Page 33 of The Broken Queen
“Adrian.” I sighed, wiping under my eyes. “I’m going home.”
His hands came to my face, gently but securely. His eyes were wide and frenzied as he asked, “Why? I know you care for me; you even almost love me. Why can’t we work this out?”
My chest was tight, my instincts about to kick in to physically hurt him, although I didn’t want to. Even after everything, I couldn’t bring myself to harm him. Instead, I pushed against his chest and explained very simply.
“Because my father didn’t kill yours. You blamed the wrong man and punished me for it.”
His eyes narrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”
I eyed the balcony as an escape route. “The twins tried to warn us about you and your brothers. They mentioned the name Lucian Adesso in front of my father and my uncle. Neither of them would have allowed me to enter into this alliance if they knew that your father was someone mine had killed years ago. They would have known, even with you erasing your ties, the name Adesso. I’m telling you, it wasn’t my father.”
Adrian stepped away this time, creating distance between us. Then, with a scoff, he shook his head. “You’re wrong.”
“I’m not. But it doesn’t matter. I want out of here, Adrian. If you have feelings for me the way you say you do, then get me home.”
“Presley.” Adrian ran his hand through his hair.
I walked over to the table that Adrian and I had shared a thousand breakfasts. Moments of intimacy where he’d bring me to orgasm. Moments that made me wonder if perhaps I could be happy with him and fall in love with him. For a moment, I glared down atthe oak surface and resented how it hadn’t changed while everything else seemingly had.
I didn’t want to hurt him, but if he?—
“Of course I’ll get you home, it’s what I promised you. Regardless of what happened or why, I do love you, Presley. I fear I’d do just about anything for you, including defy Markos.”
My heart squeezed with relief and softened the smallest amount. We stared at one another until Adrian pulled his cell out and began dialing.
“I’ll find a way to fix this and then, I promise you, I will find a way to win you back.”
Chapter 12
Gio
Kingston didn’t know I had started sneaking up here at night.
Honestly, I didn’t know if he’d even care that I was…he said this was supposed to be for me and Elvis, once she returned. I went along with my brother’s bullshit ideas and justifications for pouring all his time and energy into this house, but I didn’t buy it.
I didn’t think he’d be able to walk away from Presley or this house once she came back. It was just a matter of time before all this blew up again, and if Adrian was still in the picture, then we didn’t stand a chance. She’s already chosen him. If she somehow came home with our sister, and decided to stay, then I’d let her have this house without the expectation of staying in it with her. Presley deserved to be free of us once and for all, and while Kingston was trying to be noble, it was a wasted effort.
I toyed with the teal hair tie that was still around my wrist and looked out the window, seeing little to no stars. There were too many clouds that had begun moving in; we were supposed to get more rain, and based off what I overheard, it was going to mess all ofKingston’s shit up because he had painters coming to finalize the outside color.
I didn’t personally think that Presley would give a flying fuck that Kingston had fixed up the house for her. The second she arrived home, she’d still be pissed at us. It would take a lot of coaxing and convincing to bring her out of her rage bubble. She was hurt, and the only way to undo that would be with slow and measured actions, like with a wounded animal. You couldn’t show up with a house for said creature and expect they’d accept the shelter.
My phone vibrated on the window seat next to me with a text. I picked it up and saw a text from Presley. Which meant she’d unblocked me. Hope filled my lungs like fresh oxygen at what this could mean, and what I’d say to her, but then I began reading.
Presley: You’re a son of a bitch for saying that.
What was she talking about? I held my phone as my brows caved in, curious and confused, until another text came in.
Kingston: For speaking the truth? You’re upset that you didn’t listen to me and then got fucked over? If that makes me a son of a bitch, then fine.
Presley: We used to be friends. Do you even remember that?
She’d managed to unblock both of us, but had somehow selected an old group chat thread to text Kingston in.Did she even mean to unblock me?
Kingston: We used to be so much fucking more than that and you know it.
It was starting to become more obvious they hadn’t meant to add me into this conversation but I didn’t stop reading, even if they weren’t including me, or had been talking privately, I just kept reading.
Presley: Yes, and you decided that didn’t matter either.
