Page 109 of Crown of Lies

We say our goodbyes to Ambrose and step out into the fading afternoon light. The air feels different now, heavy with theweight of everything we’ve just learned. I’m still trying to process it all, but it’s like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands.

I can feel the Princes’ eyes on me as we walk to their bikes. Their expressions are full of questions and concern, but I can’t bring myself to meet them. Not yet. I’m too caught up in the whirlwind of my own thoughts and emotions.

A secret organization. A mysterious marker. My father’s hidden past. I feel like I’m teetering on the edge of something massive, something that could change everything.

As we reach the bikes, I wordlessly climb onto the back of Nico’s. My arms wrap around his waist automatically, but my mind is elsewhere. I barely register the rumble of the engine as it roars to life beneath us.

We peel out of Ambrose’s driveway, the wind whipping past us as we accelerate. The rush of air drowns out my thoughts for a moment, and I’m grateful for the short break.

The landscape blurs around us as we speed down the road. As we ride, I can’t help but wonder what this all means for us. For me. The marker my father left behind isn’t just some trinket—it’s a key. A key to a world that, apparently, people are willing to go to great lengths to access.

32

QUINN

The ride home is a blur,with my thoughts swirling like a tornado. Every time I try to think straight, another piece of information will jumble everything back up again. I cling to Nico, grateful for his solid presence as we weave through traffic.

Before I know it, we’re pulling up to the house. I dismount mechanically, my body on autopilot while my mind races. The men exchange worried glances, but I can’t bring myself to reassure them. I’m barely holding it together as it is.

There’s definitely some tension in the air as we file into the living room. I sink into an armchair, drawing my knees up to my chest. The Princes settle around me, the concern clear as day on their faces.

“Okay,” Atlas begins, cutting through the silence. “We obviously need to talk about all this crazy shit.”

“Agreed,” I nod. I’m not really up for this conversation right now, but it’s not like we can put it off. We have to figure this shit out somehow. “The symbol is probably connected to the marker, right?”

Atlas leans forward, his brow furrowed. “What makes you think that?”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” I explain, my thoughts finally starting to align. “Those men were looking for a specific symbol. My father was given a marker. What if the symbol is what’s on the marker?”

Nico looks thoughtful. “That tracks. It would explain why they’re so desperate to find it.”

“But if your dad had this marker,” Killian interjects, “why didn’t he just use it? Or get rid of it if he didn’t want to?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. Maybe he destroyed it?”

“Unlikely,” Killian says. “Even if he chose not to use it, something like that would be too valuable to just toss away. No, I bet he hid it somewhere.”

Atlas stands up, pacing the room. “So we need to find this marker. It’s our best lead right now.”

The men continue to discuss potential leads, but their voices fade into the background as I work through everything that’s happened. My father’s secrets, the mysterious marker, the dangerous men hunting for it—it’s a lot. It’s heavy.

It isn’t going to break me, but damn. It really is some crazy shit, to borrow Atlas’s words.

Killian stands abruptly, breaking through my thoughts. “I’ve gotta head out. Carnage business to take care of.”

As he moves towards the door, his eyes lock on to mine. There’s an intensity in his gaze that makes me feel exposed, like he can see right through my calm facade to the turmoil beneath. I look away, unable to hold his stare.

“Stay safe,” Atlas calls after him.

The door closes, and the other two men go quiet. I can feel Nico’s eyes on me, concern radiating from him.

“You okay, mia cara?”

I paste on a smile that feels brittle even to me. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… working through some shit, you know?”

He nods, but doesn’t look convinced. The weight of everything suddenly feels suffocating, and I need to escape.

“I think I need a minute,” I mutter, standing up. “I’ll be in my room if you guys need me.”

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