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My nerves tighten my muscles, and I push past someone as they take off their robe and hang it by the door. I leave mine on and ignore him, jogging into the parking garage. I spot the man I’d shoved in my trunk, standing in the elevator, yelling into his cell phone.
I shove another man down and run toward my car, turning on the engine. Fuck me. I’ve been exposed. If I’m caught, I’m a dead man.
But I’m not giving up now.
Someone honks their horn, and I ignore them, hitting the throttle and smashing the corner of their vehicle before they can trap me in.
My tires squeal and smoke fills the air. A man jumps out of my way, realizing I’m not going to brake for him. I’d rather just run them over and deal with that later.
A chime rings through the air, and I glance at my phone, spotting Stacia’s name.
Beautiful: Don’t go to Malibu. Get out of the city. I’ll contact you soon as I can.
Me: What the fuck, Stacia? What is all of this? You’re in a fucking cult.
Beautiful: It’s not a cult. I can explain everything. You just have to go.
As much as I want to argue, I don’t. Instead, I drive. I run a dozen red lights and don’t stop until I hit the freeway.
I don’t look in my rearview mirror.
I can’t look back.
20
Exposed
Itugatmyhair, wringing the strands with my fingers. What the actual fuck? Why didn’t I pay better attention in the parking garage? How did Leandro even make it into the meeting room? I have so many questions.
Bianca bounces on her feet. “I’m so sorry, Stacia. I asked him to drop me off here. I should’ve had him park on the street, but I had all my stuff and—”
“Maybe he didn’t see much. The meeting was short. We can cover it up. Jasper said he didn’t get a good look at the intruder. The court thinks he was with PI or paps.” Christos rubs his fingers over his chin, eyeing the closed door of Daddy’s chambers.
Leandro: Someone was following me but I lost them. I’m ditching my phone and the car.
My heart sinks to my stomach at Leandro’s text message.
Me: There’s a lot of things I can’t explain. It’s dangerous.
Christos snatches my phone away and glares at the screen. “Astéri mou, are you crazy? You have to stop texting him right now. If someone catches you—”
The door to Daddy’s chamber swings open, and Christos pockets my phone, keeping it away from me. Talon fills the doorway, his eyes hooded with worry and exhaustion, but he doesn’t give anything else away.
“Princess, the King’s Court will see you now. We got surveillance of the intruder, and it turns out to be your bodyguard.” Talon tightens his jaw.
I try not to react, though I feel as if I might pass out at any second. Christos presses his hand to my lower back, guiding me forward until I start walking on my own. Talon blocks him and Esteban, not allowing them to pass the threshold. I’m going to be sick. I know what happens to those who discover the Society of Secrets. Leandro isn’t someone they would offer a spot to.
“You have to do something, birdie,” I whisper, keeping my voice low. “They’re going to kill him.”
“Just stay calm and agree to whatever they ask. We will figure this out,” he responds, nudging me forward until I stand before Daddy.
I drop to my knees and bow my head, showing my respect and my regret.
“Do you know why we have called you before us, Princess?” Daddy asks, looming over me.
I shake my head, choosing not to give answers just in case they don’t already have them. I’m not going to incriminate myself or give them reason to think that I brought Leandro into this and broke the rules.
“It seems that your bodyguard couldn’t mind his own damn business, and we have a problem.” Daddy reaches out and touches my chin, forcing my head up to meet his eyes. “You’re lucky that I love you, daughter. I am constantly having to challenge the others on my court. They want the bodyguard dead, and they want you to do it.”
