Page 75 of Royal Bargain
She snuggles into my chest, her breath soft and even, her fingers curling lightly against my ribs. It doesn’t take long for her to drift off, her body worn out, her heart cracked open and vulnerable in my arms.
I wish I could follow her into sleep.
But my mind won’t stop spinning.
The room is quiet, dimly lit by the soft glow of the city beyond the window. Everything should feel peaceful. And yet, I lie there wide awake, eyes fixed on the ceiling, thoughts buzzing like a live wire in my head.
Can we really make this work?
I want to believe it. God, I need to believe it. The way she looked at me tonight, the way she let me have every piece of her—how could I not think we have a chance?
But then that cold little voice creeps in, the one that’s always been there, whispering the truths I try to ignore.
To keep her safe… I’m going to have to destroy her family.
Not just fight them. Not just stand my ground. Destroy them.
And even if she understands why I had to do it—even if—she may never forgive me.
I stare down at her sleeping face, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek with the backs of my fingers. She sighs in her sleep and burrows closer, like she knows I’m slipping into my head and she wants to pull me back.
I hold her tighter.
But I can’t shake the feeling that I’m holding onto something that’s already starting to slip through my fingers.
25
ANNIKA
Iwake to the soft rhythm of Liam’s breathing against the back of my neck, his arm slung low across my waist, anchoring me in place. The sheets are twisted around our legs, our bodies tangled like we didn’t want to let go even in sleep. For a blissful second, I let myself enjoy it. The quiet. The warmth. The safety.
Then I remember.
Sasha’s message hits me like cold water.“You should be asking why Burns needed to be shot, not who shot him.”
My eyes snap open.
The words echo in my mind, louder than Liam’s heartbeat against my back. I shift slightly, careful not to wake him, and stare at the ceiling. My heart starts to race even as the rest of me lies still, trapped under the weight of his arm and the weight of what her words could mean.
Why would Burns need to be shot?
I close my eyes again, but the peace I felt a minute ago is gone. Every possibility spirals through my mind—political gain, manipulation, a distraction from something bigger. Was it orchestrated? Faked? Or… did someone want to silence him?
I stay curled in Liam’s arms long after I wake, staring at the ceiling and letting Sasha’s words gnaw at me. I can’t talk to Liam about this—not yet. He’s too wound up, too emotionally raw. The way he looked after the shooting, like he was ready to burn the whole city down to protect me… I know what this kind of suspicion could do to him.
And Aleksey? No. Not right now. I don’t even know where we stand. He’s too close to everything—and everyone—I’m trying to keep my distance from.
There’s only one person who might have answers, one person who’s been three steps ahead of all of us from the start.
Miranda.
She was the first one who helped me slip through the cracks of my father’s empire. She’s careful. Smart. Ruthless when she needs to be. If anyone would understand the why behind a political hit, it’s her.
I wait until Liam stirs behind me, mumbling something against my shoulder. I twist just enough to press a kiss to his temple.
“Hey,” I whisper. “I need a favor.”
He blinks himself halfway awake, rubbing at his eyes. “Mmm? What kind of favor?”
