Page 26 of Royal's Reign
I can’t help but glare at his back as he walks towards the corridor that leads to his room, where he has all his computer gear set up. The notion that Gio might actually know who the guy is behind this fucking infuriates me. Is that why she was so cagey when I was questioning her about what she saw that night? But why would she protect his identity? Unless… Jealousy raged through my veins at the possibility that she was protecting him because they had a history.
I nearly break my fingers punching in the code so hard to open the first door to get back up to the apartment, all while wondering if she’s been fucking playing me all this time. In fact, not just me, but her brother too, and the rest of my club brothers. Was this all a ruse simply to get away from an overbearing ex?
When I walk back into my apartment, she immediately jumps up from the couch and rushes me. She looks so cute in a pair of cut-off shorts and a vest top. All legs and tits. Fucking sexy.
On her tiptoes, she reaches up and wraps her arms around my neck. The urge to kiss her is real but I hold back. When she goes to say something, I jump in, beating her to it.
“Daniel Caal.” I glare into her eyes watching her expression closely. Looking for signs that might give me answers.
“Who?” her eyebrows pinch together, two little creases form between them. “Daniel…?”
“Caal,” I finish for her. Still, all I get from her expression is confusion, then suddenly as if she’s having a lightbulb moment, her brows rise into her hairline, eyes wide.
“Dan, it was Dan Caal. That’s who it was. Holy shit, I thought he looked familiar, but I couldn’t quiet remember his name.”
“So, you do know who he is?” Her arms slide from around my neck, and she takes a step back no doubt picking up on how pissed I am.
“Yeah, but not that well.” Her forehead creases once more. “He went to my school, but he was older than me, so in a difference year. In high school there’s so many kids you never get to know everyone, but I do remember the warnings, so I kept my distance. I vaguely remember him talking to me a couple of times, but I quickly brushed him off and walked away.” She places a hand softly against my chest. “Is it him you have in the basement?” She stares me in the eye. “What have you done to him?”
“Why would you care?” I snap.
“Because if he’s no longer a threat, then I no longer need the club’s protection, and I get to leave.”
“Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble sweetheart, but you’re not out of the woods yet. It wasn’t Caal that we had; it was one of his men who gave him up.”
Chapter
Ten
Giorgia
“You lied to me,” He accuses. “You knew him, but for some reason you kept this from us. Is he some ex-boyfriend or someone that you still have feelings for?”
“That ludicrous,” I snap back at him.
“Why else would you protect him?” He glares at me. “Has this been some kinda sick game having us jump through hoops to keep you safe, when all along you’ve been holding back the once piece of information that could have put an end to this weeks ago?”
“It’s not like that,” I plead with my eyes. “He looked familiar, but I couldn’t be sure or even put at name to him. So, I didn’t want to say.”
“Have you been enjoying it, Gio? Is that why you didn’t speak up? Like a bitchy littleprincess,you’ve reveled in the attention you’ve received, while my club has done nothing but run around making sure you were safe?”
“Listen to me. It was dark. I couldn’t be sure.”
“Have you been fucking deceiving us all this time, Gio?”
His words hit hard, the anger rising like a tidal wave has me clenching my fist, heating my skin and blowing my mind.
“You fucking thick, blind, arrogant fuck,” I snarl back at him, my lips curled, teeth showing. “How dare you even… how could you…” I push hard against this chest, so hard that he takes a step back. “You know what, forget it. You’ve changed. You’re certainly not the man I thought you were, so fuck you, Noah. Royal. Whatever you want to call yourself.” I push past him. My heart aches for him to stop me, to reach out, catch my hand, and stop me from leaving but he doesn’t. I pray that any second, he’ll say that he’s wrong, beg for forgiveness, but I get a big fat nothing. He just glares at me like I’m a stranger who means nothing to him.
As soon as I get to the door, I swing it open wide, the force making the handle bang against the wall. I don’t stop, or wait for the door to close behind me, I rush down to the second door, giving it an equal amount of anger and fly into the communal room. A quick glance round to seek out Ria, her being the only person in this place that I feel I could confide in, vent my pain and frustration, but I come up empty, so I continue to the front door. Without a second thought,I burst past Ink, who’s been tasked to guard the entrance, and out into the cool air.
“Giorgia,” I hear the prospect shout, “Does Grinder know you’re out here?” I keep on walking. He follows a few steps behind. “Giorgia?” Ignoring him, I slip into a quicker pace, not quite a sprint, but fast enough to put space between us. For a few moments he continues to follow me, but when I hear his shout, “Fuck!” I risk a glance back. Ink stands still, feet apart, arms up, hands resting on his head. Then he turns and starts running back to the clubhouse door, giving me the option to slip down the first sideroad I come to without him seeing.
It’s unusually cool for Tampa, the ground cold against my bare feet, and I regretting not snatching up my sneakers before making my escape. I shiver, goosebumps spring raise up on my exposed flesh wishing that I’d grabbed a jacket too, but I keep moving. When I get to the end of the side street, I do a quick check that there are no vehicles coming then cross over to the far side of the street that runs parallel to the front of the club house. I have no intention of going too far, but I need to get some air, some space to breathe and calm the fuck down.
Noah’s accusations cut deep. Sure, I can be a bit of a drama queen at time. What twenty something female isn’t, but I haven’t got a thespian bone in my body. He saw how upset I was when I arrived at the club house, my fear was real. I sure as hell never wentto Julliard. My interest are in Visual Art, not the Dramatic Arts.
How could he think that?
