Page 4 of Shattered Reign

He turned his wrist so that he could read his watch before he looked back at me. “She should be on a flight to the Amalfi Coast.”

“Italy?” It wasn’t that I didn’t know where it was, but I couldn’t believe that she would travel there.

“That’s right. I can give you her exact location and everything.” He pulled out his phone and started typing, but there was no way that he had my number because—

When my phone vibrated in my pocket, I narrowed my gaze at him and he raised an eyebrow at me, daring me to say something. I made sure that he gave me the name of her hotel before stuffing it back into my pocket.

“Thank you.”

Tristan held out his hand, and as we shook, he said, “My pleasure. Her request was for me not to tell her parents if they asked.”

Based on what I knew of them, I wondered if they would. “I have no intention of letting them know.”

“Excellent. Take care of her, okay? I might not know her well, but I do know that she’s special. And very brave.”

I let his words hang in the air for a moment, agreeing with the nice things that he’d said about her. She was, without a doubt, all of that and more. And I had every intention of taking care of her, but I didn’t say another word. I pulled my hand back instead and walked away, more determined than when I’d walked toward him. It took some slight maneuvering, but I found my parents standing in a different place in the room than where I’d left them.

“Mom, Dad,” I said as I shifted my gaze between the two of them, making sure to lock eyes with both of them. I was aware that my next words would catch them by surprise, but I’d already made my decision. “It looks like I’m spending the holidays elsewhere this year.”

The silence that followed stood between us like a heavy cloud. They exchanged a quick glance, using their eyes to speak a silent language that only they knew how to decipher.

“Is that right?” Mom asked, her tone indicating that she was shocked by my announcement. “Why don’t you fill us in so we can see how we can help you achieve your end goal?”

Those were just the words I needed to hear.

3

BIANCA

PRESENT TIME

That evening, I stood on my balcony overlooking the Amalfi Coast once more just as the sun began to set. The sky was a beautiful mix of vibrant pinks and oranges, with slices of purple and blue around the clouds. Slightly below, or so it looked, the sea shimmered in the fading light, giving me an opportunity to take in its beauty before nightfall. Part of me wished that I was down there, walking along the beach, enjoying every ounce of this view.

While the air was still fresh and crisp, it had grown colder than it had been earlier. Yet, I still couldn’t quite convince myself to move inside. I couldn’t help but wish I’d grabbed something to put over my arms before I walked out here, but it wasn’t enough to make me leave this spot.

Maybe it was due to the wineglass in my hand, filled with a deep-red liquid. The light danced off the edges of the glass and I couldn’t help but look at it too. Ordering a bottle of wine from room service because I could had been an idea, but I wasn’t completely sure it was a good one. I took a deep breath and brought the glass to my lips and hesitated. It was a temptation I couldn’t resist, especially because I could legally drink it here.

As the liquid flowed down my throat, the slight burn led to my mind starting to calm and push aside my racing thoughts. With each sip, there was also a nagging feeling that I shouldn’t be drinking. Deep down, I knew that I was playing with fire, yet I still put myself in this predicament.

I knew the delicate balance that existed between indulgence and going completely over the cliff, yet here I was, walking along a tightrope on the edge of temptation. I couldn’t deny that I was enjoying the position I was in, even if it was dangerous.

I told myself this would be the only glass I would have tonight, but it was a slippery slope between one glass and several. I’d even said the promise out loud, but it was something that only me and the cool night air had heard. I was the only person who was going to keep myself accountable. The responsibility of holding myself to this promise was hard, but it was what I would do. However, the battle of wills continued within me while the night and the sea had a front-row seat to the turmoil in my mind.

“I’m so pathetic.” I sighed, swirling the liquid around in circles as if I could erase my shortcomings by doing so.

Absentmindedly, I tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear as I took another sip from my glass. Memories flooded my mind, mostly bad, but some good. I thought of Iris and how much I missed her and hoped she was okay.

The guilt I had for leaving her twisted inside of me. I could have done more to find her, I knew it, but the fear of having to deal with anything related to the Chevaliers had turned me into a coward. I wasn’t exactly sure what more I could have done outside of going to the police, but I knew that wouldn’t have led to anything because of the Chevaliers’ influence all over the state and the country. Hell, their power might have extended all over the world, for all I knew.

“Fuck,” I mumbled to myself as another sigh left my lips. All I could do was hope Iris was safe and she was okay, especially with me no longer on the lookout for her.

But she wasn’t the only person I was thinking about.

I missed Easton. It felt wonderful to admit that to myself.

I wanted to feel his warmth and to hear his voice. His presence was a comfort that I longed for and hated that I couldn’t have. Despite the tangled web we were intertwined in, there was a part of me that needed him, and I couldn’t deny the imprint he had made on my life.

I breathed in the fresh evening air and looked out over the stunning view once more before taking one last sip of my wine and turning away from the sunset. Taking a deep breath, I turned around and entered my room to prepare for the rest of my night.

---