Page 124 of Wicked Games (Fallen Royals 2)

“No, figured I’d wait.”

I sigh and cross the hallway. My parents’ bedroom door is still closed, and I’m not sure I even want to look. The last time I saw it, it was a wreck. But Caleb didn’t give me a chance to really… explore. That, and I was on the verge of a panic attack last time.

Now, I’m much steadier.

“Ready?” I ask Riley.

She takes my hand. “Yep.”

I push open the door, immediately sucking in a breath.

It’s untouched.

Like a tornado went through their things, there’s clothes everywhere. Broken glass from picture frames and a shattered lamp. The dresser is broken, leaning to one side.

A hole in the wall.

“What happened here?”

I pick my way through the room and squat next to the fallen frames. I carefully brush away the glass, sliding the photo out. I was maybe four years old in it, running on the beach. Mom is behind me, blurred out, but I can tell her arms are outstretched.

—Hands reaching for me, shaking my shoulders—

No.

My hands tremble on the photo. White spots flash in front of my eyes.

“Margo—”

The darkness creeps from the corners of my vision. I manage to scoot away from the glass, grabbing the edge of the bed. “I’m gonna pass out.”

It swoops in, and down I go.

30

Margo

Past

Dad rushed into the room, his gaze flying around until it landed on me in the corner of the room. “Oh, Margo,” he said. He was sad.

I was sad.

Tears streaked down my face. My fingers hurt. My chest hurt. My head ached.

“You’re okay.” He scooped me up and sat on my bed, cradling me to his chest. “Let me see.”

I sucked in a shaky breath, on the verge of tears again. My fingernails were torn, bloody. Every single one.

“We’re going to clean you up and go to the park, okay?”

I nodded, closing my eyes. He left me on the bed and returned a moment later with a warm, damp cloth. He gently cleaned off each finger, then straightened my shirt.

“Come on, Margo. Time to be strong.”

He took my hand, and we walked out the house. Straight down the driveway and into his car, which was the only one there. He buckled me into the seat, and then we were off.

“Where’s Mom?” I asked.

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