Page 75 of Regally Binding

“Before you freak out,” Strike said, placing a hand on Bear’s shoulder, “Steve’s acting weirdly. We looked at CCTV around the pub after your incident, and he was at the pub, but afterwards, he sneaked out of a back alley.”

Liss stilled. “He must have had a reason.”

“I didn’t like his behaviour at the palace party,” Bear grunted, but at one look from Strike, he squeezed his lips together in a stern line.

“True. I’m not saying Steve’s a bad guy or has anything to do with the threats, but we’ve been in this job a while, and when our instincts say someone is behaving unusually, nine times out of ten, there’s a reason.”

Liss was silent, which drew wary stares from the bodyguards. But Steve wouldn’t try to hurt her. She didn’t have many people on her side, and if she couldn’t trust Steve, then she barely had anyone left. She was truly alone.

Bear’s eyes pinched. “Don’t defend him.” Her silence didn’t mean she didn’t believe them. She couldn’t deny the facts they’d shared. That he’d sneaked out of the pub didn’t make sense.

“But he’s my friend. I’ve known him for years, and you two have known him ten days,” she said, reaching for her mug. Confusion replaced her earlier happiness. The men were good at their job. But Steve couldn’t be a bad guy. “I need to think about this.”

Strike held Bear back as she left the room.

She needed to call Isla and discover Steve’s secret that she’d hinted at the week before.

Liss returned to the paperwork she’d ditched in the lounge as she called Isla.

“Hey.”

“Hey, you,” Isla replied. The sound of her best friend’s voice calmed her. “Do you still promise to call me when you’re living in a palace?”

Liss smiled. She’d do everything to keep their friendship. “Maybe.”

Isla laughed. “You’d better. You’re a bit early for our daily call though. Everything okay?”

“I can’t hide anything from you,” Liss replied, moving papers out of her way to sit.

“Not since you fell over a chair during university induction week and jumped up pretending you were okay. I saw you.”

“I know you did because you remind me about it monthly.”

Isla’s cackles carried down the phone. “Thank you for never finding me too much hard work. Steve said the other day that I was lucky to have the both of you.”

“You’re not hard work. I’ve never thought that about you. But as you’ve mentioned Steve, I have a question.” Liss took a deep breath. “You said when we were in the hotel bedroom last week that there was a reason he continued to work at the pub and hinted it was related to me. What did you mean?”

Isla made noises like she was deliberating her reply. “It’s not my place to say.”

“But?”

“After the way he was at the party, I’m guessing he’ll never tell you himself.” Isla paused, and Liss fought the temptation to jump into the conversation. “Steve likes you. I don’t know if it’s just a crush or more, but he’s liked you since the early days.”

“Oh.” Liss ground her teeth. But that didn’t make sense with what the guys said. He wouldn't push her down the stairs even ifhe had unrequited feelings for her. “Did you think he was acting weird at the party?”

“Super weird, even his brother was concerned. I’m sorry I wasn’t around to take care of you. Ollie’s beautiful blue eyes distracted me,” Isla joked. “And I thought it was time for Steve to shoot his shot before we lost you for good.”

“But you won’t lose me. I’ll still be around.”

“Not like before. Your world is about to change if you decide to take the throne. And you should because you need that family you’ve spent years searching for. I watched what happened to you after your mum died. I was busy with my degree but still saw your desperation for a purpose.”

“I guess,” Liss replied. They’d never had a conversation about that time. But everything was coming out now.

“The pub became your world, and I get it because you needed something to care about and something to care about you. But you can have a real family, who are there for you and…” Isla tailed off. Liss spun her ring.

“And?”

“And I didn’t want to be the one to tell you, but Steve said yesterday that Hugo has signed the contract with the pub chain. Having a princess work there previously has raised its value. It won’t be here for you if you return, so you need to find a different purpose.”

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