Page 42 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

I lift one shoulder. “I was ten. I don’t know.”

She huffs, then flops onto her back. “Dad said he didn’t do it.”

“You can’t be serious.” The words are out of my mouth too fast. I should’ve held them back. But old, deep rage reignites in my chest. “He murdered my dad in cold blood. Of course he’s going to lie to you and say he didn’t.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything,” she murmurs. She sits up and scoots to the end of the bed—choosing to go around me than climb over me to get up.

I watch her pick up her underwear, straighten her shirt, and yank on leggings draped over my couch.

“You’re leaving?”

“Going back to my room,” she says stiffly. “In case the Blacks check on me.”

“I—”

I almost just apologized. And for what? Not believing the words of a murderer? Not gonna happen.

She spares a glance back at me, then lets out a long breath. “I know.”

I narrow my eyes. “You know what?”

“That your dad’s death still hurts. That you blame the entire Wolfe family for it—including me.” Her beautiful lips tip down.

She’s almost entirely in shadow, but I know her eyes are burning into mine.

Maybe she’s right. I do blame all of them.

It’s what my uncle drilled into me from the moment I stepped into his house.

After Margo leaves, slipping up the stairs quieter than a mouse, I touch my own throat. Flat on my back, it’s easy to remember how his hand on me felt. He liked shows of power. Cutting me down, making me feel small.

And what do you know?

I did the same to Margo—just like Uncle taught.

* * *

My phone buzzing jars me awake.

It took me forever to get to sleep, my mind twisting around Uncle’s lessons that I had shoved away, on top of Margo’s confession.

I fumble for the phone and finally find it.

“What?”

“Come outside.” It’s Theo.

I glance at the screen. It’s late—like, two in the morning, the rest of the world is sleeping late—and that piques my interest.

That and the urgency in his voice.

“Be there in a minute.”

“Backyard,” he says, then hangs up.

I wait a beat. I cross to the bathroom, the light still on from Margo, and splash water on my face. Get dressed, grab my shoes. Creep up the stairs, through the kitchen and out the back door, then put my shoes on.

Eli and Liam are waiting for me just beyond the brick patio.