Page 11 of Royal Shark
I grew up overnight. Wrenched from my secure idyllic life into the harsh reality that I was alone in the world. Of course, I had Chloe. She was only six, a baby, and I stepped up to be the mom she missed out on. We moved to Brooklyn to live with our uncle Rob in a two-bedroom apartment in a nice neighborhood. It wasn’t too bad. He was a nice guy, but flaky. I became the adult in that household, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of Chloe. She went from a wild child to mute overnight. It took three months to get her speaking again, and she never did go back to her energetic carefree self. She became serious and withdrawn, even with counseling. Who could blame her? It was a dark time.
When I was sixteen, Uncle Rob lost his job and moved to Nashville to make it big with his new girlfriend, leaving us behind. Then I really was the adult in charge. He sent some money for the rent, and I covered the rest working as a waitress. I thought he’d come to his senses, but he never returned. Chloe and I took stock and decided we needed a cheaper apartment, this tiny place, and our best bet was to live extremely frugally until I was eighteen and could get a higher-paying job. Finally, I graduated high school and got a job as an office manager, working there days and waitressing at night. Chloe worked her ass off at school, deciding college would be her springboard to a better life. But then she found she really liked school. She was good at it. Now her aspirations are both for financial security and to make a difference in the world. I’m so proud of her.
As for me, I’ve been a player in local poker games for years before it dawned on me I could make a lot more by running my own game. Ever since I got this game going this summer, all of my money worries vanished. I quit both my jobsandI paid Chloe’s first tuition bill in August. It’s looking fantastic for the January bill. I don’t want her to leave college in deep debt, especially knowing the cost of medical school. Last night I pulled in fifty thousand in tips. The pot keeps getting higher and higher with the players I’m attracting—wealthy Russians—and I make sure everyone leaves the game feeling like they’re the king. Maybe Chloe won’t have to work so hard to finish college in three years. I want her to enjoy her time in college, not rush through it. Though she swears she’s not doing undergrad in three years for financial reasons. She claims she just can’t wait to get to medical school. Knowing Chloe, it’s probably both. Now that she’s eighteen, she has some perspective on what I did for her, trying to be the mom she missed out on, and wants to give back to me. Silly girl. That’s not how the little-sister gig works.
I take the safe to my futon and sit with it on my lap, doing the combination and opening it. Stacks of hundred-dollar bills greet me with their reassuring presence. I should probably put these in a bank, but I fear looking suspicious showing up with so much cash. They might think I robbed a convenience store or something. At this point, I could even prepay next year’s tuition and still have some left over for rent.
I should upgrade to a one-bedroom apartment. This one is so small—one room with my futon sofa that pulls out to a queen-sized bed, a galley kitchen, and a separate tiny bathroom. Hard to believe until recently I shared this small space with Chloe. She’s not far, in a dorm at Columbia in the city, but I miss her terribly.
I pull out the stacks of bills, counting them and then spreading them out on the coffee table to make them look like even more. I smile and gather them up, carefully sliding them back in the safe. Oops. I accidentally flipped over my lucky dragon cards—a pair of red twos. I carefully place them facedown in the very back. They’re the only thing I kept from before my life turned upside down. They remind me of a simpler time when I believed a sweet boy with hazel eyes was my hero.
I’m sure Adrian has moved on. I was just the summer visitor. He’s a prince moving in elite circles. He tried to get in touch over the years, but I just wasn’t ready to look back to my time on Villroy. My parents were like a honeymooning couple in our rented summer cottage there. It was too heartbreaking to revisit those memories with a reality that didn’t include them. I needed to stay strong for Chloe. Eventually, Adrian stopped reaching out.
I close and lock my safe. Maybe I should ask Silvia for his number. I’m in a better place now. I saw Silvia here in Brooklyn and that went well. No expectations or anything. Just for old times’ sake.
~ ~ ~
Adrian
I stare out the window of the rented Mercedes, looking for numbers on the buildings we pass. Looks like it’s just up ahead. I tell the driver where to stop, and my guard, Jack, steps out with me a few moments later. He’s thirty with a blond buzz cut, tall and wide with a hard expression that lets everyone know not to try anything on his watch. After all my time sparring with the palace guards, I could defend myself, but I’m required to have a guard as part of the royal family. I chose Jack because he always presents a challenge when we spar. In any case, it’s smart to have someone looking over my shoulder for the rare times when there’s an overzealous crowd.
It’s Monday afternoon New York time, and I’m standing in front of a run-down concrete and glass building in a questionable neighborhood in Brooklyn. It doesn’t look like Sara’s swimming in money like Silvia said. I hope she’s home. I’ll sit on the front steps until she shows up if I have to. It’s warmer than I thought it would be for mid-September. I undo my cuffs and roll up my shirtsleeves. Then I hesitate, staring at the intercom button with her name on it—Travers.
I blow out a breath. Some part of me isn’t sure I’ll get the warm reception my sister got. Silvia and Sara were best friends in that tight way girls can be. I was an add-on to their friendship until that last summer when Sara and I got closer. I was her hero.
I shake my head at myself. The heroic efforts of a twelve-year-old boy. She’s probably forgotten all about it with the way things changed so drastically for her. I’m here to make sure she’s not in any danger with her poker game. That’s it.
Okay, I’m dying to see what she looks like all grown up in person. Her pic on social media was taken from a distance, and she wore a baseball cap with sunglasses.
I press the intercom.
A female voice carries through. “Yeah?”
I clear my throat. “Sara?”
“Who wants to know?” Her voice sounds tough just like Silvia said.
“It’s Adrian Rourke. Silvia gave me your address. I was in town and thought I’d stop by.”
Silence.
Shit. Am I getting the brush-off? Silvia showed up unannounced with no problem.
A moment later, the door opens and she’s standing right in front of me—Sara Travers all grown up.
My mouth goes dry. She’s even more beautiful than I remember. Her blond hair is down to her shoulders in a straight silky cascade; her thick lashes frame green eyes, her skin creamy. Her body is all woman, curvy and toned, in a faded pink T-shirt with white denim cut-off shorts, really short shorts, shapely legs, bare feet. Every nerve ending goes on high alert, my pulse thrumming through my veins. Straight-up lust. Guess that attraction we flirted with at twelve didn’t go away. Now I actually know what to do about it.
I force my gaze back to her face. The seven freckles across her cute nose are still there. My lucky number. The freckles are muted, probably with makeup, but they’re there. She’s still my Sara from the best summers of my life. I didn’t realize just how much I missed her until this very moment.
My voice comes out hoarse. “Sara.”
Her green eyes are wide, staring at me. “Adrian?”
I smile. “The one and only.”
Her gaze searches my features, her voice soft. “I can’t believe you’re here. You look so different.”
“All grown up. You look different, too, in a good way. How are you?”
