Page 36 of Reluctant Heir

“Makes sense since that’s what’s on your car registration.”

“Yeah,” she says with a nod.

We lapse into silence as she looks back out the window. I slide down and rest my back against the seat, my head leaning against the edge of it as I drink.

I hold the glass out to her, and she turns her head to look. Her eyes flit back and forth between my hand and my eyes, like she’s trying to figure me out. I hold it closer, and she reaches for it, her slim fingers brushing against mine as she takes it. I watch as she sips it, no emotion on her face, her pink tongue darting out to lick a drop from her top lip. Without thinking, I extend one hand, my finger tracing her cupid’s bow and then across her cheek and down her throat.

“What are you doing?” she whispers.

I don’t answer. I can’t answer. She feels like my last connection to Ruby. She makes me feel crazy. I barely knew Ruby. And now, I barely know Wryn. But she is the one sitting here, imprisoned inside my house, in the flesh, and I’m having thoughts about wrapping my fist in her dark hair and pulling her head to the side, sucking on the delicate flesh at the base of her neck, feeling her, drinking her in.

“Just making sure you are real, Little Bird,” I say, taking my drink back and downing it. I lay my head back again, closing my eyes, and listen to her breathe for a while. “I’m removing Fernando and Jimmy from your door,” I surprise myself by saying. “Don’t try to leave, but you can go anywhere in the house, except for the office, my room, and the basement.”

“Is this where I thank you for giving me minor freedoms that I should have anyway?”

I grin, her smart mouth amusing me for some reason.

“I didn’t know you knew how to smile,” she says.

I open my eyes, pinning her with a stare. “Don’t take advantage of my hospitality.”

“I’d hardly call being locked in a room for days on end hospitality.”

“Then, you know you don’t want to end up on room arrest again.”

She snorts, and I press my lips together, not wanting to smile again.

I stand, straightening my suit and holding my glass as I survey her one last time. “Good night, Willa Kathryn.”

“Not my name,” she says, shaking her head. “Good night, Connor Soltorre.”

“Unfortunately, that is my name,” I say, saluting her with the empty container. Without another word, I spin and walk out.

I dismiss Jimmy, who looks relieved to not have to stand outside a door for long periods of time anymore, and then I enter my room, pulling my shirt out and unbuttoning it. I pop the button on my pants, and with a sigh, I sink down to sit on the side of my bed.

I open the bedside table drawer and pull out the one and only picture I have of Ruby and me. She took it one night without me knowing and then gave it to me the next time I saw her. I think that was half the fun—planning covert meeting times and spots. I felt like I was finally doing something for myself, living how I wanted to. Ruby made me spontaneous, free, and helped me forget about what was expected from me. She helped me see what life would be like outside of the families.

She was the one thing I had.

Mine.

And then she wasn’t anymore. He took her away.

I hate him. Still.

And I’ll do whatever it takes to take them down.

Here’s to the real New Order of the families. Here’s to Ruby and Wryn. The two women who don’t know how much they’ve affected my life.

10

WRYN

“Knock, knock,” Lilliana says, peeking her head into my room. She opens the door a little more when she spies me lying across the end of the bed, watching the ceiling fan.

I roll over, propping myself up on one elbow, and eye her. “Hey.”

“I’m busting you out again,” she says with a grin.

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