Page 21 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

“What?” I misheard her.

She’s trembling, a leaf in the wind, and the way she’s looking at me makes me think… I’m the storm.

“Someone was with him. Someone he knew, but I can’t—”

“And you think it was me.” That stings.

“No, Caleb, I don’t.” Sadness.

Why is she sad?

“My memories came back.”

Oh fuck.

Margo

Past

Caleb and I were playing hide and seek, which required me to be extra quiet. I tiptoed through the house, planning on balling up under the sink in the kitchen. It would take him forever to find me, and I’d be victorious.

We weren’t supposed to be here, though. Lydia—Mrs. Asher—had taken us to the park, but she dropped us off about an hour ago and told us to play in Caleb’s room until she got back. There were only so many things we could do in his room, and he was sick of me touching his Legos. The puzzles were built. I wasn’t allowed to play video games, so that was out.

We were used to being let loose, and eventually, Caleb caved.

He still liked to listen to his mom, especially since we could hear his dad walking around downstairs. His dad got home shortly after us.

My dad was working. Mom was out.

Caleb and I had experienced an odd thrill of imminent capture when his dad got home. His dad wouldn’t just yell at us—he’d probably scream his voice hoarse at Caleb’s mom, too. But hide and seek was an excellent game. It was meant for devious kids like us.

And yeah, it may have been my idea.

There was an odd thumping noise coming from the kitchen.

Lowering myself down into a crouch, I kept close to the wall.

Upstairs, Caleb was probably counting as quietly as possible. I counted in my head, keeping track of my time. That’s how you were supposed to do it when being stealthy.

“Fuck, Amber,” a voice growled.

My whole body got icy.

I stopped just before the doorway and poked my head into the kitchen.

My mother… her bare legs were wrapped around Caleb’s dad’s hips. She sat on the counter—the same one she cooked on—like she was in pain. Her mouth was open. Eyes closed.

His hand was tangled in her hair, keeping her head back.

I knew about sex. We’d learned about it in health class.

But I didn’t think it would be like this. Caleb’s dad was still wearing his pants, and all I saw was his back. But the words coming out of his mouth were vicious.

Mom was cheating on Dad.

I knew what that was, too. We had learned about it from Amelie, whose dad had a shiny new girlfriend who sometimes picked Amelie up from school. She said her dad liked to say the girlfriend was the newer model—whatever that meant.

But after the initial shock of it passed, horror sunk in.