Page 130 of The King's Maiden
All because of the stupid, fucking prize they wanted. If I had given it away then, I never would’ve?—
I started hyperventilating.
Digging into my clutch, I pulled out my inhaler and used it. But nothing happened—nothing came out. I shook the tiny canister so hard it nearly flew out of my hands. Even though that wouldn’t help.
I mentally counted backwards to the day I filled it.
“No.”
I gasped for breath, feeling my throat constrict. I tried to inhale slowly through my nose. I tried to tell myself it was panic. But my chest grew tighter, and my lungs ached. Scrambling to my feet, I flung open the bathroom door.
Landon’s stare jumped between me and the tiny canister at my feet. I ran out of the bedroom before he could say a word. Before he could stop me.
The door flung wide as I ran through and slammed it behind me.
And, of course, Max chose that moment to step out of his room. Because my life—Lemons.
He took one look at my face, freshly stained with tears, and he blocked my path. Gripping my arms, he opened his big fucking mouth to say god-only-knew-what. Too much. Protectiveness flared in his eyes, but his stare exposed me. His words would reveal?—
Landon’s door opened. I had to get out of there before they started in on each other. As soon as they argued over the state Max had found me in, the hatred between them would only grow. Everything would only get worse.
My head whipped between them, and I lost it. “Just let me fucking go!”
Max’s eyes widened, his hold on me tightening as he searched my face. And for a second, I thought I’d have to claw my way past him.
But then, he nodded. Stepping out of my way, he pinned his dark, hateful gaze on Landon. And while I tore for the stairs, his deep voice echoed down the hall.
“Don’t even try it, Golden Boy.”
“Get the fuck out of my way, Dread.”
“Why bother?” The hatred and hint of smugness in his voice made me wince, even though I’d expected it. “Why go after her when she’s already ruined?”
I couldn’t make out what Landon said in return, but it didn’t matter now. I couldn’t think about the mess I was leaving behind. I forced myself to keep moving forward.
And I didn’t look back when I heard the first punch land.
But I felt the impact of it right in my gut.
Max Dread
“Don’t even think about it, Golden Boy.”
“Get the fuck out of my way, Dread.”
“Why bother? Why go after her when she’s already ruined?”
“You have no idea what you’re getting in the middle of right now.”
Did I know what the hell I’d just walked into?
No.
But did I fucking care?
Also, no.
An opportunity to get in Landon’s way wasn’t one I planned to miss. And if it meant putting some miles between him and that fucking girl, even better. That made four times I’d found her wrecked by his bullshit with no one doing a thing about it.
