Page 4 of The Royal Flame
“Mom.” He glances at me. “Maybe she just didn’t want to deal with Dad anymore and knew the only way to escape was to take off.”
I waver, scratching at my arm. “That seems like a stretch. Besides, her and Dad are divorced, so why would she go to that extreme? They don’t even really talk to each other anymore.”
He hasn’t started up the engine and is staring at the parking lot covered with darkness and trails of lamplight. He thrums his fingers on top of the steering wheel. “Are you sure about that?”
I pull my brows together. “Do you know something?”
He hesitates and then looks at me. “I overheard Mom and Dad a few weeks ago arguing in the library of Dad’s main house. I was staying there for the night because I went to a race that was nearby, but neither of them knew I was there. I woke up to them shouting. But I couldn’t tell what they were yelling about.”
“Did you tell the detective that?” I wouldn’t know since we were questioned separately.
He nods, raking his fingers through his hair. “I did. I’m worried, though, that Dad’s too powerful for them to look into.”
“That’s a possibility,” I agree in a quiet tone.
“We might have to look into it on our own.” He pushes the ignition button, and the engine rumbles. “Have you heard anything else from Maddy?”
With my lips pressed together, I shake my head. I haven’t heard from her since she called me earlier. “She said she’d be in touch, but I’ll try to call her.” I dial her number, but she doesn’t answer.
So, I send her a text.
Me: Everything okay?
I don’t expect her to respond so I startle when she replies within seconds.
Maddy: Yeah, I’m actually about to leave. I’m not sure where to go, though….
Me: Meet us at the condo. We’re headed there now.
Maddy: Okay, I’ll see you there.
“She’s headed to the condo,” I inform Finn as I lift my hips and slide my phone into my pocket. “I told her we’d meet her there.”
He shifts gears and drives forward. “Did she give you any more information about what happened?”
I shake my head, my mind rewinding through tonight’s events, particularly about what my mom messaged me right before she disappeared. I mentioned the message to the detective but didn’t give details on who Maddy is, at least facts about her real identity. I didn't see the purpose of that, for now, anyway.
“I need to tell you something… About some messages, mom sent me right before she vanished.” I spent the next few minutes giving him a recap of what happened.
By the time I’m done, we’re halfway to the condo. Finn has fallen silent, but when I finish, he shakes his head and says, “What the hell is going on? And how the hell does mom expect you just to abandon Maddy? You wouldn’t do that because if you stop dating her, the society can go after her again.” When I make no effort to respond, he glances at me while flipping on the blinker and slowing down the car. “Right?”
I rub my hand across my forehead and then sigh. “I feel like I can't date her anymore… Although the idea of ending our fake relationship makes my chest feel stupidly tight. How messed up is that? My first real broken heart is from a fake relationship. I’m pathetic.”
“You’re not pathetic. And you’re not going to stop dating Maddy.” He turns onto a road where the lights from the buildings are dimmer and less frequent. “We’ll have to figure something out.”
“I think I already did.” I open and flex my hands, that pressure in my chest building. “You’re going to have to do it.”
He flicks a confused glance at me. “Do what?”
“Date her.” It’s agonizing to utter those two words.
He taps on the brake for no damn reason, causing the car to jolt. “What? Stop being weird.” He presses on the gas again.
“I’m not being weird. I’m being realistic.” I slump back in the seat. “With what mom said—and right before she went missing—we have to take this seriously.”
The muscle in his jaw spasms as he shakes his head and grips the wheel. “This is so messed up. Mom goes missing… Maddy gets taken… And now she might be in danger.” He blows out a breath. “What’re we going to tell Lily about mom?”
Another pressurized breath presses against my chest. “As much as I wish we could keep her in the dark, it’ll be all over the news, so we’ll have to tell her the truth.
