Page 49 of Wicked Games (Fallen Royals 2)

Liar. He doesn’t say it, but his face sure does.

“You’re not going to tell me?”

We get to my car. His is in the shop—it’s always in the shop—so Theo and I have been taking turns getting him. If he didn’t live in the middle of nowhere, it would be a different story.

“I found something,” I tell him once we’re on the road. “A note.”

“A note,” Liam repeats.

“Yeah. Just shut up and fucking listen, would you?” When he doesn’t reply, I continue, “After Margo went missing, I broke into her room. I was going to take a picture of the family… I told them that Margo’s mom was responsible for giving their daughter drugs.”

“Isn’t that what happened?”

I narrow my eyes. “No.”

Liam huffs. “And I suppose you know the truth, huh?”

“Amberly hasn’t left town,” I mutter. “I was going to take the picture and go ask her…”

“Fuck, man. That’s a terrible idea.”

“I threatened her to leave, but she hasn’t. So she’s here for something.” I hate not knowing.

“Margo?” Liam asks.

“She might try to reach out,” I allow. “But after what Margo did… I don’t think that’s the reason.”

“And you don’t know?”

I grind my teeth. “She’s not at the same motel. I can’t find her.”

She called me and said my mother knew where she was. I could’ve moved her. Helped. But I didn’t, and now she’s gone. My leverage has vanished.

Liam’s driveway is long and winding. We finally get to his house on a hill, and I kill the engine.

“You’ll find her,” he says.

“Not without asking.” And I’m definitely not asking anyone who’ll know.

He climbs out of the car. “Wanna chill?”

I shrug and get out, following him into the house. It’s old, the front door squeaking on loud hinges upon opening and closing. Liam’s family used to be made of money like the rest of us, but that changed a few years ago. He managed to stay at Emery-Rose by applying for scholarship, and he’s one of the few students who received it.

It’s hush-hush, though.

“That you, Liam?”

“Yeah, Mom,” he calls. We kick off our shoes. “Caleb brought me home.”

His mom rounds a corner and grins. She has flour on her cheek. “I was just making bread. Are you staying for dinner, Caleb?”

With Eli’s family out of town, I’ve been on my own. It hasn’t been half bad, actually. But someone offering to cook for me…

“I’d love to,” I say.

She smiles. “Wonderful. Jacob will be home soon.”

Jacob is Liam’s younger brother. He goes to the public school.

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