Page 32 of Royal's Reign
“Your memory fails you, Moore. Mine doesn’t” He bares his teeth, eyes darkening, his focus set on Grinder, so much so that I feel like my presence is of no consequence to him.
“The beating you gave me had me laid up in a hospital bed for four weeks,” he snarls. “Four brokenribs, a punctured lung, and a fractured femur. All because I voiced my interest in your sister.”
“What? When?” I keep my eyes on Caal but by the tone of Grinders voice, he’s clueless as to what he’s talking about.
“Grinder didn’t kick the shit out of you,” I speak up. Time to put things straight, even though I’m mortified that something from so long ago has come back to haunt me and put Gio in danger. “Grinder took the first punch, but it was me that laid into you while you were down on the floor, crying like a fucking baby. It was me, so let Giorgia go. Your beef is with me, not Grinder.”
“What the fuck!” I hear my friend mumble, but I hear him.
“Ah, so we get to the truth. Giorgia means a lot to you too,” Caal laughs. “Tell meRoyal, President of the Saint’s Outlaws,” he puts emphasis on the Royal. “Are you fucking your best friend and VP’s little sister?”
If it wasn’t for the fact that Grinder had a silencer on his gun, my ears would be ringing for a month. The shot hits Caal right between the eyes. Instant, unexpected, and giving him zero chance to react.
While Caal’s attention had been on me, Grinder had taken the shot. A risky one yes, but an exceptional one.
While Grinder stands glued to his spot, I move forward, wrapping my arms around a screaming Gio. When her legs give way, I pick her up, her legs instantlywrap around my waist.
When her face nestles into my neck, I hold her tighter.
When the tears keep falling, I whisper soothing words, that she’s safe, that it’s over, she is free.
Yet, my heart is heavy knowing that I still have two mountains to climb.
To face my best friend with the truth about how I felt about his sister, and the second, to convince Giorgia to be mine.
Chapter
Thirteen
Grinder
I’d had my suspicions for a while, but when Caal had spoken them out loud, it was like a mist had cleared from my head. It was clear for all to see, but I guess I’d not wanted to believe it.
I’m not sure if the reason behind pulling the trigger was that I couldn’t bear to hear anymore shit coming from the asshole’s mouth, or anger directed at myself for being so blind to what had been going on right in front of me.
Royal was fucking my sister.
Had my initial instincts urged me to turn the gun on my Prez and best friend for betraying me?
Maybe, but as quickly as the thoughtcame, it went.
Royal’s actions in the minutes after had only confirmed that it had been the right move.
Watching him swoop in like fucking Prince Charming, taking Gio into his embrace, the way he held her. That wasn’t just a simple reassuring hug, a ‘there, there, everything’s going to be okay,’ kind of hold. It had been the kind you gave to someone who meant the fucking world to you.
The way she fell into him, clinging onto him so tight, melting into him until they were almost one. It was clear that it was not a one-way street. Gio is into him too.
Royal had moved fast, his desperation to get her out of there clearly evident. When he’d reached the bottom of the stairs, all the while holding her tight, instead of routing out the front door where most of our brothers were, he had taken her out the back. As previously planned, on standby was a small four-seater speedboat that we’d acquired, without permission, from outside another property nearby. A powerful motor hung on the back, Hammer at the controls. Without a thought of the instability of the craft, Royal stepped into the boat. The weight of them both caused it to wobble, but quickly, he regained his balance and placed Gio’s ass down onto one of the vacant seats.
“Grinder,” he ordered. “Get over here.” I stepped forward, no argument given, despite having a number of questions zooming around my head. “Take Gio back to the clubhouse where she’ll be safe,but keep a low profile. The fewer eyes on us, the better.”
“What about cleanup?” I ask, because that’s something I would normally oversee or at least make sure that whichever brothers were tasked with it, got it done.
“I’ll deal with it,” he reassured me. “Gio needs you right now, so get in here.” I step onto the boat but hold back, a little dumbstruck as I watch Royal with her.
“Gio, sweetheart,” he coos to her softly as he eases her arms from around his neck. At first, she resists, not wanting to let him go, but he leans in and whispers something into her ear that I’m unable to hear. Her arms relax, hands sliding into her lap as he removes himself from between her legs. “Garth is going to look after you.” She looks up at him with eyes big, red and puffy, but I don’t miss the emotion within them. Not fear. Not hate. Quite the opposite. Adoration is what I see, especially when he leans down and places a gentle, lingering kiss on her forehead.
“Grinder,” he motions for me to take the seat beside her, but just before I do, his hand lands on my shoulder. “Get her settled, see if Ria will sit with her, because once everyone is back, I’m calling Church.”
