Page 33 of Kinks of a Billionaire
“You’re crazy.”
He let out a laugh. “Yeah, crazy about you.”
My entire body froze. Euphoria kicked my heart palpitations into overdrive, right along with the butterflies that fluttered wildly in the pit of my belly.
“Platonic?” I breathed my confusion, my voice barely audible. His heavy gaze met mine, and it grew more intense.
He stared at me, and with all humor gone from his words, he said, “It’s overrated.” With those two words, he all but dismissed our loose agreement.
I fidgeted with my ring, my mind racing at what it could mean. “It is,” I heard myself say over the gentle breeze, hiscrazy about youcomment ringing in my ears.
Royce’s gaze flickered with amusement. “Your mom wants us all at her place, and then you and I will disappear for a bit. Go off-grid.”
I swallowed, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth. The blissful thought of getting away with him warred with the foreboding creeping through my gut—the fear that Stuart would eventually have a claim on my child.
“How are you feeling?” Aurora asked, watching me with a keen eye over her champagne glass.
“Fine.” I flashed an awkward smile as I took a sip of my sparkling water.
We were back at my parents’ place for the wedding reception they’d thrown together. It was impressive what my mother managed to do in such a short time, and although it wasn’t anything fancy, it was tasteful and elegant. Stuart’s family had been in charge of my intended wedding reception, and standing here now, surrounded by people who wanted the best for me, I couldn’t be more pleased with the way things had played out.
The house smelled like wintergreen, citrus, and homemade baked goods. Aurora, Sailor, and I sat in the den overlooking the old city street that brimmed with tourists.
“Why didn’t you tell us about Stuart?” Sailor breathed, reaching out to brush my hair behind my ear. I wasn’t surprised they were bombarding me with questions. They’d insisted on covering up my bruises before taking pictures earlier, and I could almostsmellthe iron in the air from how hard they were biting their tongues.
Aurora blew out a sigh. “We could have helped you.”
I absentmindedly rubbed a hand over my belly while a knot of emotion formed in my throat. I’d struck gold when life threw Aurora and Sailor in my path. They were family, and we’d seen each other through the highest of highs and lowest of lows.
“I’m sorry. It just felt like it was a problem I needed to deal with on my own, and for some reason, I ignored the signs until yesterday when I sat him down and told him I couldn’t go through with the wedding.”
“Is that when he…” Sailor trailed off, her eyes locked on my bruises.
“Yes.”
“You could have come to Alexei and me. We would have helped you. You’re my best friend.”
“You’ve been our rock all these years,” Sailor said dryly. “The least we could’ve done is help you.”
Despite the unflappable demeanor Sailor usually portrayed, she had been to hell and back—witnessing her sister’s abuse, raising her nephew, and getting caught up in cartel business. The last thing she needed was my petty drama.
“I didn’t think it’d turn out this way,” I admitted.
“Come on,” Sailor scolded. “If we’ve learned one thing through Anya, it’s to trust our instincts. Especially if the person you’re supposed to trust is manipulating you to think you’re helpless. Stuart obviously knew exactly what he was doing if you ignored your gut.”
She was right. We witnessed Anya’s abuse firsthand, and it took her tragic death for her to find peace. I still remembered it as if it was yesterday.
The hospital floor of the maternity ward smelled of bleach and… death. I could feel its cold fingers on my nape and I had to shake off the insidious feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Maybe it had more to do with Royce’s rejection than with this hospital. None of that even mattered anymore though—not with what I was about to face.
“May I help you?” A young doctor with the clearest blue eyes and most vibrant red hair I’d ever seen had stopped in front of us. She looked at us carefully—Royce on one side of me, Auroraand Byron on the other. “This is the maternity ward, and none of you look ready to have a baby.”
Royce was quick to flash his smile, and jealousy sank its teeth into me, but I quickly shoved the ugly feeling away. “We’re visiting a friend.”
“Dr. Sophie, good evening,” Byron said, cutting Royce off with an eye roll.
Royce’s brows furrowed as he asked, “Who do younotknow, Byron?”
