Page 73 of Ruthless King

I have no fucking idea.

Not getting the answers I need from my mother, I leave the cemetery and spend the day driving around the city. My mind wanders to everything and nothing.

When I get tired of driving, I find a hotel to stay in the for the night, and I end up staying there for a couple of days.

Aurora will be fine at home. I never wanted her to be my prisoner, but there she is, being my prisoner. It’s just until I figure out what to do with her.

But the longer I stay away, the more irritable I become. Ignoring Aurora won’t give me what I need.

What I need to do is talk to her again.

So, after a few days, I finally go home.

I expect to find Aurora in one of the guest bedrooms, but she’s not. Enzo is stationed in the foyer, and I go to him for answers. “Where’s Aurora?”

“What do you mean? She’s locked up.”

“I figured, but why isn’t she in one of the guest bedrooms? I told Andrew to put her in one before I left.”

Enzo glances down, not responding.

My chest turns tight when I realize what happened. “Where’s Aurora, Enzo?”

“She’s still in the basement.”

“She’s been there all this time?”

“Yes,” he says, finally meeting my gaze.

“Bastard.” I walk away before I can kill him in my anger and hurry into the basement.

And what I see turns me cold.

Andrew stands in Aurora’s cell, looking down at her as she lies on the floor unconscious.

“What the fuck?” I snarl.

Andrew whirls around, staring at me with shock. “I wasn’t expecting you back so soon.”

“No shit.” I rush to Aurora’s side and check her pulse. She’s alive, at least. “You were supposed to do as I said.”

“I didn’t think she deserved to be brought upstairs.”

“You fed her at least?” I scoop Aurora up into my arms.

“She’s a traitor. Traitor’s don’t deserve food.”

For the first time, I see Andrew for who he really is. “You’re fired.” I storm past him and up the stairs, carrying Aurora to safety. I might feel betrayed by her, but I can’t watch her die.

I care for her too much.

No. I love her too much.

“You can’t fire me,” Andrew says, following behind.

“Of course, I can. I could kill you instead if you would prefer?” I run outside and put Aurora in the backseat of my car.

Andrew doesn’t comment.

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