Page 35 of Royal's Reign
I grab a scatter cushion that had been pushed to the floor, and between us both, we manage to switch out Ria for the cushion without disturbing Gio.
With a quick flick of my head, I gesture for Ria to follow me to the door before speaking to her.
“How is she?” I whisper.
“Tearful, shaky, but quiet,” she says softly back. “I tried to get her to talk to me, but didn’t want to push it. Not sure what has happened while she was missing, but whatever it was, it’s left her emotionally exhausted.” Ria gives me a weak smile. “Is there any reason we girls should be worried? Could they come after one of us?”
“No, you’re all good.” I reassure her with a squeeze of her shoulder. “There’s no longer a threat. I appreciate you staying with her, Ria. Things have been tough for her, having her world turned upside down, and you’ve been a friend to her. I won’t forget that.”
“Hey, no problem, Prez.” She turns to open the door to leave but quickly turns back to me. “I like her, and you would have my backing if it works out, and she ends up sticking around,” she gives me a cheeky wink. “Just saying,” she adds over her shoulder before slipping out the door, closing it behind her.
Seems like I’ve failed miserably when it came to hiding my feelings for Gio. Or has Gio been confiding in Ria? Whatever, once I’ve had the chance to talk to her, I will be announcing it to the whole fucking world. Hopefully.
When I getto the couch, I slide my arms around Gio’s shoulders and legs and elevate her into my hold. She stirs, but I shush her, talking softly to her, reassuring her, all while I carry her into the bedroom. Using my foot, I flip back the covers before sitting her on the edge of the cool mattress.
“Noah.” Her eyes are still closed.
“Let me get you out of these clothes, then sleep.” I pull off the dress that she’d not been wearing when she left here. It’s flowered, floaty and not really her style. Growling under my breath, not knowing what the fucker has done to her, or had his hands on her, is infuriating, but my anger subsides somewhat when the underwear underneath is recognizable.
“Stay with me,” she mumbles sleepily as I help her lay back, her head sinking into the pillow.
“Sweetheart, I ain’t going anywhere.” Quickly, I rid myself of my t-shirt and jeans, leaving me in just my boxers, and slide in beside her. With my front to her back, I curl my arm around her waist, bringing her in as close as physically possible, then I give in to the emotional exhaustion. let the fear of losing her dissipated from my bones, letting sleep take me under too.
Chapter
Fifteen
Grinder
The hotel bar is not my usual kind of go-to, but a night away from the club, somewhere no one would come looking, was what had lured me into the overpriced joint.
The carpet was clean, not stained and sticky. The bar top, polished within an inch of its life. The vast array of liquor bottles against the mirrored back is spotless. There was not a speck of dust in sight. Not that I cared much, as long as the bartender kept the bourbon flowing.
I’ve pretty much blocked out the surrounding noise. The hum of people’s chatter, the clink of glass, even the drone of the music being played. Some popular chick bands, I believe. Not my taste. Not enough driving rhythm, squealing electric guitar or thrashingdrumbeat.
The Gio and Royal drama is still heavy on my mind, but as I chug back my fifth bourbon, the liquor is helping to take the edge off my raging temper.
I still want to grab Royal by the throat and beat the living daylights out of him. I can’t get rid of the image of them both together, fucking, even though it’s a far cry from how I want to envision my little sister. It turns my fucking stomach, making the bourbon unsettled in my gut. What I don’t get is how my best friend has gone from seeing her as a snotty kid with pigtails who had been the bane of our life, constantly pestered us to let her tag along, to now. Having inappropriate feelings for her. Sure, she’s grown up, filled out. Even as her brother, I can admit what a beautiful woman she’s turned into, but he’s always been like part of the family. I just don’t get it.
God knows what his brother would have thought. Then again, if he’d still been here, would I ever have gotten so close to Royal? It was our mutual grief that had bonded us together until he became an integral part of my family. I can’t for the life of me imagine it being any other way.
“Motherfucker,” I grumble, the pain of his disloyalty hitting me. “Why did you do that?”
With my forearms resting on the bar, I drop my head forward and close my eyes.
“Are you talking to me?”
Head still down low, I turn my head to face the direction of the voice. The voice that had brokenthrough my bubble of silence that I’d managed to create.
The last thing I want is to talk shit with anyone because, quite frankly, I don’t give a damn about the fucking weather or what the government is up to. I have enough of my own shit to contend with. Yet, I find myself drawn towards the sweet but confident voice, which is laced with a hint of annoyance. There’s a smidgen of an accent too, that I can’t quite place, but it’s definitely not local.
When I take her in, I’m met with eyes of the purest green that pop against olive skin. Hair long, almost black hair, with an abundance of curls. Plump lips the color of expensive wine that hold an expression that contradicts the softness of her features.
“Do I need to repeat myself?” With one brow raised; her pretty mouth takes on a harder line, making the blood rush straight to my dick.
Fuck, she’s not only as hot as hell, she’s feisty too, and that is so fucking sexy.
I straighten up, take a breath and get a grip of myself — well, sort of.
