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It’s about time my outside matched my inner resolve. After that day, no one would look at me and see a helpless little Sinclair-Bowden who was beaten down by the Royals. Those shits would look at me... and know their time is up.
Rafael and the guys were all in the kitchen when I came down—dressed and ready to leave.
“Seriously? Guys, I’ll be fine. Why don’t you believe me?”
“Because Saylor didn’t call you out to discuss her end-of-semester party,” Wilder said. “The last Royal you pissed off strangled you.”
“Thanks for throwing that in my face,” I muttered.
“If Saylor figured out what you did to her and her friends...” Wilder trailed off, knowing I’d fill the blanks in just fine.
“Yeah, I’m not expecting to be greeted with hugs and kisses, but she won’t hurt me physically. With that off the table, what can she do to me?”
Rafael lifted a brow. “Saylor literally punched you in the face.”
“Because I punched her. I’ve sized her up from all sides by now. Violence isn’t her style because she never needed it. She’s had everyone around here cowed since birth. She’s got no reason to think she can’t cow me too, but she’ll realize her mistake by the end of our chat.”
“Even so, Lady Luna.” Lucien came around and took my hand. “She’ll have the Royals backing her up. You should have us backing you up.”
I shook my head. “This is war, guys, and I admit, Saylor has been playing longer than I have. Every move matters. Every word is important. She told me not to bring you, then she taunted me asking if I was afraid of Royals.
“If I show up with you guys behind me, I’m not only proving that I’m afraid of her, but I’m also proving that you guys were really the ones who went after the Royal Wenches while I cowered in the corner. The boss doesn’t need to hide behind her boyfriends.”
The guys traded looks. I could hear the silent communication between them and the reminder of their promise not to get in the way of my revenge. I was here for my sister. They wouldn’t interfere. But they also weren’t here to watch me stumble home bleeding and bruised because a bunch of Royal girls beat the crap out of me and ran over my hand.
Yep, I knew my guys very well. I also knew the minute they made up their minds.
“We watch from our spot,” Rafael said. “Under the tree where they can’t see us. But we’ll stay out of the way and won’t interfere unless she pulls something.”
“You’re going to do that whether I say yes or no, right?”
“Yep.”
“Absolutely.”
“Obviously.”
Cato just got up from the table and walked out, expecting us to follow.
I accepted my fate, grabbed a granola bar, and left the Gallery. The guys hung farther and farther back the closer I got to the music hall. But I felt their presence nearby. Watching over me. Protecting me.
Voices filtered over the balcony, telling of the healthy crowd of Royals enjoying their breakfast in the only Dreg-free zone. Squaring my shoulders, I climbed the steps and brought silence to the group with my presence alone.
Dozens of pairs of eyes latched on me, then drifted to the right. I followed their gaze, landing on a lovely figure in blue.
Why not call her lovely? Saylor was beautiful in an Oscar de la Renta belted blue lace dress and matching ankle-high boots. That was a fact. She truly looked like a queen, delicately sipping her tea and smiling up at the clouds—as if the day was destined to go her way.
I slowly closed the distance, nearing her table and the other women sharing it. Gabriella, Piper, and Katie watched me approach with varying expressions.
“Morning, ladies.”
Saylor turned her smile on me. “Sinclair. Nice of you to join us. A few of us thought you wouldn’t.”
“Don’t know why.” I claimed the single lone chair at the table. “I’m happy to chat with you, Saylor. If you remember a certain engagement party, I’m not the one who turned this relationship sour.”
Her smile didn’t waver. “Is that why you’ve done all this? One little argument on a balcony and you think you’re justified in everything that’s happened since?”
“What exactly have I done?”
“Don’t take her shit, Saylor.”
I stiffened. Twisting around, I saw Levi emerge from behind a group of guys. He fell in beside Saylor with a shit-eating grin so obscene, I realized I lied to my guys. Violence would be done on this balcony.
“What are you doing here, Thompkins?” I strained to keep my voice calm.
“What do you think? I told Saylor everything,” he replied. “All about your vendetta against the Royals for what happened to your sister. Saylor was there the day you showed up here unwanted—crowding me, Wesley, and Owen when we were trying to eat our breakfast.
