Page 65 of Brutal Truths

Why?

Because a paternity test would have put everything at risk. If those results had fallen into the wrong hands, the truth would have been exposed, and the life we were trying to protect for you, shattered. You would have been seen as something other than Ramon’s daughter.

When it was suggested to him, Ramon refused. He used his authority as king to silence the matter entirely. Instead, he chose a different path. One that left no room for doubt. He ensured you were legally his. Arranged your adoption in secret, had the documents prepared, sealed them with his authority, and kept them locked away, where only he could access them.

He didn’t do it to deceive anyone. He did it because he loved you. Because he wanted you to be his in every way that mattered, regardless of whose blood ran through your veins. And perhaps, in some part, it was also his way of claiming something that couldn’t be taken from him. A quiet defiance against the man who had cast us aside without hesitation.

I know the truth will come out one day, and when it does, you’ll have questions. Which is why I’m writing this letter, hoping to do my best to give you the answers no one else can.

My biggest fear has always been that the man obsessed with me will one day turn that obsession to you. It is why we were so careful and kept your existence as hidden as we could. We were not honest about how far along I was when Ramon and I married and controlled every image of you that was ever released. We knew he would be watching.

I fear he might convince himself that you’re his. Could you be? Unfortunately, yes. But in my heart, I have always believed you were conceived the night I escaped him and landed back in the arms of the man who broke me.

Regardless, you’re free to use this information however you wish. Only one other person knows the truth: your grandfather. I wrote a similar letter to him, trusting he would keep my secret, especially after warning me in the beginning I was playing with fire.

Before I left London, the man I believe to be your father gave me something. I’ve held on to it, intending to give it to you when you’re older. It should be with my personal belongings, in the boxes I shipped to your grandparents just days ago. I asked your grandfather to keep it safe for me.

If he no longer has it, then your answer lies elsewhere. Look at my portrait, the one King Ramon insisted be hung next to all the others. The same one your grandmother has hanging in her gallery.

I am wearing it. No one would question the queen’s decision to include an item in the family gallery, considering her Irish ancestry. Other queens’ portraits share similar pieces, though I doubt their reasons were the same as mine.

I am sorry. Please forgive me. Know that I love you. That I will always love you. I hope and pray that the sacrifices I’ve made were worth it. I trust that you’ve had a good life, a safe one. That was all I ever wanted for you, to give you the very best, the finest things life has to offer, because you deserve nothing less.

I must say goodbye now. It is bittersweet, and I wish there was another way.

Never let the light within you dim. Shine as bright as the morning star, and know that you are exactly where you were meant to be. Don’t let the truth take that from you. You are, and will forever be, Princess Isabel Sofia Reyes. Nothing will ever change that.

Love,

Mum

Chapter 19

Aiden

What I’m about to do is risky as fuck, which is why I lied to Isabel about where I was going and with whom I was meeting.

When Silas’s name appeared on my phone, I answered it. It was time to stop ignoring him and deal with this shit.

Only it wasn’t him. It was Rurik. His tone made it clear this wasn’t a friendly chat—he demanded a meeting. And he’d used Silas’s phone to make sure I picked up. How? Not sure. When I questioned him about it, he ended the call.

I immediately texted Zander, asking if he was with Silas. Once he confirmed he was, I told him what happened. I needed to know if Rurik and Silas were working together. And for now, it seems they aren’t, but I’ll know for sure soon enough.

During that conversation, Silas invited himself to the meeting. I can’t blame Zander for selling me out. If he’d tried to dodge the question, the warlord would’ve found another way to get answers.

And that’s how I ended up with two other extras at my meeting with Rurik. I wanted to tell Silas to fuck off, but I’m already in enough trouble with Trent. No need to give them one more reason to start digging.

Having Zander here takes some of the risk out. As a fellow undercover agent, I trust him. Not only to help me pull this off, but to have my back when we report back to both bosses.

Teddy’s here, too, but there’s only so much he can do while flying our getaway helicopter. It’s hard to shoot at the bad guys while you’re dodging bullets and keeping them away from the fuel tank. He’s the only pilot I trust to get me in and out alive. I’ve seen him in action and know what he can do.

Silas, on the other hand, is a problem. He’ll be a colossal pain in my arse, aiming to take charge because of who he is. I’m unclear what Rurik’s reaction will be when he discovers him gate-crashing this party. If he works for who I think he does, this could quickly turn into a bloodbath and restart the war between the Doyles and Del Markovs. It’s only a matter of time before that happens, but I’d rather not be standing in the middle when it does.

As we near the designated field, Teddy repeats the question he’s asked me five times since I revealed my plan. “You sure about this? I don’t have to land. We can call⁠—”

“Land the chopper. Don’t wait around once I’m clear. I’ll meet you at the rendezvous point. If I’m not there in ninety minutes, leave without me. Have Isabel call it in. Don’t come looking for me. Understand?” I fix him with a stern look to show him I’m serious. “She comes first, no matter what. Keep her safe.”

“Roger. But Aiden,” he holds my gaze, “don’t think for one second the boys and I will sit back and not come find you. We’ll get her safe first, then, like we’ve done a thousand times before, we’ll rally. No man left behind.”