Page 96 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

He takes my hand. “Len, call the detective. Let’s just close this off…”

He tugs me out of the room.

I gasp for air.

Pretty bird.

Where have I heard that before? Who’s called me that?

“Detective Masters, this is Lenora Jenkins…” Her voice fades as she goes down the stairs.

“Is this related to who took you?” Robert asks.

That would make sense. I struck at Matt, and I was virtually untouchable with the Blacks. Too many people always around. Here… the house was deserted for days while Lenora stayed at the hospital.

This was revenge? A warning?

Unknown calling me out for…

I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

“Let’s go downstairs,” he suggests, guiding me away.

I stop short at one of the framed photos. There’s a faint spot of red on the glass, like whoever painted the message in my room came out here and took their sweet time leaving.

Robert doesn’t notice my distraction.

“I’m going to the bathroom.” I quickly withdraw. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”

He nods. “Take your time.”

I duck into the bathroom until I hear him talking to Lenora. Then I back into the hallway and lift the photo from the wall.

Josie hid a note behind one of these. It could be irrelevant, but…

This particular photo is one of the new ones. It’s Caleb, Eli, Riley, and me from the masquerade ball. One of the few where we weren’t wearing our masks.

The red spot—a fingerprint, I realize upon closer inspection—is right over my face.

Erasing me completely.

Pretty bird, broken wings. Oh, what a glorious fall.

I tighten my grip on it.

How dare they come in here and threaten me? After everything—

I shake my head, knowing that line of thinking is foolish. They won’t just stop. Unknown won’t stop until they get what they want.

And… what is it that they want, exactly? To run me out of town. To stay away. And more specifically, to stay away from Caleb.

Why?

Because I might ruin his focus at lacrosse or turn him on a different path for his future? Because I might capture his attention, unlike Unknown?

“Margo?” Lenora calls. “The detective is here.”

I race into the hall and rehang the picture. If he notices, he notices. If he doesn’t, well…

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