Page 59 of Royal Desire

DO NOT LEAVE. And by that, I mean my suite. I’ll be back to check on you at lunch.

Oh, and I have someone looking into your issues back in New York. You’re welcome.

We have so much more to talk about. If I have to buy a case of tequila to make that happen, I will, but I’d rather you be sober. Buckle up, Ruby-Du. I’m nowhere near done with you.

Your Knight in Shining Armor

My Knight in Shining Armor.

I wonder if Payne missed the part that Enzo Caruso is the heir to the throne of the New York Mafia. The night got fuzzy as he kept pouring tequila, but I do remember telling him more than once that the Mafia was after me.

I’d say I was a drama queen about that part of my story, but I’m not sure anyone can be too much of a drama queen when it comes to the Mafia.

I sit up to my ass, and when my feet hit the floor, there’s a bag overflowing with my things.

God bless, Blake. He’s the best.

I pick up my cell. I don’t know what time lunch is for Payne, but it’s getting close to the universal lunch hour. I unscrew the bottle of water, down the meds he left for me, and groan when I stand. I need a shower and food, and not in that order. I’ll see how I feel after the shower if I stay or go.

But there’s one thing I know without a doubt.

I will not allow Payne to get involved with Enzo Caruso on my account.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

HIT ME

Payne

Past

Sixteen years ago

“You’ve been accepted to Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. If you think you’re going to drive down the road twenty minutes to go to a second-class state school, then that girl really is leading you around by your dick.”

Mom winces from where she sits across from Dad at the dining table but doesn’t say a word. Not that I expect her to. She never has. Her hand trembles when she picks up her martini and takes a huge gulp.

I turn back to Dad who’s sitting at the head of the table where Sadie just served dinner like she has five days a week since I was little. My acceptance to the so-called second-class state school sits between Dad and me. I knew he wasn’t going to take the news well. He was the one who made me apply to every ivy league on the east coast even though I told him I wasn’t going.

I normally do everything I can to appease him. Hell, I normally do everything I can to stay out of his sight. The less I have anything to do with my father, the better. But not this. On this, I’m standing my ground.

I pick up my fork and cut into the tenderloin that’s cooked to perfection, just like always. “It’s too late. I’ve already accepted my scholarship to State. With my scores, I’ll have a full ride, so you won’t have to worry about giving any of your money to an in-state school. I know that would kill you a little from the inside out.”

Dad’s fork drops to the china plate with a loud clank. He picks up the acceptance letter and fists it as his face turns a shade of pink. When it comes to him, I can’t tell if it’s anger or the alcohol. He slams his fist on the mahogany table and growls, “You can unaccept just as fast as you accepted. No son of mine is going to a state school. When you work for me after college, I want the ivy league after your name. It’ll hold water with clients.”

I toss a piece of meat into my mouth, shrug, and speak like I’m talking about rain in the forecast rather than my future. I’ve made it my goal in life to keep my cool when he gets like this. “I guess that won’t be a problem then. I’ll never work for you.”

He rips the letter in half, and for good measure, in half again. “You’re going to Harvard.”

I point to the ripped-up paper with my fork that’s nothing more than a printed email. “You know, in modern times like these, students are accepted electronically. I don’t need that piece of paper to walk into class on day one. Just saying.”

He grabs my plate and flings it across the room. It almost hits Mom, but she’s too far gone from the afternoon cocktail hour that led into dinner drinks to budge. Dad’s face has morphed from pink to a shade of incensed red that I’m well familiar with. His chair topples backward when he stands and yanks me up by the collar.

“You little fucker.” He spits every angry word in my face. “I’ve had enough of this shit. You think I’ve worked my ass off for years to give you all this just to have you shit all over your future?”

He’s still got thirty pounds on me. It doesn’t matter how much I eat, I’m seventeen and can’t put on any weight. It’s everything I can do to push him away, but he holds tight. “I’d rather be broke and homeless than work for you. I got a full ride on my own. I’ll get a job like the rest of the world does to pay for everything else. I don’t want shit from you or anything to do with Deacon Financial.”

Mom finally joins the conversation and proves to be as helpful as ever as she slurs her words. “Payne, enough with the nonsense. You can’t make life decisions based on a high school girlfriend. As if Ruby will go to college anyway. We all know she won’t.”