him? If she got close, he’d kill her. End of story.

I hadn’t wanted to entertain more of her ideas. With her uncle there, eyeing me and knowing our secret agreement, I’d hit my breaking point. None of this was going to work. But I didn’t know what would.

A flurry of snowflakes scraped over my cheeks. Shuddering, I tucked my hands into my pockets. My fingers brushed something hard. In confusion, I lifted the tiny gem into the air.Scotch’s nose stud.What a strange thing to find. Strange and ridiculous, and it tore a hole in my heart.

I asked her to take it out, and she did. I asked her to pretend to be my girlfriend ... and she did.She’d gone along with every bit of my plans. No matter what it was, she’d rolled with it.

And now she asks me to try it her way and I fall apart.

I slammed my fist against the nearest tree. I was wandering aimlessly. I hadn’t felt so lost in years.No, this is how I used to feel.Scotch had made me forget that. For the time we’d been together, my world had become more solid. More real. I’d found a purpose in keeping her safe, and then she’d filled the hollow parts inside me with her perfect existence.

Without her I was empty again. Had it always felt so awful?

Lumpy clouds hung overhead. I scanned them, wondering what time it was. Lifting my phone to check, I saw my text messages were still open. The last one from Scotch hung there, mocking me.

Scotch:Eat a doughnut, dummy.

Cramming the phone against the bridge of my nose, I felt my own scar and scowled.Fuck. Fucking fuck.Did I keep avoiding this woman? Was that really what my options boiled down to?

The cloud cover split enough for me to see the midnight black behind it. It was definitely late. I pictured Scotch snuggling down for bed, and I saw in my mind’s eye the empty couch I’d been crashing on.

It sounded much better to me than my fancy condo, or my parents’ lavish estate.

Suddenly I needed to hear her voice. I was an addict; if I had to split from her, I couldn’t do it cold turkey. I had to know she was safe and okay, even if it was from far away. After I dialed, the ringing cut off—voice mail. Confused, I tried again. Still no answer.

The silence was eerie, her lack of response terrifying.What’s wrong?My intuition might not be as good as hers, but it was crisp enough for me to know something was up.

Running through my options, I debated whom to call. The detective? No. I didn’t know his number anyway. My brothers?Kain is on his honeymoon. Thorne ... he might know what’s going on.

I slammed my thumb onto the keys. The phone rang twice before he picked up. “What the hell are you doing contacting me?” he hissed. There were voices in the background.

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