Page 43 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

Tattoos. A starched white collar.

The same man from before?

My body’s reaction makes sense. I didn’t like the feeling he gave me in Dad’s office, so why would now be any different?

The urge to get out of the house is strong. Stronger than any inclination to eavesdrop, which is what I might’ve done when I was younger. I was always pressing my ear to the grate in my bedroom. It carried sounds up from Dad’s office.

I was extra quiet when I had girls over, because I knew that it was probably a two-way system. If I could hear him…

I lock myself in my room, then mentally scold myself. There’s a line between cautious and scared, and I am tipping over it. Still, I hurriedly swipe the water droplets off my legs and yank on boxers, then my jeans.

Only a few months ago, I would escape to Theo’s house, or Liam’s. If Caleb wasn’t around Margo, I’d sucker him into playing video games in the basement until that keyed-up feeling dissipated.

But now I’m alone.

I slip down the stairs and grab my keys, opting for the sliding door for old times’ sake. I make it most of the way through the dark kitchen when the light above the sink clicks on.

Mom leans her hip against the counter, a glass of wine in her hand. “Where are you sneaking off to?”

This could be a trap—why else would she be drinking in a dark room, alone?

“I need air,” I say.

She watches me, and I’m pretty sure she knows exactly why I’m fleeing—and where I’m running to. Or should I say, who.

“Be careful,” is all she says.

I nod, then step into the night.

It’s chilly, but the goosebumps pricking my skin are good. They wake me up.

There’s a black Mustang parked at the curb. It reminds me of Caleb’s matte-black Audi. It was an ostentatious purchase on his sixteenth birthday, when a bit of his inheritance was given to him by his uncle on ‘good faith’.

No one was fooled by David’s shameless tactics. He wanted Caleb back under his roof.

My parents wouldn’t have let that happen, though, and Caleb seemed ready to send a message to his uncle: that the money he gave him was fluff. Nothing more, nothing less.

So he used it on a flashy, fast car that would only get Caleb into trouble.

Typical.

My parents tried to talk me into a regular car, or something similar to Caleb’s, and they actually succeeded… until I crashed it.

I rub my collarbone with one hand and start my truck with the other.

The crash was a stupid mistake, and I’m lucky no one else was in the car with me. The force of the seat belt against my chest on impact broke my collarbone. It left me with a small fear of driving, but the truck helped. Knowing it was bigger than anything else on the road, that being run into wasn’t the be-all and end-all of the situation….

I wouldn’t be put in that helpless situation again.

It’s no surprise that I automatically drive to Riley’s house. I kill the engine.

This is too familiar—except I don’t usually take my own vehicle. This is suspicious. And yet, I can’t make myself drive away. Riley draws me to her like a freaking magnet.

I could take a page from Caleb’s book. Climb in through her bedroom window.

But then the front door opens, and a boy leaves. She’s right behind him, and she stops under the porch light’s golden glow. He gets to the steps, then pivots. It puts them at eye level.

My stomach clenches.

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