Page 42 of The Royal Flame
“Well, you got me here,” he grumbles as Avery scoots away from him. “What the fuck do you want?” He directs this at Avery.
Avery points at me. “Maddy has a few questions about her aunt Ellie.”
His lips kick up into a smirk. “Guess the other night really got to you, didn’t it?” he asks me.
“Fuck you,” I retort. “Just tell me what you know.”
“Or else I’ll show everyone those videos,” Avery adds, trading a glance with me.
Will’s smirk dissolves. “You know, I could end you both with the snap of my finger.” He snaps his finger.
“But we know you won’t.” Avery carries his gaze, challenging him.
He glares at her, but doesn’t comment, facing me. He studies me for a moment, and I hate it. I hate that I’m getting information from someone like him. We make have clout over him, but that doesn’t alleviate the concern that he still might try to ruin me or Avery.
He rests his arms on the table. “A couple of weeks ago, I was doing a job down at the harbor. It was late so no one was supposed to be around. But as I was waiting for my client to show up, a boat docked.”
“So?” I say. “Boats dock at the dock all the time. That’s what docks are for.”
“No shit, smartass,” he grumbles. “But what made this boat stand out is that it was this huge, expensive yacht. One that had no business being in north side.” He leans back and shoves up the sleeves of his hoodie. “Now, of course I’m curious about itand my mind is spinning with ways I could rob.” He says this so matter of factly. “But then I noticed there were like these bodyguards stationed everywhere so I was like: fuck that. I started to walk toward the parking lot around the front so I could do my deals without risking some rich pricks spotting me and calling the police. And that’s when I saw like five Royal women hurrying toward the dock. They had a few bodyguards with them and they were carrying, so I dipped the hell out of there.” He smiles meanly at me. “But I recognized one of the women as your aunt Ellie. I remember her because she was at one of your birthday parties and she was acting like too nice. I knew it was fake and it was getting on my nerves.”
“She wasn’t faking. She’s a nice person. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you don’t know what nice looks like.” I smile sweetly at him, but my chest feels tight.
She got onto a yacht in north side with other women? And they looked Royal?
It had to be members of the society. Why would they get on a yacht, though?
“How do you know they were bodyguards?” I ask. “What if they weren’t.”
“Nah, the seemed to chatty with each other to be anything else,” he says with a dismissive flick of his wrist. “They could’ve been whoring themselves to Royal men. They were dressed up and everything.”
If I didn’t know about the society, I may have wondered that myself. But this has to be related to the society. Did they go into hiding? Who owned the yacht?
“Was anything written on the yacht?” I ask. “Like a name or something?”
He shrugs. “Maybe. But I was high as hell, so I don’t remember.” He contemplates something then he reaches into his pocket, causing both Avery and I to tense. When he noticesthis, his rolls his eyes. “Chill the fuck out. I’m getting my phone so I can show you the photo I took.”
“You took a photo of the yacht?” Avery asks with a hue of surprise in her voice.
“Of course. It was cool as hell. And I knew no one would believe that I saw it at the north side dock.” He swipes his finger across the screen, taps it a few times, then turns it toward me.
On it is a photo of the night sky, the dark water, and the dock that stretches into it, And beside that is a massive yacht that definitely has to belong to a Royal. The photo is a bit grainy, but maybe Noah can clear it up, since he’s good with computers.
“Can you send that to me?’ I ask Will.
“Sure. But only because I don’t want Avery sending out that video. I want to be clear here,” he says, his gaze fastened on me. “Once I give you this, we’re done, okay? I don’t want to hear from you again.” He glances at Avery. “That goes for you too, sweetheart.”
Avery’s lip twitches, but she manages to grit through her teeth, “Okay.”
He smiles cheekily at her. “See, I knew you knew how to be compliant.”
Avery opens and flexes her hands. I have to give her credit; it’s impressive she doesn’t punch the smile off his face.
I give Will my number and he sends me the photo. Then he stands up, stealing the rest of Avery’s scone and winking at her before sauntering off out of the café.
“God, I really hate him,” Avery mumbles, glaring at her empty plate.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her. “I feel bad for making you have to be around him again.”
