Page 49 of Royal
Royal blows out a breath, then pins his gaze on me. “Did you see anything else interesting while you were there?”
“I mean, not really. I couldn’t get close enough to read lips or whatever without the security light out back turning on. But it looked like she and the woman—who you’re telling me is her sister—were talking. The minute she walked in, her sister started buzzing around the kitchen, making her a sandwich, while she helped pick up some toys that were on the floor. I texted you, then left. That’s it.” Honestly, I wish there had been more, but it seemed like normal behavior to me. College students leave campus to see friends or family all the time. The only difference here was that I’d obviously scared the fucking shit out of her to the point where she didn’t want to stay in her room tonight.
He stares me down a few seconds before he nods. “Yeah. Okay.” Then almost as if he’s talking to himself, he mumbles, “I should have known when I saw her sister that Echo might eventually retreat there.”
Wilder and I exchange a look, and Wilder grits out, “Wait. What are you talking about?”
I frown. “Yeah. What do you mean you saw her sister? Like at their house?” I press my lips together, squinting at him in question. “When the fuck were you there?”
There’s a chance if Royal thinks much harder about whatever is in his head that his brain might overload, melt, and leak out his ears. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an all-out war happening in there.
He takes a few deep breaths, his eyes finally finding first mine, then Wilder’s. “I used to live next door to her. Trust me, it was a pretty fucking big surprise to realize the Madden family was back.”
“Wait. You lived next door to Echo?” Wilder is on full alert, and I’m feeling the same, like I’ve missed part of the story.
“Yeah. My, um… the foster family I moved in with when I was around ten live in the house next to hers.”
A startled laugh bursts from my lips, and I quickly cover my mouth with a hand. “Sorry. This isn’t the time for that. But it suddenly feels like I don’t know you at all.” I didn’t have a fucking clue he was a foster kid. My brow furrows. “What were you doing at the home of this foster family? Are you still friendly? I have so many fucking questions.”
“No, we definitely don’t have any communication. And I can’t talk about why I was there, so don’t fucking ask again.”
Wilder and I exchange another look. We both know what that probably means. Whatever reason he was there was at the demand of the Sin Keeper.
TWENTY-THREE
ROYAL
Jealousy burns through me.I can manufacture all sorts of reasons why I need to see Echo, but it all comes down to one thing. That’smygirl. And the idea that I’m allowing Beckham and Wilder to get close to her makes every cell in my body scream in anguish. I need to fucking see her.Now.Want my hands on her, fuck the consequences.
Earlier this morning, I’d figured out which classes she has on Wednesdays so that I could find her, but it’d been in vain. I never saw her. Unless she somehow sawmefirst and slipped past me by using alternate entrances. Why the hell would she miss class, though? Knowing she probably spent the night with her family, I assumed her sister, a teacher—who I found on LinkedIn—would drive her to campus this morning or maybe one of her parents, but that sure doesn’t seem to be the case.
And why is Echo’s entire family back in their old home? Did they feel they had to be nearby while she and Davis attend KU? Obviously, now that I know her mother was in TZE during her days at KU, it makes sense that she’d come here. Might have even gotten a scholarship from the sorority. Who the fuck knows. But Davis transferred here, too. Why the fuck did he feel the need to transfer for his senior year? I don’t get it.
I want to know what the hell is going on, but my brain is also spinning with a new problem. Someone sent me a nasty text from an unknown number this morning. Could have been motherfucking Davis, I suppose. It doesn’t seem like something Echo would do, but I could be wrong. My teeth grind and grind as I read the message for the millionth time today.
Whoever let you out should have kept you on a leash.
I hadn’t bothered to answer. I’m not one for this sort of bullshit. If they can’t attach a name to their venom, then fuck them. It means nothing to me.
Frustrated as hell by the time I finish my last class of the day, I head home. I’m in a piss-poor mood, and there will be no pulling out of it until I’ve found Echo, which I realize is in direct opposition to what I say every goddamn time I talk to the guys. I need them to handle her for me, but I don’t want them near her. It’s fucked-up, but I can’t seem to help myself. And the fact she’s making it difficult for me to find her is making my head a tangled mess. There are a few more places to look, but I find myself more and more agitated as my search continues on, and that will make things worse for her.
I hit the pathway that runs along Greek Row, but instead of walking up our driveway, I skip it and charge right up to TZE. If there’s one thing I fucking hate, it’s when other people know my business, but I have no other choice but to ask if she’s here. Standing in front of the door, I breathe out unsteadily, threading my fingers through my hair. I grumble for the thousandth time today at how disturbed I am not knowing where the fuck she is. Is she aware I’m looking for her? Is she hiding from me?Fuck it.I pound on the door with the side of my fist.
A few minutes later, a girl opens the door. Her eyes widen at the sight of me, but whether it’s because I’m one of SIN’s resident bad boys or because I made my hair stand on end by tugging on it, I have no idea. I stare at her. I’ll be perfectly honest, I haven’t paid a whole lot of attention to these girls. I thought they were the typical sorority girl flakes. Now that I know they’ve probably seen more of Echo in the last week than I have in the last several years, it seems like maybe I should have been paying better attention.
The pretty brunette in glasses stares right back at me curiously. “Can I help you? You’re Royal, right?”
I nod. “And you’re…?” I give her a faint smile as I rub my palm over the stubble coming in on my jaw.
“Cassie. I’m TZE’s president.”
“Sorry, this is only my second year. And I—” I frown. “Not even going to sugarcoat it. I couldn’t have given a shit about anyone last year.”
Her eyes bug out a bit at my admission, but she hides her surprise quickly. “Okay, well, what can I help you with?”
I grimace, hating that I have to ask at all. Or that I even want to know. “I was actually wondering if Echo is here.”
Quite a few girls have gathered behind Cassie. I groan internally at their antics as they giggle and whisper behind their hands. She frowns, pushing up her glasses on the bridge of her nose. “I don’t remember seeing her at all this morning, sorry.”
