Page 38 of The Royal Flame
I think I can.
“How do we get blackmail material on him, though?” I ask. “You know he keeps all of his secrets locked up tightly.”
“Oh, I have a few starting points,” he assures me, setting the bottle of juice down onto the table. “I worked for him. You didn’t. And trust me when I say a lot of his secrets are tangled up in his business.”
“So how do we get those secrets.”
“Leave that to me for now. I’ll check in with you later.” He collects his bag and starts for his room. “Go try to find Maddy and then make sure she doesn’t get expelled. You won’t be able to think clearly until you do.”
That ache in my chest throbs again. “She doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“I wouldn’t either with what you did to her.”
“I’m trying to protect her.”
He walks backwards. “By taking her choice away.” He adjusts the handle of the bag onto her shoulder. “Go find her, fill her in on what’s going on, apologize, and then the two of you just lay low with your relationship for a while.” He spins around and leaves the room, leaving his words echoing in my head.
Will Maddy be safe if I do that?
Will she even want me again?
Sadly, I’m not so sure. But I have to try.
11
CHAPTER
MADDISON
I’ve been on the bus for a few hours, riding around the city in loops. It’s starting to get old, but I’m unsure where to go once I get off at a stop. I want to find Ellie, but these people River was going to have us talk to today are Royal women. I have no idea how to find them and I’m not certain they’d even talk to me if I did.
I stare out the window, wondering if Grey’s bodyguard is following me. Did he figure out what bus I’m? Was he able to track me down?
I can’t see the back the bus to check if anyone might be tailing back there. I’m twitchy and nervous and so damn hungry, so yeah, basically like I used to be all the time. I have about two dollars stuffed in my pocket, which will probably get me nothing inn Royal City. I need to go to north side, I think, which is something I never thought I’d voluntarily do. But I need food. And maybe, just maybe, I can get some answers to what happened to Ellie.
Will had yelled something that indicating he might know. It’s a risk to go searching for answers when Will could come after me, but I might be able to negotiate with him. I need collateral, though.
I rack my mind for an answer, and I finally come up with one that’s vague at best, but it’s a start.
I stand up as the bus slows down for the next stop. I hope off, the scent of impending rain lingering in the air along with steak that has to be wafting from one of the many upscale restaurants lining the street.
I glance left and right at the crowd of people walking around on the sidewalks, searching for a sign that the bodyguard is nearby. When I can’t spot it, a mixture of relief and concern washes over me. On the one hand, if he were following me, he might try to stop me from going to north side. But on the other hand, if he was following me, I’d be safer.
I check my pocket to make sure I have my taser on me then I start in the direction that will lead me to the main bus station so I can figure out what bus I need to get on. By the time I arrive, it’s started to rain and the temperature has drastically dipped. I’m shiver and my clothes are damp as I hurry inside the bus station building. Quite are few people are seated in the waiting area and chatter is flowing through the air. After I check the marquee for the right bus, I take a seat since the bus doesn’t leave for another half an hour.
Then I retrieve my phone from my pocket. I’m going to have to power it on if I want to call Will, which I need to. But I worry either River or Grey will be able to track me. It’s a risk I decide to take, though.
When the phone turns on, it buzzes serval times with missed messages and calls, some from River and some from Grey. I also have one from Lila. That one I feel bad for ignoring—she’s never done anything to me.
Since I don’t have Will’s number, I call Avery, a girl he used to date and who I was kind of friends with in high school.
Her voice is laced with confusion as she answers my call, “Maddy?”
“Yeah, hey.” I chew on my bottom lip. “How’s it going?”
“Good. I haven’t talk to you in a while. I heard you went Royal.”
“Nah, I just got a scholarship there. Although I might be losing that soon.”
