Page 48 of Royal Beast
She squeezes my hand one last time, her voice gentle but firm. “Anything for you, Darcy. We’ll get through this. You’re not alone.”
As she leans back, I feel a weight lift just a little, her support reminding me that even in this mess, I still have people who care.
Miranda’s smile fades as my phone buzzes on the table. I glance down and see the nanny’s name on the screen, a pang of worry striking through me.
“Hello?”
There’s a pause on the other end before the nanny speaks, her voice quavering. “Darcy… we’re at the hospital with Rose. She had a bit of an accident.”
My heart clenches, and I sit up straighter. “The hospital? What happened? Is she?—”
“They’re taking good care of her,” she says quickly, but I can hear the tension in her voice. “I thought it was best to call you right away.”
My grip tightens on the phone as I force myself to stay calm. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
As I hang up, Miranda looks at me with concern. “Darcy, what’s wrong?”
“It’s Rose,” I say, my voice catching. “There was an accident, and she’s at the hospital.”
Miranda reaches for my hand, but I’m already standing, my mind racing. All I can think of is getting to Rose, hoping—praying—that she’s alright.
24
KELLAN
The shower steams up around me as I stand under the water, trying to wash away the exhaustion that’s been clinging to me for weeks. I run a hand through my hair, the weight of everything pressing down. My mind keeps drifting back to Darcy and Rose.
I didn’t expect to care this much, especially not about someone else’s kid. But Rose, she’s smart, sharp, and full of fire, a tiny force of nature who knows how to keep up with every conversation. I didn’t expect to feel like this about her, like she’s not just some kid I’ve been forced to tolerate for the sake of appearances. I genuinely miss her. I miss the way she’d talk to me like she was trying to figure me out—like I was a puzzle she was determined to solve.
And Darcy… well, shit. I didn’t expect to miss her, either. But I do. The way she looks when she smiles, when she laughs, the way she gets that spark in her eyes when she’s fired up about something. She’s tough as hell, but there’s this softness underneath that I can’t stop thinking about. It eats at me, knowing that I’ve distanced myself from them both, that I’ve built this wall between us.
I tell myself it’s for the best. If I keep them at arm's length, they’ll be safer. I don’t want them involved in my world, especially not now when everything’s in turmoil. The fewer people who get caught in the crossfire, the better. But damn, it still hurts.
I finish rinsing off and step out of the shower, staring at my reflection. The man I see in the mirror looks nothing like the one I’ve been pretending to be. I’m not the cold, detached guy I’ve been telling myself to be. Not really.
I get dressed in silence, the weight of my decision hanging heavily in the air. It doesn’t get any easier. It just feels more like a lie with each passing day.
As I button up my shirt, my phone buzzes on the counter. I glance at the screen—Rory.
I swipe to answer. “What’s up?”
“Got the meeting sorted.” Rory’s voice is low, businesslike. “Anatoly agreed to meet. We’re set for a diner on the outskirts of town. Neutral ground, just like we discussed. No eyes, no ears.”
I exhale, a quiet tension in my chest. Anatoly Volkov is dangerous. Not just in the sense of business competition, but he’s got the kind of power that makes people disappear without a second thought. A meeting with him is a necessary risk.
“You’re sure he’s not going to pull something, right? No funny business?”
Rory chuckles, though there’s a hard edge to it. “Volkov knows how to play the game. He’s not gonna do anything to jeopardize the deal. He’s got his own shit to protect. But we need to be prepared. We don’t go in there all friendly—keep it cool.”
“Always do,” I mutter, pacing the small space of my bedroom. I grab my jacket off the chair. “Anything else I need to know?”
“Just be ready for anything. Anatoly’s a business man, but he’s also got a reputation for being ruthless. We’ll need to play our cards right. Don’t let your guard down.”
“Got it.” I pause for a moment, thinking about the stakes of this meeting. Anatoly Volkov isn’t just a businessman. He’s a threat. And we’re walking into his territory.
“Alright, I’ll meet you there,” I add, already thinking about the next steps. “We’ll talk details then.”
“Good. See you soon.”
