Page 57 of The Romance Fiasco

CJ wraps his knuckles on the table and then turns to me in apology. “Our family originally comes from Portugal—on our mother’s side, so Chip was our maternal grandfather. They were royalty and a branch of the Régia Casa de Sousa—”

“Our ancestors,” Royal adds.

CJ continues. “They took to the sea to settle in Brazil. The plan was to expand the royal family’s territory. However, shortly after arriving in the new lands, João, his wife Márcia, and their four children were cut off from the throne.”

“Why?” I ask.

“That was my question exactly.” Magnus’s lip curls.

“The two heirs to the throne were twins, like Ryan and Royal, and sending João overseas was Adão’s master plot to get rid of him so he could reign unfettered. Understandably, João was upset at being cut off from the crown. He couldn’t assert his authority in the lawless land and was killed, leaving Márcia to take care of their five kids.”

“I can’t imagine how difficult that must’ve been,” I say, my attention captivated by the family lore.

“Márcia was strong, resourceful, capable...and she started trading with pirates,” Magnus says. “Maybe even became one.”

CJ grins. “She was a queen, at last, a pirate queen. Acknowledging her tragic past, she created theCoroa de Lágrimas.”

“The crown of tears, and swore revenge on the House of Sousa,” Magnus says.

“After our grandmother, Fernanda Sousa, went missing, our grandfather, Chip, became crazy about the crown,” Royal says.

“Our parents were looking for it too,” CJ adds.

“If you believe that,” Royal mutters.

“We were told they died in a boating accident. No bodies. No evidence. Don’t believe it,” CJ says.

“So, you lost them in a shipwreck?” I ask, my heart hurting for these boys. “Was it a brigantine?”

“What about the Royal?” Isla asks.

“I’m fine. I’m right here. Listening. Thinking,” he says.

“No, I mean the boat. Was it by chance the same one with the tattered sails that darkened our shores not long ago?”

“Are you asking if the Dark Seas is the same as the Her Royal Cartagena?” Royal asks.

“The ship that the queen sent between Brazil and Columbia to thwart pirates?” CJ asks.

“I thought the queen was a pirate?” I say.

“Yeah, but you can’t trust pirates. Not even if you are one,” Magnus says.

“Also yeah, I’m named after a boat,” Royal adds. “But no, not the same one. Our parents met on that ship, hence my name, and it’s nothing like the one that’s been darkening our shores.”

“Fitting name,” Ryan says.

“What about the key?” I ask, filled with curiosity about this great adventure, as Chip put it in his will.

“How do you know about the key?” CJ asks, surprised.

“Well, I found it.”

“You foundthekey?”

I shrug. “A key.”

“We found a key in one of the cottages. I’ll look into it tomorrow.” Magnus removes his napkin from his lap and sets it on the table.

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