Page 54 of Cruel Dynasty

I started, popping up from my chair to object, but he was already speaking to someone on the other line. Pinning my arms to my sides, I marched inside, determined to get it over with. It hadn’t been an order, I told myself, but a request. There had to be a million things to take care of. Spencer had to delegate.

That didn’t make climbing the stairs any easier. I’d reached the second floor when I realized that I had no clue which room was his. I paused, wishing someone would come along to point me in the right direction. But life never worked that conveniently. Life didn’t come with pre-programmed navigation. Finally, I took a deep breath and started walking.

A door flew open so hard that it slammed into the wall, and I froze in place. A moment later, Holden appeared with a suede duffle. He halted when he saw me standing there.

“I’m leaving,” he told me. “It’s not...what’s wrong?”

I wasn’t crying or anything. I hadn’t known Lord Byrd well enough to be sad, but my stomach was twisted into knots over delivering the bad news.

“Your grandfather…” How was I supposed to tell him this?

“Did the old goat fall again? Let me guess, you and Spencer must immediately depart so he can lock you back in your cage while he runs his errands.” Holden rolled his eyes. He shifted his bag over his shoulder, showcasing the flex of his muscles.

I forced myself to spit the news out. “He’s dead.”

Holden fell silent. We stood and stared at each other.

“I think I’m supposed to feel something,” he said slowly. “Why don’t I…”

“Shock,” I murmured. “You’ll feel sad later.”

“Maybe,” he said darkly.

“Spencer wants us to leave for London. Arrangements have to be made and—”

“Already on my way,” Holden cut me off, lifting the bag slightly as evidence. “Not that he needs me to help with anything.”

We both knew Spencer would run the show. It’s what he’d been groomed to do for years. His family had been preparing him for this moment. He would handle everything, but that didn’t mean it was going to be easy. “He’ll need you.”

“He never has before,” he said bitterly.

“We both know that’s not true.” I waited for him to challenge me, but he didn’t.

“Look on the bright side, dirty girl,” he said, and this time I found the nickname welcome and familiar, “you’ll be rid of me soon.”

“What if I don’t want to be rid of you?” I blurted out.

“You’re going to be a Duchess, mistress of Sparrow Court. You won’t want me hanging around,” he said with quiet finality.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t—”

“This changes everything. Especially us.” He stepped toward me, close enough that we could reach for each other but far enough that we didn’t touch. “I could never settle for a scrap of you. I want all of you. I always will.”

“You barely know me,” I breathed.

Holden loosed a hollow laugh. “I know you better than you know yourself.”

“So that’s it,” I challenged him. “You’re just going to say that and walk away. What about Kerrigan? Now you’re over her?”

“I never said that.”

“I wouldn’t settle, either. For part of you,” I nearly choked on the words.

“You wouldn’t have to.”

“And when Kerrigan comes back? What about then?” I pressed. “Spencer wants her pedigree. You want her love. There’s no room for me.”

“Kerrigan’s not coming back, and even if she did...she wouldn’t be my Kerrigan anymore.”