Page 33 of Mind Maze

Or I’m just jealous he knows Romy in a way I don’t.

Romy

The guilt written on my brother’s face wrecks me. My entire life I’ve looked up to him and adored him. He’s been my lifeline when I’d felt the most confused, lost, and pained. Bastian was always the good guy.

But good guys don’t have friends like the Crownes. Bastian has Megan, the new, improved, and thoroughly brainwashed version of her—a product of the famed Crowne Unity Project. I need to know his involvement in all this.

Caius seems to be enjoying my brother’s obvious discomfort. I may be angry with Bastian, but I’m mad at Caius as well, so his smugness irritates me. I extricate myself from his hold and grab Bastian’s wrist.

“My room,” I say to him, tugging him along with me.

Caius stays back with Megan and begins chatting amicably with her. My mind races, wondering what sort of hell she was put through. She’s no longer the shy, mousy girl I went to class with. There’s an air of sophistication about her, from her sleek hair, flawless makeup, and confident way she carries herself now. I’d witnessed it on the video call and it’s even more evident in person.

As much as I want to stay back and pick her brain in an effort to uncover all the whys and hows of what happened to her, speaking with Bastian is of the upmost importance.

Once inside my bedroom, I close the door behind us and sit down on the edge of my bed. I cross my arms over my chest and glower at him. Bastian sighs heavily and rakes his fingersthrough his gelled hair, mussing it up, before striding over to the computer desk chair. It creaks with his weight as he slowly turns it to face me.

Shame.

It’s not an expression I’m used to seeing on his face. In fact, I hardly recognize him right now. I need to know everything.

“Tell me about Megan,” I state, voice curt. “Be straight with me, Bas.”

His shoulders hunch and his eyes fall to the floor between us. “Just someone I met.”

I bark out a harsh laugh. “Not going to cut it.”

“Romy…”

“I said be straight with me. Cut the crap. Tell me how you got with Megan of all people.”

He fidgets with his Rolex, turning it around and around his wrist a few times before answering. “All the women I date are…” He huffs. “They’re money hungry, vapid, and quite frankly, obnoxious.”

“You wanted a robot you could train instead? Pure wife material right there,” I bite out, back stiffening.

“That’s not fair,” he rumbles. “She’s not a robot.”

My body vibrates with anger. “She’s not the girl I knew from school. Why her?”

“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s not like that.”

I stare at my brother, truly seeing him for the first time. I’m a dumb, innocent girl who has no business worrying about the dark parts of the world that only men like him, Dad, and the Crownes are privy to. But I’m not that girl. I was born into this world and dragged deeper into it when Theo took me.

“I know what CUP is,” I tell him coolly. “I know that they ‘transform’ people. We both know it’s not as it seems. Hell, I lived their poor attempts to brainwash me.”

A flash of fury crosses over his features. “What? Explain.”

I want to roll my eyes at his sudden chivalrous desire to defend his baby sister. If I told him I was kidnapped and taken against my will, there’s no telling what Bastian would do. I’m not looking for war to happen in the family dining room.

“I’ve been around their manipulation techniques. I know what they do,” I say to him. “I know Megan went missing from school. That’s how I met the Crownes.” His eyes narrow, reading through the lines, but I continue on. “Then imagine my surprise when Caius connects me with Megan, and I learn she’s atyourhouse. That she’syourgirlfriend now. You didn’t have time to actually fall in love with her.”

Bastian glowers at me, the gentle big brother aura completely gone. He reminds me of Dad in this moment. “The same could be said with you,” he bites out. “One second you’re in school, totally focused on your studies and newfound freedom from Dad, and then you’re in a serious relationship with one of the Crownes. Fishy as fuck.”

“Maybe if we get to the bottom of why you came to have Megan as your ‘girlfriend,’ you’ll understand more about Caius’s and my relationship.”

His features darken and I know I’ve hit him where it hurts. I arch a brow, waiting for his explanation. Finally, he relents with a sigh of resignation.

“After my breakup with yet another spoiled brat, I wanted someone different. Way different. I’ve known about CUP—hell, everyone who’s anyone does—and I reached out to Orion. I knew he was connected with Dad, which meant it was legit, and they’d be discreet. Orion worked with me to find out what I was looking for.”

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