Page 81 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

He pries the paper from my hand and shows it to Eli and Theo.

“That name sounds vaguely familiar,” Eli comments.

“It should.” I take the paper back and stare down at it.

This situation just got a whole lot more fucked up.

“Tobias Hutchins,” I say, staring at the name. “Also known as Keith Wolfe’s public defender. The one my mother bribed to botch his plea deal.”

21

Margo

I pace in my room, practicing flipping open the knife. I jab the air, slice it, twirl around and pretend to stab it into someone’s eye.

I debate practicing on a pillow but quickly dismiss that idea.

My actions slow when the garage door rumbles open. Josh and Norah are in the city for the day, which means Eli and Caleb have returned. The door downstairs slams shut. Voices drift upstairs. More than two.

I flip the knife closed, sliding it into my pocket, and slip into the hall. I was hoping to catch Caleb alone, but now…

Caleb is the first to see me when I walk into the kitchen. They’re raiding the fridge and pantry. Eli is half hidden behind the door, tossing out snacks. His eyes narrow, moving up and down my body.

Oh, right.

I should’ve put something on over my tank top, but I’m too heated. Literally. It’s work keeping the frustration off my face.

He could’ve told me about my mother. Should’ve told me about her. I mean, yes, he had mentioned she was in town, but—

“I need to tell you something,” he says to me.

“It’s a little late,” I snap.

I march up to him, stopping a foot away. Close enough to touch, but I don’t dare reach out. Neither does he.

“Margo—”

“No. We went to the diner Matt took you to, okay? I saw—”

“You what?” Caleb’s face pales.

It’s not often that I catch him by surprise. Almost never, I’d say. But today—today is the exception.

I set my jaw. “You should’ve told me that my mother was there.”

“Oh shit,” Eli whispers.

I ignore it and focus on Caleb.

“I didn’t know,” he says. “I only saw my mom.”

“She’s working where?” Liam asks.

“Lucky’s Diner,” Caleb and I say together.

I blush.

“Okay, your turn,” Liam prods.

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