Broken Prince: A Novel (The Royals Book 2) (20 page)

U
pstairs
, Reed ducks into his room to get changed, while I grab a couple of sodas from my mini-fridge and wait for him. When he returns, I hand him a Coke and he settles on the bed beside me, angling his broad body so we’re facing each other.

“You know my dad cheated on my mom, right?”

I hesitate. According to Callum, he never touched another woman when he was married to Maria, but for some reason, his sons refuse to believe him.

Reed sees the doubt on my face. “It’s true. He screwed around on her while he jetted all over the world with Uncle Steve, who, by the way, was cheating on Dinah from day one.”

I swallow a lump of unhappiness. I hate hearing stuff like that about my father, which is weird because I didn’t even know the guy.

“Dinah didn’t care, though. She married Uncle Steve for his money, everyone knew it. And she had her own pieces of ass on the side. But Mom was different. She
cared.
”

“Did she have proof that Callum was cheating?” I ask tentatively.

“He was gone all the time, and he was always with Steve, a guy who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants.”

I wince. “That’s not real proof, Reed. It’s just suspicion. Why are you so sure he’s guilty?”

“Because he is.” Reed’s adamant. I want to argue some more, but he doesn’t give me the chance. “Mom was depressed, and she was taking a lot of pills.”

“I heard there was a mix-up with her prescription? And her doctor went to jail or something?”

“There was no mix-up,” he says bitterly. “She was on meds for depression and insomnia, but she started self-dosing, taking more than she was supposed to. And she was drinking a lot, too…” His voice shakes. “It got worse and worse, and Dad was never home, so it was up to us to take care of her.”

“It’s awful to be helpless,” I murmur, thinking about how I had to take care of my mom when she was sick.

Realization flares in his eyes as he recognizes that I know exactly how he feels—watching someone you love be eaten by a disease that is out of control and knowing you can’t do a damn thing about it.

“Yeah. Worst thing in the world.”

“How do you know it wasn’t an accident?” I ask.

He takes a deep, slow breath. “She told us—Gid and I—that she loved us but couldn’t take it anymore. That she was so, so sorry.” His mouth twists into an ugly shape. “Those words are meaningless, aren’t they?” His eyes shut in self-disgust, like he’s remembering how many times he’s said those same words to me since I came back to Bayview.

Maria’s goodbye probably did more harm than good. If she’d died without professing her love and regret, maybe Gideon and Reed would have been able to convince themselves that her death was an accident. Instead, they were burdened with guilt that somehow they weren’t enough to keep her alive.

Maria was as bad as Callum, I realize. Just as selfish. Just as needy. Is it any surprise that her kids are flawed in the same way?

“I hated him for what he did to her. We all did. And then six months after she died, he started bringing Brooke around. I wanted to kill him for that. It was like he was spitting on Mom’s grave.”

I exhale shakily, wondering how Callum could be so stupid. Couldn’t he have waited a bit longer before parading his new girlfriend in front of his sons?

“They were together for about a year when Brooke started hitting on me,” Reed admits. “I was wrong. I know I was wrong. The really ironic part is that I was doing it to get back at my dad, but I could never bring myself to tell him.”

“Why did you sit there and not say anything that night?” I burst out. “Why did you let me think the worst?”

He lifts his head to meet my eyes. “I was ashamed. I knew I had to tell you about Brooke, and I was scared you’d hate me for it. Then she told me about being pregnant. I knew it couldn’t be mine, but I…froze. I couldn’t move. Literally. I tried but couldn’t. And then I got pissed, so pissed, at myself, at her, at
you
.”

I tense up. “At me?”

“Yeah, for being everything I wish I could be.” His voice thickens. “Look, Royals are known for their money, their looks, and that’s about it. We cave at the first sign of pressure. Dad’s business is about to go under, so he starts sleeping around. Mom starts over-medicating and then…dies. I—” he visibly swallows, “I was pissed at my dad, so I slept with his girlfriend.”

I grit my teeth but don’t say a word.

“I heard the door slam and it was like I was released from this prison. I went racing after you. I stayed up all night looking for you.”

But I was already gone, sitting on a bus, determined to get as far away from Bayview as possible.

“I’m sorry.” He takes my hand and laces his fingers through mine. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth earlier.”

I release a shaky breath. “Reed?”

“Yeah?”

“I forgive you.”

His breath hitches. “You do?”

I nod.

Reed’s hand trembles as it cups my chin. “Thank you.”

His thumb rubs an arc across my cheekbone, swiping away a tear I hadn’t realized slipped out.

The emotion lining my throat makes it hard to get my next words out. “I want to forget—”

He kisses me before I can finish the sentence. Warm lips crash onto mine, and I instinctively wrap my arms around his strong shoulders, pulling him closer.

His breath tickles my lips. “I missed this. I missed
you
.”

Then he’s kissing me again. Everywhere. His mouth grazes my cheeks and my throat and even my closed eyelids. It’s a sweet, leisurely exploration, and I drink it up. One of his thighs slides between my legs to press against the unbearable ache.

“Reed,” I whisper, but I don’t know what I’m asking for.

He does. “Not tonight.”

I squeeze my thighs together around his leg. His body vibrates against mine as he releases a groan. Then he moves over and lies beside me, pulling my head against his chest.

It feels good to be in his arms again. I missed this, too. But I’m afraid this moment of happiness won’t last, because there are still so many obstacles in our lives.

“Reed?”

“Mmmm?”

“What are we going to do about Brooke?”

“I don’t know.”

“What if I give her my inheritance?”

His breath hitches. “Dad would never let you do that.”

“I know.” My shoulders slump into the mattress. “I tried to give it to him. Brooke told me Callum expected Steve’s share to go to the Royals.”

Reed peers down at me. “Please tell me he said no.”

“He said no.”

“Good. We don’t need that money. It’s yours. We have plenty.”

“Brooke says you can never have enough.”

“Brooke’s a money-sucking bitch.”

Frustration bubbles up inside me. “Why did he take her back? Just because she’s pregnant? It’s not like we’re living a hundred years ago. Even Callum knows he doesn’t have to marry someone just because he knocked her up.”

Reed tenses.

I instantly lift my head. “What did you do?” I demand.

“I made a deal with her,” he admits. “She’d shut up about saying the baby was mine—which is a lie—and in exchange I’d put in a good word with my dad.”

“Oh my God. That was a terrible idea.”

“I know. I’m a dumbass, but I was desperate. I would’ve agreed to anything at that point.”

“Obviously,” I say darkly.

The two of us go quiet for a second.

“We need to find a way to get rid of her.” His voice is low and ominous. “I can’t have that woman living in my house. I don’t want her anywhere near you.”

I bite my lip, because I’m worried that if the truth gets out, things won’t go well for Reed. Callum already thinks he’s been too lenient with the boys, and if he finds out about Reed and Brooke, it’ll be just another sign that he needs to pull the reins tighter. I don’t know if I disagree with Callum’s line of thinking. The Royal boys could handle a little discipline in their lives. The problem is, I don’t know what path Callum would take. Military school?

I can’t imagine living in this giant museum without the guys here. I guess I’m a little selfish, too.

“Don’t do anything you’ll regret later,” I warn.

His arm tightens around me. “I’m not making promises I can’t keep. You know I’d do anything for you. For us.”

I wriggle closer to Reed. I just got him back, and I don’t want to fight. Not tonight. I twine my fingers through his. “Are you sure everyone was okay with me getting Steve’s half of the company?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Because Gideon doesn’t like me.”

“Actually, babe, you’ve got that all wrong. Gid doesn’t think I’m good for you.”

Is that Gideon’s problem? He’s never been mean to me, but he’s definitely kept his distance.

“Why does he think that?” I ask uneasily.

“Gid’s life isn’t great right now. He’s got…issues.”

Issues? Like screwing my dad’s widow? I wonder if Reed knows about that.

“What issues?”

“He’s not in a good place.”

Yeah, this isn’t making me happy. I blow a lock of hair out of my face. “I think we need to be done with the secrets between us.”

Reed raises his free hand. “I swear if I could tell you the details, I would. But they’re Gideon’s issues, not mine.”

I sit up. “No more secrets,” I repeat, firmer this time. “You want me to start? Fine, I’ll start.”

“Start with what—”

“Easton and I caught Gideon and Dinah having sex,” I interrupt.

He sits up, too. “You serious? And you’re just telling me this
now
?”

I study his face. “You don’t look surprised.” My tone sharpens. “Why aren’t you surprised, Reed? Did you know?”

He hesitates.

“You knew,” I accuse.

Reed shrugs.

I angrily shove my hair out of my eyes. “Why is he with Dinah?” I demand. “And why does he care if you and I are together? The night I caught you with Brooke, Gideon asked to meet me—did he tell you that? That’s why I was coming to your room that night, to talk to you about it.”

“No, he didn’t tell me,” Reed says with a frown. “What did he say to you?”

“He told me to stay away from you. He said you would hurt me, and that too many people have already gotten hurt. What did he mean by that?”

He shrugs again.

“Reed,” I warn. “I swear, if you don’t tell me what’s going on, we are
not
getting back together. I can’t handle any more lies. I mean it.”

He lets out a breath. “Right after Mom died, Gideon and I snuck into a fundraiser my dad was supposed to attend but bailed on. He was too busy with Steve somewhere. We got wasted.”

I grumble in annoyance. “What does that have to do with any of this?”

“You wanted to know what’s going on with Gid. I’m telling you.” Reed scowls at me. “Dinah was at that fundraiser.”

“Oh.” I bite my lip. Shoot, maybe I don’t want to know the details, after all.

“Yeah. She’d kinda been hitting on Gid for a while, and she caught him coming out of the bathroom and they…uh, made out for a bit.”

“Reeeeeeed,” I say with a bucket full of exasperation. “Is this where you got your
I’m going to screw my dad’s girlfriend
idea?”

His guilty expression gives him away. “Maybe.” He sighs. “Anyway, after that, she wouldn’t leave Gid alone. She’d corner him constantly and make these sleazy comments about how she liked fresh, young, ripe things.”

I can’t keep a disgusted look off my face. “That’s really gross.”

“No shit. She wanted more. Like, she was—is—seriously obsessed with him. After that party, she was shameless about trying to seduce him. He told me so many sick stories about it, you don’t even want to know. But he fell for Savannah and wanted nothing to do with Steve’s gold-digger. So then one night she asks Gid to come over, says she has something to show him. My dad and Steve were out of town, as usual. Gid went over to the penthouse.” Reed pauses. “He came home that night and told me he slept with Dinah.”

“Ew.
Why
?”

“Because she blackmailed him,” Reed says flatly.

“Are you serious? With
what
?”

“Pictures. She got her hands on Gid’s phone. I guess he left it in the kitchen or something when she was over one time. Dinah snooped around and found all these pictures that Sav and Gid were sending each other.”

“Dirty pictures?”

“Yeah.”

“So?” I’m still confused. “People text dirty pictures to each other all the time.”

“But they’re cracking down on it. These two kids down in Raleigh were charged with seven counts of child porn when the girl’s parents found out they were sexting. The girl’s full ride to UNC was yanked. If it was only Gid’s neck on the line, he probably would’ve told Dinah to go to hell, but Dinah swore she’d drag Sav into it and even release the pics to the entire school.”

I feel even sicker now. “So Dinah blackmailed him into bed with her?”

“Pretty much. It’s been over a year now. He broke it off with Sav and she was devastated.”

I think of Savannah, who’s such a brittle, hard-edged girl. Her smiles are thin and her words are cutting. If she truly loved Gideon, then the pain she’s going through must be horrible. “That’s so awful.”

Reed makes a face. “He’s gonna kill me for telling you all this.”

“I’m glad you did,” I say sternly. “Because now we can come up with a plan.”

“A plan for what?”

“To save Gideon from Dinah. We can’t let her keep doing this to him. Otherwise he’s going to lose his mind.”

“Sometimes I feel like this is some part of a plan that Brooke and Dinah have. Like they divvied us up and decided they’d ruin the Royals, one at a time. Steve included.” Reed shakes his head. “It sounds crazy when I say it out loud.”

“You really think Brooke and Dinah planned this?”

“They’re friends. I think Dad was screwing Brooke before Mom died, but I don’t know anything about them. Steve showed up with Dinah one day and she had a ring on her finger. Marrying her didn’t slow him down, though.”

“What else do we know about Dinah? And where do you think she’s keeping the evidence she has against Gid? Do you think she’s shown it to anyone?”

“I doubt it, otherwise Gid would’ve been arrested ages ago.”