Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 7) (19 page)

“Don’t call me
that,” he says, standing tall once again. “We’ll never be those
nicknames again. It’s over, Darcy. For good this time.”

I nod as tears roll
down my cheeks. “I hope you enjoy your life with some pretty
princess.”

“I will.”

I force myself to turn
from him and calmly walk out the door. I want to run, but I won’t
give him the satisfaction. Jen looks at me with sorrow in her eyes,
and Noah looks like he wants to commit murder. I shake my head at
both of them, letting them know that he won’t listen tonight. Or
maybe ever. We’ve all been hurt, and I understand his actions.
They’re breaking my heart, but I know he’s not just being
spiteful. I could feel his pain like it was a physical thing. It
matches my own.

Darcy

“I can’t believe I
just got you back after ten years, and now you’re leaving me
again,” Noah says, walking outside to sit next to me as I watch the
sun rise over the water.

“You could come with
me this time,” I remind him with a smile.

“This is my home,
Darce. I’m sorry, but I can’t leave. Not even for you.”

“You don’t ever
have to apologize for wanting to stay. You’ve lived here almost
half your life. Mom will be here tomorrow to see you, and you can
come visit me anytime you want. Just call, and I’ll send a plane
for you.”

“You’re going back
to work with those women, then?”

“I don’t know.
We’re all meeting with them once we’re back. I understand why
they did it, and why they felt it was necessary, but it still hurt.
My friends are as angry as I am, so it’s not going to be an easy
thing to just go back to business as usual. I’ve saved my money
over the years, so I don’t
have
to work, but I love what we do.”

“Let me know how it
goes.”

“I will. You’re
going to call me every day, right? And tell me about that pretty girl
you were dancing with at the picnic?”

He blushes. “I like
her.”

“I could tell.”

“I’m going to get a
job and an apartment. I’ve already called around, and I have some
interviews today.”

“I could help you
out. Not with a job here, but if you need money.”

“No. You and the
royal family have taken care of me for long enough. I had an
excellent education in France, and it’s time for me to put my
architecture degree to use. The restoration firm used by the royals
offered me a job when I graduated earlier this year, and they’re
one of the firms I’m meeting with later.”

“You were so cute in
your cap and gown.”

“You were there?”
he asks, his eyes going wide.

“Of course. It’s
not every day that my baby brother graduates from one of the best
universities in Europe. It was big enough for me to blend in, so no
one knew who I was there to see.”

“That’s…I don’t
know what to say… thank you.”

I wave him off, trying
not to blush myself. “You know that Ryan Griffin is a friend of
mine.”

“I wish he could’ve
made the trip to the ball. I would’ve loved to have met him.”

“Maggie didn’t want
any of her sons, or their families here. She tried to get Alex to
stay behind, but she’s becoming as tough as the rest of us, even
though she’s not an agent. When you come to Vegas to visit me, you
can hang out with Ryan.”

“Really? You think
he’d have time for me?”

“Definitely. He’s a
great guy, and he called last night to tell me you had a job with him
if you came back with me.”

“Whoa. That’s…wow.
I can’t leave, though.”

“I know. You have
your pretty girl, a chance at a job you’ll love, and your best
friend. Plus, the girl who’s stood in as sister for me all these
years.”

“I was sorry for what
I said as soon as the words came out of my mouth. Especially after
Jen cut you.”

“Don’t be. I mean
it. I am
so
thankful
for Jen, and everyone else. Am I jealous? Yes. I lost ten years with
you. But I’m also so damn happy that you were surrounded by people
who love you.”

“He’s going to
regret this, you know.”

“I knew we could
never really be together. I just wish he didn’t hate me.”

“He doesn’t. He’s
just hurt.”

“I know he’s hurt.
I understand it. He’s going to forgive you. But me…no. He’s
convinced himself that I was conning him. He won’t get over that.
Which I should be happy about because it will allow him to move on
and be happy with whatever princess he chooses. They’ll have
adorable royal babies and live happily ever after.”

“You’re happy about
that? Is that why you’re crying? And saying ‘happy’ like a
million times?”

“Yes,” I say.
“Dammit, I never cry and now I can’t seem to stop.”

“He’s worth your
tears. He doesn’t deserve them at the moment—and as your brother,
I shouldn’t be saying this—but he’s my best friend, and he was
different with you, Sis. Different and better than I’ve ever seen
him be with another girl. He wasn’t just using you for fun, I know
he loved you.”

“Past tense.”

“Nah, he loves you.
He’s just too hurt and proud right now to admit it.”

“When did you get so
smart? You’re not supposed to be smarter than me.”

“I do okay, but I’m
no secret spy chick.”

“It’s not all it’s
cracked up to be. Trust me on that.”

We talk a little longer
before I head inside to grab my bag. I’m leaving behind all of the
clothes Brayden’s mother bought me, except for what I wore the day
of the picnic. That afternoon was magical and romantic. My sloth and
iguana are going home with me, too. I wish I could bring back the
gaming systems from my room, but I can’t exactly walk into the
castle and ask for them. I’ll have my memories to remind me of all
those nights where Brayden tried to play for me.

“You’re not leaving
without a proper goodbye, are you?”

I turn to smile at Jen.
“No. I was just grabbing my bag.”

“Did you and Noah
have a good talk?”

“We did. Thank you
for letting him stay here until he gets an apartment.”

“He could stay here
forever if he wanted to. Even after he marries that girl from the
village.”

“You noticed too,
huh?”

“Oh yeah.” We both
laugh.

“Thank you for
everything. For being there for him when I couldn’t, and for not
hating us even though we lied to you.”

“You lied to protect
my family, and me in particular. I know that. I also know that you
never lied about your feelings, and neither did Noah.”

“We didn’t. I hope
we can stay in touch, Jen.”

“I’d like that.”

We hug goodbye and then
I leave the house with my friends. We pile into SUVs and drive to the
airport. I can’t help but look at the castle as we drive by. Nate
reaches over, and squeezes my hand.

“He’s an idiot. I
know, because I used to be one, too.”

“It’s okay. I’m
okay.”

“No you’re not. But
you’re also not alone.”

“Thank you,” I say
as I lean over and kiss his cheek.

* * *

Brayden

I stand in the shadow
of the gates, and watch the SUVs drive by. I fight the urge to run
after them and beg Darcy to give me another chance. I know that’s
not possible, but God, I wish it was. In the light of day, I can
admit to myself that I was an ass last night. Yes, she lied to me,
but she also loved me. I don’t doubt that now. I really didn’t
then, either. I just couldn’t see past the betrayal.

“You’re going to
just stand there and watch her go?” Jen asks, pulling her car up
next to me.

“Yes.”

“I can’t believe
we’re even related.”

“Because I don’t go
chasing after some girl like a love-sick fool. Kings don’t do
that.”

“No, they just
convince a girl with more honor in her little pinky than most people
have in their entire bodies, to swear an oath to them. One that will
put her life in danger while they sit back and relax.”

“You’re mad at my
dead father?”

“Yes, and my living
one, too.”

“They protected our
line.”

“At the expense of
the man they called their best friend, and his wife and children.”

“They weren’t
forced to help us.”

“Are you even
listening to yourself? You’ll make a great king, that’s for
sure.”

“I’m choosing to
take that as a compliment.”

“You shouldn’t.”

She drives on through
the gates and parks. I hear her car door slam and then the front door
does the same. I can’t help replaying her words in my head, but I
won’t allow myself to believe them. My father and uncle did what
they had to do in order to protect us. That can’t be wrong. Would I
do the same thing? Probably. Maybe. I don’t really know. I’ve
never been faced with that kind of decision, and I don’t really
think it’s something you can prepare for.

Just like I couldn’t
prepare myself for falling in love. I love Darcy, and I know that no
one will ever come close to replacing her. It’s just not possible.
I
do
have to choose a
wife, though, and I’ve arranged for the first candidate to come by
this afternoon. Her family happily put her on a plane the moment my
mother had her lady in waiting place the call.

I walk back inside and
decide that I have time to take a nap before our guest arrives. I
think I’m going to need to be well rested for this whole thing.
Just the thought of picking one of these women makes me feel ill. I
shouldn’t be settling for good enough when I could’ve had the
best.

It’s a few hours
later, and I’m standing in the foyer, waiting for the woman who
could possibly be my future bride. I purposely dressed in the most
formal of my suits, and I’ve styled my hair into submission, making
sure not a single strand is out of place. I also made sure to shave
for the second time today, because Darcy always loved it when I had a
little stubble to rub over her skin. Dammit, I need to stop thinking
about her, especially right now.

“Welcome,” I say
with a smile I’m not feeling, as the door opens.

The woman who walks
through the door is exactly what I was expecting, and everything my
heart doesn’t want. She has long, straight black hair and is
dressed to within an inch of her life. She screams “money” and
“designer” and I want to run.

“Hello, Brayden,”
she says, batting her eyes. Honestly, she just batted her eyes at me.

Jen
rolls
her eyes at me, and I have to fight the urge to laugh. I hold my arm
out to her, because it’s expected, and she grips it like it’s her
lifeline. I flinch a little, and then smile when I see the hurt cross
her face. Why did I think this was a good idea? Oh right, because I
have to marry someone like her.

Dinner is a study in
torture. This girl—whose name I’ve already forgotten—only wants
to talk about how many rooms our castle has, where we have other
homes, and how much money she’ll be given for her shopping sprees.
The thought crosses my mind that maybe if I did marry her, I could
give her enough money so that she’d just leave me alone.

“Do you play any
video games?” Jen asks her with an innocent look on her face as I
almost choke on my wine.

“Video games? Of
course not? Why would you even ask me that?”

“No reason.”

We finish dinner, and I
give her a chaste kiss on the cheek, sending her off with a maid to
her rooms. She looks like she wants to protest, but she’s too
refined to do so. A proper lady can’t ask for a fuck, even if she
wants one. Thank God for that. I’d have to say no, and that could
lead to an international incident when her feelings get hurt.

“She really thought
you’d shag her,” Jen says, falling back on the couch in laughter
once we’re alone in my study.

“She’s not that
bad.”

“What’s her name?”

“It’s written down
somewhere,” I tell her with a wry smile.

“Why are you even
doing this?”

“Because I need a
proper, royal wife.”

“No, what you need is
to get your head out of your arse and go after Darcy.”

“I can’t take her
as my bride.”

“Why not? The people
love her, and Derrick is gone.”

“I never wanted to be
a king who fought for change.”

“So what, you’ll
just be reformed playboy prince who takes the throne and does
nothing?”

“That’s not fair.
I’ll do everything I can to make sure my people are happy and taken
care of.”

“Brayden the Martyr,
making sure his people are happy while he’s miserable. It’s
bollocks. All of it.”

“It’s my choice.”

“Oh I know, believe
me I know. If I had my way, Darcy would be here now, and so would
Noah. You remember him, right? Your best friend.”

“You’re on a roll
tonight, aren’t you?”

“This is just the
beginning. If you insist on mucking up your life, expect me to be
right next to you, reminding you of all the mistakes you’re
making.”

“You don’t need to
remind me. I’ll never forget.”

“Will you at least
talk to Noah?”

“Not yet. Maybe in a
month or two, but it’s too raw right now.”

“He’s going to be
my guest at the coronation, because I know that both of you will
regret it if he misses it.”

“You’re probably
right, so thank you.”

“I usually am, and
you’re welcome. I’m going to bed. Remember to lock your bedroom
door tonight.”

“You’re funny.”

But I am going to lock
the door. All I need is to wake up to some woman I don’t want
trying to seduce me after I’ve been dreaming about the woman I
do
want. It’s just going to be me and my hand tonight.

Darcy

I’ve been back in
Vegas for a few days now, and while I’ve been in sweats, eating my
weight in ice cream during that time, I need to go into the office
today. It’s our big meeting with the mentors. No one knows what to
expect, even Reina. She’s been staying in my guest room, and
joining me in my ice cream diet while she avoids Matt. We both had to
get dressed in real clothes today, and of course she looks flawless.
I look pretty good, too. My training has taught me to never go into
battle unprepared, and clothing can sometimes make or break a
meeting.