Page 66 of The Broken Queen
That would make sense as I had never been harmed physically in any way. Renzo and Benni had never harmed me, and even through everything, Markos hadn’t either.
“If that’s true, then what was his end game… Adrian said the plan was to kill off my family and then either keep me for himself or sell me off. There’s no way Scotty would have been okay with that.”
“That’s true, but the fact that he hasn’t told me any of this makes it clear cut for me,” Dad said calmly while glancing at Mom. “He’s a threat and after what he did to you…our ties with him are officially severed.”
A shard of ice seemed to seep in through my chest cavity as I sat there and processed those words. I knew my mother would kill Scotty on sight, no questions asked, but my dad loved Scotty. He was the only father he ever knew; he had trained him and shaped him. He always seemed to have some reason behind what he was doing. Even now, I could sense all the various ways Scotty could be twisting this alliance to fit his own agenda.
I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but he’d gone too far. My life was not a poker chip to be gambled. My heart was not merely an organ to be pushed in training. Scotty had risked my life and had effectively ended Adrian’s.
With the somber feeling in the room, I added to it, “If he shows up, we can’t trust the guards or the locks… Scotty was the one who set everything up.”
My dad was mid bite when he glanced over at my mother. A small smile tilted her mouth up while she moved her food around her plate.
“Kingston ordered for all the locks to be replaced, and all of Scotty’s men were…taken care of.”
That had me curious, but it also had some place inside swelling with pride.
I needed to talk to him and update them on what Dad had shared with me. If it were possible for Scotty to be working with Markos, then perhaps that’s where he was currently hiding.
The cows were stillin the field when I walked past at sunset, but I remained firm in my resolve not to pet them. Gio was going to have to work harder than just playing the doting brother and pushing all my favorite things in front of me.
I had no idea if Kingston was in the barn or if either of them were in the house, which was my fault for never asking, but I knew they’d come around if I simply asked them to. Well, Gio would…which left me with that stinging rejection invading my chest again. Climbing the steps, I punched in the code the twins had set up for the front door.
As soon as the door locked shut behind me, I nearly sighed in relief. The house was clean, quiet, and peaceful. Warm light filtered in from the open windows, and soft music played from a speaker in the kitchen. Secretly, I loved this place and felt like it was the one place on earth that was designed just for me. For my soul to find rest, and my weary heart to finally heal.
Food had been made from the delicious smell, but from the empty counters, it had been cleaned up.
“Hey.” Kingston suddenly appeared in the kitchen with a white rag in his hand. His hair was wet, his shirt was gone, and his jeans hung low on his hips. He looked relaxed and at home. Greedy claws emerged from my heart, desperate to cling to the image and hoard it for later.
“Hey.” I set my phone down and slid off my shoes. “Where’s Gio?”
Kingston’s expression shifted the smallest bit. It was fast, but I caught the hint of anger that slashed across his features.
“He’s with Henry and El Peligro tonight. They’re going over a few things regarding safety protocols around the property.”
That was nice of him to engage in trying to keep the property safe. Although, that was also to keep his family safe.
I wanted to tell him about what I’d just learned at dinner, andhow Scotty might be double crossing us. I wanted to tell him that my dad had officially cut ties with my uncle, and I wanted to process that with my best friends, and yet I couldn’t figure out how to push the words out. I was still so hurt, and while Gio had apologized and I could see myself talking to him, Kingston still hadn’t.
I must have been staring off into space because Kingston let out a scoff.
“You could pretend to care that he’s not here.”
My brows drew in as I tried to make sense of what he meant. “I do care that he’s not here…why would you even suggest that I don’t? I’m still pissed, but I thought I had made it pretty clear that I care very much that you’re both here.”
Kingston’s thunderous expression pinned me in place. “Oh yes. Sorry, you’re right…we’re your disposable cocks to be pulled out and used when you see fit, then tossed away the moment one of us gets sentimental.”
Oh, thisasshole. Pointing at my chest, I argued vehemently, “Sort of like that moment you took my virginity, then rubbed it in my face that you’d only done it to defy Adrian. You used me first.”
“Would it even make a difference to you if I apologized because based how you’re treating us…how you’re treating Gio, it wouldn’t make a fucking difference.”
Memories of that night painfully flashed through my mind. “I wouldn’t know, Kingston. The only person who has tried is Gio. He’s the only one who has tried to get sentimental or apologize or do anything.”
“That’s fucking rich, Presley.” Kingston tipped his head back and laughed, then turned for the stairs and began climbing.
“It’s true!” I yelled at his back as I began to follow him. “Gio has been sweet and kind and cares.”
“You want sentimental?” He suddenly spun on me and reached for my hand. Yanking me forward, I practically tripped as I followed him to my bedroom, where he dropped down to the floor.
