Page 101 of Breathtaking

“See, that right there...” Rhys crosses his one leg at the knee and leans forward, like he’s just getting started. “Assuming I care about you is your first mistake. Assuming I’m above hurting you when you had no problem hurting my family... That’s your second. You see, I don’t like people who hurt my family. I don’t agree with preying on the weak, and while my sister may be mentally and emotionally stronger than you could ever hope to be, you are twice her size. You overpowered her and outweighed her when you hit her, bruising her face and knocking her to the floor. And then you proceeded to kick her.” Rhys’s words are measured and frighteningly calm. Like a venomous snake that’s simply waiting for you to become frightened enough to move before he strikes. “Don’t deny it. I saw the bruises. I know what you did. The question is do you know what I do to people who hurt my family?”

Monty swallows, looking like he’s about to soil himself.

“You don’t really expect me to believe you’re going to kill me, Rhys?”

Ohh... Not the right answer.

“The three people behind me are the only people who will ever call me Rhys again, you ignorant little shit. I’m your fucking king. And if I wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead. Lucky for you, Maddox had other ideas.”

I stare at my husband, shocked as he grins.

“I wanted to kill you at first too,” Maddox admits, like he just admitted he jaywalked. “But then someone told me there’s a way to make a man suffer a fate worse than death. A longer, more painful fate.”

My husband’s body language may be perceived as nonchalant, but the tight hold he has on me sends a shiver racing down my spine.

“And I thought... what would that be for someone like you, Monty? See, if I were my father, or apparently Rhys, I’d have just killed you. But that would have been too easy. Even if I made you suffer. Even if I pulled your nail beds from your fingers... then strung you up... and sliced hundreds of tiny cuts into your skin before I dipped you in gasoline just to hear you scream. I mean, I could do that for a few days before I set you on fire, but that would mean the suffering would still end, eventually. I mean... how long can you torture a man for?” He looks past me to Atticus. “A week? Two?”

“That’s not enough, now is it?” Atticus answers, shaking his head.

“No, that’s not enough. Not for hurting my wife and my son. Because that pain ends.” Maddox lays it out there for Monty to absorb. “But this... taking away everything that matters to you. Your money. Your title. Your family land and family home. Your social standing and good name...” Maddox’s smile is cruel and unforgiving, and I’m so glad he loves me because this man has a dark side I’ve never seen before now. But I can’t say if someone hurt him or Brennan, I wouldn’t feel the same way. “Now that’s the way to break a man like you.”

“But...” His knees start to shake. “You wouldn’t just be hurting me. You’d be destroying my parents. You can’t destroy them.” Spittle flies from his mouth as desperation sinks in, and he realizes just how serious they are. He looks at me, petrified, and I’m completely indifferent.

I’m not enjoying this, but I’m not going to stop it either.

“Lennon... You can’t let them do this.”

“You mean the way you couldn’t kick me? The way you couldn’t knock me down, and leave me alone on the floor after I’d hit my head and blacked out?” Even saying the words brings bile up my throat. The fear I felt. . . The heartache as I rode to the hospital, scared I’d lost Brennan before I’d even gotten the chance to hold him. “Sorry, Monty. I don’t hate you enough to be part of this. But I love me enough to know better than to get in the middle of it too.”

“My wife is far too kind to be part of this, Hastings. This part was my idea. To destroy the man, you destroy what he loves. That was me. Rhys and Atticus were the ones who found out what your parents were involved in. I was just the guy who knew the guys who could make it look like you were involved too. I mean, you were involved enough. But let’s face it, you’re not smart enough to be the mastermind. Though that’s not what these documents say. And this way, the world will think you’re the one who brought down the Hastings family. You’ll be the reason your title is taken away and your accounts are seized.” Maddox kisses the top of my head. “You’ll be the reason you spend the rest of your life behind bars and can never hurt the people I love again.”

“Lennon... you can’t let them?—”

I turn to Maddox, completely apathetic to anything Monty is saying and press my palm to my husband’s chest. “I’m tired, and I want to see our son. Can we leave now?”

And because he loves me enough to know I’ve seen enough, he kisses my temple and calms my soul. “As you wish,principessa.”

“You know what?” I look at Monty one last time. “It does feel pretty good to be the one leaving you while you sit here helpless.” I drop a kiss on Rhys’s cheek and squeeze Atticus’s hand. “I’ll see you at home.” Then with my husband’s hand on my back, we walk out of the room and away from that chapter of my life.

LENNON

With every smile I see from my son, I fall more in love with his father.

—Lennon’s Secret Thoughts

“Come on, can’t you stay for Christmas? We’re going to light the tree in front of the palace next week.” Atticus has been trying to push our flight off for days. This morning is his last full push while we have breakfast, just the four of us and Brennan.

Amelia and Sam left a few days ago, while Maddox and I decided to stay a few extra days, so I could introduce him to my country. But now it’s time to go back to reality.

“I’m sorry to miss it, but we have to get back. Our life is in Kroydon Hills.” The words hurt to say, but yet, I know they’re my truth now. I look forward to bringing Brennan and Maddox back in a few months for the official coronation. But our home isn’t here. “We’re going to try to stay longer for the coronation. I promise.”

I sit back and rest my head on Maddox’s shoulder as I watch Rhys blow raspberries on Brennan’s tummy. His little legs curl up toward his body as his tiny belly laughs rip through him.

Maddox tugs my hair, and I close my eyes.

I hate this.

I doubt leaving will ever get easier.

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