I know she must’ve had deep-rooted mental issues, but that doesn’t give her the right to wish that her son was never born. She read all these psychological books, how come she didn’t know words like that from his own mother could scar him for life?

I check my watch. Shit. It’s almost time for the horsemen to return. I easily wasted an entire hour digging through the pieces Alicia left behind, but I need to go.

I don’t want Aiden to catch me in his library.

I put the books where they belong, take my backpack, and go back to Margo.

The moment I sit on the stool, sipping the cold hot chocolate, Ronan comes breezing through the door.

“I’m here, bitches!” He yells in his signature enthusiastic tone. When he meets my eyes, his grin widens. “Oh. Hey there, Ellie.”

I smile as Xander and a solemn-looking Cole follow him inside. They’re all wearing Elites’ jackets which means they came straight from practice.

Xander searches beside me and all around me, for Kim, I assume.

“Kim has to babysit Kir so she won’t be coming over,” I tell him.

“I didn’t ask.” He flops on a stool and steals one of Margo’s chips.

Yeah, right. Sure thing, Xander.

I seriously don’t know what the hell is going on between him and Kim. Or if there’s even anything going on.

“Where’s Aiden?” I ask when he doesn’t follow.

“Oh, that…” Ronan rubs the back of his head.

“He’ll be here.” Xander smiles forcing the dimples out as he snatches another chip.

I stare between them and a needle-like sensation prickles at the back of my head.

Something doesn’t seem right.

“Where did he go?” I ask.

“Come on, Ellie.” Ronan places an arm around my shoulder. “Let’s stuff ourselves with chips.”

“He’s outside with Silver,” Cole says with a complete poker face.

“Fuck, Captain!” Ronan all but shouts.

Xander pokes Cole in the ribs. “You better be ready for King’s wrath, dickhead.”

I stare between the three of them. “He’s really outside with Silver?”

“You see, Ellie.” Ronan offers an awkward smile — which isn’t like him at all. “She invited herself over. It’s not that King wanted her here. Not at all.”

“He didn’t stop her either.” Cole appears eerily calm, it’s kind of scary. “You should see for yourself.”

Xander kicks him. “Do you have a fucking death wish, Captain?”

I’m not listening to them.

I’m storming down the hall, muscles tense and nostrils flaring.

He brought her here.

Silver is here.

I told her to stay away from what’s mine, didn’t I?

It’s time she pays the fucking price.

22

Aiden

Queens wouldn’t go home.

Nash has been acting like a little bitch and refused to deal with her.

His exact words were ‘Clean your own mess, King.’

So here I am standing with Queens in front of her car.

The rain soaks us both.

So be it, because there’s no way she’s going inside.

Elsa has already been distrustful of me without adding Queens into the mix.

Since the pool incident, I’ve been slowly building back her trust, but everything will be destroyed if Queens is involved.

I can handle it when Elsa lies to herself. I can handle it when she tries to be politically correct, but I can’t have any of that if she completely pulls the fuck away from me.

“You said you’ll fix it.” Queens stomps her feet. “You promised, King.”

“I promised you fuck.”

“But you said —”

“I said nothing. You assumed everything yourself.” I stare down at her. “The game was fun while it lasted, but I’m not playing anymore.”

“You’re not playing?” She huffs. “So when it’s to your benefit, you’re all in, but when it’s not, you just drop it?”

“Exactly. Smarten up, Queens. All what you’re doing is a temporary solution.”

“That’s none of your fucking business.” She grinds her teeth. “I knew you’d change your mind because of that little bitch.”

I push into her and she flinches against the side of her car.

“Watch it. If you call her that one more time, I won’t let you be, Queens.”

“You can do fuck to me, King,” she snarls even though her eyes are glimmering. “You know why? Because Uncle Jonathan is on my side.”

My left eye twitches. I resist the urge to bang her head against the hood of the car.

It’s because of her that Elsa has changed. If she wasn’t being a nosy busy-body, Elsa wouldn’t have slipped from between my fingers the way she did.

Queens should be fucking thankful I value Nash enough not to destroy her.

However, my patience has a limit.

Queens is playing a bigger game than her. Yes, I entertained her idea. Yes, I liked the challenge while it lasted, but not anymore.

It’s time she knows her fucking place.

“How about Nash, then?” I ask in a neutral voice.

Her face contorts. I smirk.

People with fucking weaknesses shouldn’t be going into battle.

“Whose side do you think he’s on?” I ask. “If he finds out your little games, who do you think he’ll lash out on? Spoiler alert. It won’t be me.”

“Don’t you dare, King.”

“Then fucking disappear, Queens.” I loom over her, squaring my shoulders. “This is your final warning. If you threaten what’s mine, I’ll destroy you until there’s nothing left for Nash to pick up.”

Although it’s raining, I can see the tears shining in her eyes.

Since she doesn’t cry, this should mean that my message got through.

I’m about to pull back when a small hand pushes me away. I didn’t hear her approach — and it’s not because of the rain.

Elsa’s blue eyes are glassed over.

They’re blackening and darkening on Queens.

Like the other time, she’s quiet.

So fucking quiet.

Since I was a child, I was attuned to small noises. I couldn’t sleep all night because of the small sounds coming from the trees’ leaves.

It should be impossible that I didn’t hear her approach.

For the second time.

I’m still studying Elsa and her stiffened body language when she slams her fist into Queens’ face.

The latter clutches her cheek, mouth hanging open when Elsa punches her in the chest. Queens shrieks and wraps both her arms around her midsection.

Elsa grips her by the collar of her shirt. “I told you to stay the fuck away from what’s mine!”

And then she goes to punch her again.

Queens tries to fight her off, but she’s like a helpless toddler in front of Elsa’s strength.

Elsa’s brute, subconscious strength.

My body tightens as I watch her closely.

That posture. That same fucking posture.

A black halo surrounds my head, and I can’t see anything past it.