Page 52 of Evil Villain (The Royal Court)

“Connor has pull with the police. Any information we give them would just get back to him, and besides, Deon is still on parole from when the police conveniently assumedwehad something to do with that dead body. If they catch him, they’ll drag him back to prison, and that’s only if they don’t turn him over to Connor first.”

“But—”

“Dad, I know this isn’t going to make you feel any better, but we’ve already been through much worse. We stick together and have people helping us. I’ll be okay. This is just something I have to do.”

My dad watched me with anguish, likely feeling both guilty and helpless. I got up and walked over to where he was standing and gave him a hug. He squeezed me so tight it started to hurt, and even when I tried to pull away, he held on.

Finally, he released me, but kept a hand resting on my arm. “Please be safe.”

“I will, and I’ll visit again really soon, I promise.” I stood up on my tippy-toes to kiss him on his cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

With one last quick hug, I gathered my keys and phone and left.

Avery said she’d come back and get me, but it was still early and I didn’t want to bother her. I took a cab home instead. When I got inside, everyone was sitting around in the living room, apart from Sicily, who I assumed was upstairs.

“Hey,” Avery greeted as I walked in. “I told you I'd come back for you.”

“I know, but I wanted some alone time. The conversation with my parents did notgo as I expected it to.” I flopped down onto one of the couches next to Avery.

“Did they take it really hard or something?” Alistair asked.

I looked across the room to where Nathan was sitting on the ground in front of Nikita. “Turns out, your dad handpicked me to be your trophy.”

The statement sucked the energy out of the room. “What?” Nathan said. “I picked you. To hurt Deon.”

I chuckled. “That's what he let you believe. I'm not sure why, but Connor wanted to hurt Deon long before you did. Maybe because of what his mom did? He promoted my dad and moved us near Deon, then he told my dadbeforeDeon got arrested that he was unsafe, and that they needed to keep me away from him. Even his mom. Then not long after Deon went to prison, he promoted my dad again, and moved us out here to be near you.”

“You think Connor had something to do with Deon going to prison to begin with?” Colette asked.

Nathan sighed. “I’ve been thinking that could be the case for a while, but if he met and picked you outbeforethat, he had something premeditated for long before I got mad and wanted to get my revenge on Deon.”

“Jeez,” Kyle said. “How long has Connor been manipulating all of our lives?”

“Since before birth,” Nathan hissed. “And I played right into it.”

“You didn't know,” Nikita and I said in unison.

Colette leaned forward. “Yeah. Besides, you couldn’t have—”

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!” All of our heads turned at the sudden exclamation, followed by the pounding of feet down the stairs. Sicily jumped down into the living room, skipping until he was dead center in the group, and then he started to dance. “I’m good. I’m so good,” he sang. “I’m good. OH! Who’s good?”

He pointed at Brayden, who apprehensively said, “Uh, Sicily?”

Sicily did a pelvic thrust. “That’s right! It’s Sicily! I am so good.”

“Hey, Mr. Good?” I asked. “Why are you so good?”

“I’m glad you asked, gorgeous.” He held up a piece of paper. “I found Deon.”

I jumped up. “What?!”

“Are you serious?” Nathan asked.

“Yeah!” Sicily yelped. “He’s in Maine!” We all stared at him blankly. “What?” he asked.

I walked over to Sicily and punched him in the arm. “We already knew he was in fucking Maine!”

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