Page 32 of Revenge of a Queen

“I’m so sorry about your father, he really was one of a kind,” she adds, and I catch the slight flinch from him before he represses it and offers her a nod and a smile.

“Breakfast is ready,” Arthur interrupts. I guide Marcus over to the dining table as Arthur and Helen carry plates over and we all take a seat. Cassie refuses to leave Marcus' lap, so he is left to eat around her.

To say breakfast is awkward, would be an understatement. For once, I’m grateful for the ramblings of a toddler. Cassie saves us all from getting into anything too deep as she talks about her love for Olaf from Frozen. To his credit, Marcus listens intently, as if what she is saying is the most fascinating thing in the world, it only makes me love him more. Fuck, I am so screwed.

Once we have finished eating, it’s clear the tension didn’t go unnoticed as Arthur begins to clear the plates, Helen leans over to Cassie.

“How about you and I take a trip to the park?” She says, and the squeal Cassie releases answers the question before she does and for the first time, she tries to eagerly leave Marcus’ arms.

“Yesssss!” She screeches.

“Okay, well come on let's go get dressed,” and I smile at her gratefully for stepping in.

Cassie begins to run out of the room before she slams to a halt and turns around to run back to Marcus.

“Will you come play again?” She asks him sweetly and I tense.

He looks to me ever so slightly before concentrating on her fully, “You bet,” he says, simply and she smiles at him and holds out her hand.

“Pinky promise?” she asks, and I see his shock. He didn’t know I continued our tradition with her, but he doesn’t hesitate to curl his large, little finger around her tiny one as he repeats the words back to her. She turns away and flees the room without looking back and I stare after her knowing that I have no choice but to let him in.

The only person in the world I won’t hurt is that little girl and keeping Marcus in the dark will do that. He needs to know the truth. As if he has direct access to my thoughts he speaks.

“I need the truth, Ells,” he says softly, but with conviction and I nod, swinging my gaze back to him.

“I know, River, I know.”

Chapter 18

ELLE

Iagreed to give him the truth, but I needed to shower first. We walked back to the main house in silence. Once there, I led him to the basement that houses the indoor pool, games room, theater, den, and gym where Ash and I usually work out. I told him to wait for me and to call Linc and Jace, he wanted to argue but I asked him to trust me. While getting ready I also text Ash to come over. If I am going to do this, then I need to do it right and it involves him, Jace, and Linc now too.

By the time I have showered and dressed in something that doesn’t belong to Marcus, I make my way back to the den, where all three Rebels and Ash are waiting for me. The tension is so thick I don’t even think my knife could cut through it, and trust me, it’s a sharp knife.

I take a deep breath and enter the room fully and all four gazes hit mine. I’m not surprised Ash is the first to speak. “Hells Bells, you don’t have to do this,” he says, standing and striding over to me. I’m not the only one that catches Marcus’ snort. I ignore him, in this moment in favor of Ash as I reach out and pull him into a hug.

“Yeah, Ash, I do,” I whisper to him quietly before I pull back and offer him what I hope is a reassuring nod and smile.

I turn and make my way over to the sofas the guys are currently occupying and take a seat on the vacant one. Marcus and the guys sit across from me and Asher joins me by my side. My heart is beating out of my chest. I can barely take a breath, but I know I must do this.

I breathe as deeply as I can manage before I start locking my gaze on Marcus who is already staring at me with an unwavering glare.

“First, I need you to promise two things,” I say, mimicking what I said to Lincoln not too long ago and I see the smile tug on Linc’s lips out of the corner of my eye, clearly, he is thinking the same thing.

“Okay,” Marcus replies, without missing a beat.

“First, what you learn here today can never leave this room, that also needs to include what you already know in regard to Zack and Cassie,” I say, and I’m amazed that I even manage to get the words out, and he just nods so I continue.

“Second, you can’t do anything about it.”

“What?” he laughs slightly, like I am joking.

“You can’t do anything about what you learn, you can’t retaliate,” I say firmly.

“Why would I retaliate?” he asks, through gritted teeth, swinging his gaze to Asher and then back to me.

“Just promise me, River,” I plead with him because I need that from him more than anything right now.

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