Page 5 of Fallen Crown

One woman for the rest of my life is a big nope. My heart is too wild to be tamed by just one. I’ve sampled all the flavors, and none have enticed me to limit my menu. Why drag something casual into a long-term arrangement because that’s what society expects? Much better to let other people fall fast and hard while I stand on the sidelines laughing. Nick and Alex seem happy enough now, but I’ve seen them both at rock bottom over a woman. That’ll never be me.

My phone beeps, and I do a fist pump to see Rory has texted me. She’s been a great addition to the family.

“Must be the queen,” Nick says with a grin. “I’m supposed to meet Jules to go look at suppliers for the J.J. Bellerive Foundation. We’re trying to keep everything as local to Tanzania as possible, but I feel like we’re getting hosed on a few of the items.”

“Good luck. The two of you have ATM written on your foreheads. Cha-ching,” I say before I head toward Alex’s wing again.

“Isn’t that your Vegas motto?” Nick calls after me. “And you’re the one who needs the luck!”

This time when I get to the door, Kane lets me in without even a murmur of protest. Rory must have come out with the big queen energy when she woke up, which she would have done if he’d told her I stopped by in the first place.

When I knock on the door to the main bedroom suite, Rory tells me to come in. I stride into the room, hell-bent on securing her help to bring Alex around to my newest plan.

“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.” I skid to a halt and hold up my arms to cover my face.

“It’s a boob, Brice. With a baby attached to it. I know you’ve seen a breast before—lots of them if the rumors can be believed.”

“Yes, but I came in here to prevent Alex from murdering me, and I fear I’ve stumbled into something sure to get me murdered.”

“There is now a burping cloth covering my breast. You’re safe.” Slowly, I lower my arms, and Rory’s green eyes are tired but amused. “Such a wimp. My boobs are currently glorified bottles.”

“Murder, Rory. Fratricide. No one wants that.” I fall into the armchair opposite the one she’s in near the fireplace that isn’t switched on. “Do you happen to know Alex’s plans for the outbuildings on the estate?”

“No,” Rory says. “But you could ask Alex yourself, and then you’d know.”

“I wanted to borrow one for the next...” I calculate the length of time between now and the race. “Six months. For a charity race.”

“Nick told me he’d heard you were vying for a spot on Bellerive’s adventure race team. What’s that about? Isn’t it on InterFlix? That’s huge.”

Fucking Nick selling me out. “Do you think Alex has heard that as well?” In theory, I came to ask Rory to break the news to Alex and ask for the use of the outbuilding closest to the water’s edge for storage and whatever else we can cobble together quickly.

“Does Alex need to approve your participation? Is the race dangerous?”

Yes and yes. “Queen Aurora, I am trying to defer to your wisdom.”

“And I’d like to stay happily married. Go talk to your brother. I am not your go-between.” She peeks under the cloth to stare down at Grace, my niece, as though I’ve been dismissed.

I must say, she’s become a lot more assertive since she became a queen and a mother. Posey still enjoys my nonsense, and since her boyfriend has become one of my best friends over the years, I could work that angle. Posey has Rory’s ear about anything she wants, and I have Brent’s. It’s the long way around, and I much prefer a shortcut.

“Go talk to Alex.” Rory lets out a deep sigh. “Actually”—she holds up a finger—“explain to me why you want to do it.”

I ease my hands over my face and lean my elbows on my knees. It would be easy to give her the pat answer, the one I’ll likely give anyone who asks from here on out. My father has Alzheimer’s, and it’s a cause close to my heart. But that’s not why I want to do it. Or at least that’s not the driver.

“If I tell you the truth, will you talk to Alex?”

“You don’t think you can talk to Alex about it?” Her green eyes soften.

“I don’t want to.” Alex has Bellerive. Nick has his project in Tanzania with Jules. I want this race, but I’m not in the mood to have my dedication or skill set questioned, which is exactly what Alex will do. Most of the time, he isn’t critical on purpose; it’s just his nature.

Maren Tucker, on the other hand, takes great delight in picking holes in me. She’ll be one person who’ll never get the real reason I’m keen to do this.

“Tell me,” Rory says, and she gives my foot a gentle kick with her own.

“I’m afraid Alex won’t get the law for Dad sorted in time, and I’ll be stuck watching our father deteriorate while Alex and Nick are consumed by other things.” I peer at the blanket covering Grace. “Other people.”

Silence sits between us, but I can’t make eye contact. That’s more candid than I intended to be, but there is something about Rory’s softness that draws out an answering tenderness in other people.

“You want use of the outbuilding, and you want permission to participate?” Rory readjusts Grace under the blanket. “I’ll mention it to Alex, but I’m sure he’ll want to speak to you about the risks involved.”