Page 41 of The Royal Flame
“My mom was that way too until my father left her.” She moves back and stops talking as the waitresses approaches our table with her order After she sets the coffee and scone done in front of Avery, she walks off. Avery takes a drink of her coffee before continuing. “I spent a few months sneaking videos of Will dealing behind his bosses back. I still have them on my phone and whenever I see will, I remind him that I have these videos. I also told him that if anything ever happened to me, I have my email programmed to send out the video footage automatically.”
“Do you really, though?”
“Hell, no. I have no clue how to do that. But Will’s too stupid to realize I don’t. He thinks because I had good grades and graduated that I’m smart enough to pull that stuff off.”
“You’re smart,” I assure her.
“I’m average at best, but I’m okay with that.” She picks off a piece of her scone and pops it into her mouth. “But anyway, we can use this to get Will to tell you what he knows about your aunt. It still might be a bit risky meeting up with him, though, so I’ll let you decide.”
The other night, I’d pretended I knew Will was dealing behind his bosses back in an attempt to get him to leave us alone. I didn’t really know if he was, but he did get squirmy. Now I know why.
Am I nervous to blackmail him? Hell, yeah. But I have no other choice. Either I can keep living my life in fear or face it head on and try to get some goddamn answers.
“All right.” I tell her. “I’m in.”
12
CHAPTER
MADDISON
Will is pissed. When Avery calls him and informs him of what’s going on, I can hear him cursing her out through the phone. Whatever happened between Avery and Will while they dated must’ve been bad because Avery looks happy with how upset Will is.
In the end, he agrees to meet us at the café, which she informs me off once she’s ended the call.
“He’s so mad,” she muses as she stuffs another bite of scone int her mouth. “He used to get so mad when we dated too, but if I ever mentioned it, he’d flip out on me.” She falls silent for a moment, the amusement dimming in her eyes. “He hit me once. I was so mad at myself too. I spent years growing up, vowing to never turn into my mother, who got slapped around by my father, but was too afraid to leave him. And I get the whole psychology behind her staying—I really did—but it made me want to never get into a relationship like that. But then Will hit me and I didn’t leave.”
“Well, you did eventually It just took you a bit.” I finish off the rest of my cookie and dust the sugar off my hands. “But you did leave. And that means something.”
“I know, but I worry I’ll end up in another relationship like that again.” She traces the brim of the coffee mug with the tip of her finger as she dazes off. “What’re guys like on the Royal side? Are they as angry as north side men?”
I consider her question carefully. “I think some are just as dangerous. They’re simply more discreet about it. Plus, they have the money to cover stuff up.” I raise the mug to my lips and take a sip of the coffee, River’s warm and kind eyes fluttering through mind. “They’re not all bad, though. Some of them are quite nice, actually.” Nice enough to try to protect me, even when it hurts to do it.
Fuck.
Why am I starting to realize that what River did may have been the right choice?
If he had chosen to date me after his father threatened my life, he’d be a bad person. But he isn’t. He’s a kind, caring, and too damn sweet.
“Shit.” I say aloud.
“What?”
“It’s nothing. I just realized that I may have messed up a relationship that was worth trying to save.”
She assesses me. “One with a guy?”
I nod. “The nicest guy I’ve ever met.”
She considers something. “Maybe you can fix it.”
“Maybe.” But I doubt it.
Even if I can get River to talk to me again, I doubt I’ll be allowed to attend The Royal Academy anymore, so I may not ever get the chance to see him again.
All of my worries about River, though, gopoofas Will enters the café. The storm outside is raging and he’s dripping wet, a sight that brings me great happiness, especially since he looks beyond perturbed at how soaked his clothes are.
He’s glaring at the sleeves of his jacket as he violently swipes raindrops off his face while letting out a mutter of curses. Then he narrows his eyes as he peers around at the tables. When he spots me, his eyes narrow even more as he stomps over and sits down in the booth beside Avery.
