Page 65 of Take My Crown

“Yes!” Declan and Romy are both excited when they see my father’s car collection. That is until two guards step around the corner, stopping when they see us. Declan and Romy run at them, throwing punches before they can blink. In seconds there are two passed out guards on the floor and the guys nod at each other like it was nothing.

Am I the only heir who can’t fight?

“Don’t get carried away,” Archer says as Declan follows him to the keys. “We’re going to take the Bimmer. It’s the least showy so we’re less likely to draw attention to ourselves–the faster cars all have custom plates so it’ll be obvious we’ve stolen them.”

“Good call,” Declan answers.

Romy casts a longing glance in the direction of a nifty little sports car but follows the other three in the direction of the BMW.

“Wait!” I say, just as they are about to climb in.

“Can’t it wait, Ivy? We’ve gotta get out of here,” Archer suggests.

“I’m not coming with you,” I say. “It’s too dangerous. The way my father behaved, any of the other Houses might try to use me against him. I have to go into hiding for my own protection.”

“No, you don’t,” Declan snaps. “You can come to mine. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. You never have to see your father again. You belong in King Town with us.”

“I’m sorry, Declan. I can’t risk it. I care about you but I don’t know your family and they don’t know me. It’s best if I go somewhere nobody knows me.”

“But Ivy —"

“Let me go,” I whisper, pleading with him. “Please don’t put me in another cage. This is my chance to be free.”

“If you need to go…then go.” Declan steps away, a troubled look on his face, his words bitter.

I turn to Romy. “I wish we had more time together. There’s so much I want to say to you.”

“It’s okay,” Romy treats me to one of his sexy smiles. “Just try and keep me away from you. Running won’t always work.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I blink away tears as I stretch tiptoes to kiss him goodbye.

Finally, it’s Archer’s turn.

“I wish I had trusted you,” I say.

“Iwish you’d trusted me.” He smiles sadly.

“Sorry,” I whisper, standing on tiptoe to kiss him tenderly.

We lean into each other, taking a few moments of comfort.

“You need to leave,” I say at last. “And I’ve got to go.”

“Take the Audi,” Archer advises, but he doesn’t look happy about it.

“Oh, no.” I shake my head. “I’m not bothering with a car.”

I went over to where my beautiful new Honda is waiting, keys left in the ignition, helmet hooked over the handlebars. Straddling it, I pull the helmet over my head before I put my hand on the key.

“You guys better get out of here,” I say. “Because the second I fire her up, everyone’s going to know we’ve escaped.”

Archer gives me one more look, and he gets into the Bimmer. Romy starts the engine and the garage door rolls up automatically.

I turn the key and the Honda bursts into life. Clicking the visor into place, I kick the stand out of the way and speed out of the garage.

Guards come running out of the house, firing warning shots into the air. But it is too late. My beloved boys are already well on their way to safety and nobody is going to catch up with me on my bike.

My father is going to regret buying it for me. But that isn’t the only thing he is going to regret. I will make sure of it.

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