Page 14 of The Broken Queen
“I mean. We went to his home, and nothing was there. No sign of struggle or forced entry. No blood. Nothing except some pictures...”
I watched carefully as my father’s eyes tapered and his mouth twitched. Did he know about the stalking or the pictures? Why wasn’t he letting us get close to this?
“Markos Mariano was a twisted and very dangerous man. I told you he’s dead, please trust me on this.”
Seeing that my father wasn’t going to budge only infuriated me more.
“Why won’t you help us? If we can find Markos, then we can try and extract information regarding Adrian. We can help protect Presley.”
My father suddenly stood and leaned over the desk. “You need to decide which side you’re on, Son. One second you’re against her, the next you’re with her. She doesn’t need any more allies. She needs space. We can give that to her by leaving.”
“I love her, Dad. I’m in love with her. Help me protect her!” I screamed as all the built-up rage came tumbling out.
My father’s face didn’t shift, or change even the slightest bit, until he scoffed and his head shook.
“And you’re just going to share this love you have for one woman with your twin?”
“Kingston said he’s over her.” The lump in my throat was difficult to swallow past, especially as laughter spilled out of my father.
“You believe that, do you?”
He rounded the desk once more and stood in front of me. “Do you know that Kingston used to sleep outside of Presley’s window? He’d forget that he’d done it because he’d wander up on the roof to make sure she got to sleep okay, but I would go up there and bring him back to his bed. But he’d just run back up there firstthing in the morning to check on her, regardless of the weather or the temperature. He used to throw away his homework if he discovered that she was still doing hers, just so he had the excuse to sit and do his homework next to her. He used to name his plants in the garden, and each one of them was Presley. Your brother has loved Presley long before he even understood it was love.”
That gutting feeling returned. Being hollowed out, forgotten. My mouth didn’t seem to work as the sentiment from Scotty and now my father slammed into me. I wasn’t sure if my dad noticed or not, but his words were more effective than blades in cutting me down to the bone.
I took a step back and then another, slowly gathering my resolve.
“Where is Markos?”
My father’s features only changed marginally, but he still didn’t relent. “I’ve been doing this longer than you, Gio. Markos is a dead end. Drop it and move on.”
I wouldn’t be doing either, but for the sake of my sanity, I did leave his office and slammed his door in the process.
Chapter 6
Presley
Adrian’s smile couldn’t be brighter as we swayed around the dance floor.
It felt like he was branding himself on the entire room, and not a single soul refused it. He was happy, charismatic, and joyful. I felt myself trying to keep up with him, continuously grinning as I greeted new people and shook hands. I wore a beautiful green dress that swept over the floor with graceful wisps and swooped down to my navel, revealing more skin than I was used to. My hair was down in silky waves against my back, and I wore makeup that hopefully aged me a bit beyond just my eighteen and a half years.
The reminder of time passing had me thinking of the twins’ birthday that had passed. They were twenty now. I hated the curiosity that had curled along the edges of my mind, wondering if they’d celebrated or if they’d thought of me while they did. Two years in a row without me…perhaps this was just the new normal for them.
“To the future Mrs. Adesso!” someone yelled across the room, and everyone around me cheered while lifting their glasses in the air.
A strange, choked feeling stuck itself in my throat like honey.
Too sweet. Too sticky. Too much.
Adrian gently squeezed my hand, and I held onto him as I lifted my arm in celebration, silently agreeing with the sentiments shared around the room. We were celebrating our engagement with some of Adrian’s closest friends and employees. There were a few familiar faces, but most of the people around the room were strangers to me.
“Do you want to at least FaceTime your parents?” Adrian offered by speaking closely. His lips slid along the shell of my ear, and it made the fine hairs along my arm stand up. I tried to relax into his embrace and fight the strange gut feeling I had that the twins had been right. I didn’t want them to be right, not when they’d stood so firmly on their reasons to eviscerate my heart and piss on everything we’d been to each other.
Searching for my phone, I tugged it free and did exactly as he suggested. I had given him a lie that they’d been tangled in something that prevented them from flying here to Italy. He was under the impression that I’d have a separate party back home at some point. The truth was, I didn’t want my father here, just in case there were enemies lurking everywhere, and I just didn’t realize it, but FaceTiming would give me the opportunity to have him see who was here and ID a few people.
“That’s a great idea, darling.” I leaned over and kissed Adrian on the mouth briefly before pulling away and standing up. I called Scotty, knowing he’d ensure my father and mother were carefully protected as I walked around the room, recording.
It rang twice before Scotty’s face appeared, and seeing him in the mansion made me immediately homesick. He wasn’t in our family wing, but in the shared space near the foyer that held our joint dinner table, and the various spaces to sit, leading out to the terrace.
