Page 25 of Reckless Royalty

I want to know her.

I stare up at the ceiling, trying to wrap my head around it all. I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect her to have been this… alive. And now that I know, it makes everything worse.

Because now, every time I see her, I’m going to wonder what it’ll take to bring that girl back.

I sigh, running a hand over my face as I set the phone down on my chest. What the fuck am I supposed to do with all of this? I’m supposed to protect her, keep her safe, but is that enough? How do I help her come back from this? And why the hell do I care so much?

Before I can spiral any further, my phone buzzes on my chest. I pick it up, expecting a message from one of the guys, but when I unlock the screen, I see a text from an unknown number.

Unknown:

Thank you.

I blink, my heart skipping a beat. It’s gotta be her. No one else has this number except her, and those close to me. Before I can even think about how to respond, another text comes through.

Unknown:

It’s Maddy, btw.

A small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. I’m still staring at the screen— trying to figure out how to reply— when she sends another one.

Unknown:

Ugh, I mean Madison, sorry. You know me as Madison.

My smile widens, and I shake my head, chuckling under my breath.She’s apologizing for that?After everything, she’s worried about how I know her?

I type out a quick response, my thumbs moving before I can second-guess myself.

Mihai:

No need to apologize. I like Maddy, it suits you. And you’re welcome.

I hit send and wait, feeling a weird kind of anticipation building in my chest. There’s no immediate reply, but I don’t mind. The fact that she texted me at all is a huge fucking deal. Maybe it’s a sign that she’s starting to come back, even if it’s just a little bit.

Maddy:

Okay… Maddy it is, then.

I sigh and scroll back through the photos on her social media, looking at that bright, lively girl one more time before locking my phone and tossing it onto the bed beside me.

If there’s a chance I can help her find her way back to that version of herself, I’m not going to let it slip away.

I don’t know why I care so much, but I do. And perhaps that’s enough to keep pushing forward, even when everything feels like it’s falling apart.

I close my eyes for a moment, trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do next.

She’s still in there somewhere—the girl who used to sing, who used to own the stage, who used to live without fear. And I’m going to help her find her way back.

Because, fuck, she deserves that.

MADDY

CONNOR:

Be ready at 2pm, darlin. We’re going for a walk.

Connor shows up at my door, just like he promised. We’ve been texting for a while, and he’s brought up walking around the property a few times since. I didn’t think it was a good idea, but Connor seems to think I’m ready.

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