Ruthless Empire (Royal Elite #6) by Rina Kent

“Thank you, son.”

Congratulations?

Congratu-fucking-lations?

Why the hell did he do that? Why is he giving them his blessings?

No.

This can’t be happening.

“Princess?” Papa stares down at me with a creased brow. He’s disappointed in me for not being like Cole.

He hates that I’m making Helen even slightly uncomfortable.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I stand up on wobbly feet and flash the showtime smile I’ve perfected so well. “Congratulations, Papa, Helen. I’m so happy for you both.”

I’m not.

If there’s a place lower than hell, I deserve to be there. Why am I not happy for them?

It’s because of Mum, right? I’m the number one believer in her romance with Papa, despite all the fights, and I’ve hoped that someday down the line, they’d eventually get back together.

Especially since, until Helen, they hadn’t actually seen other people after their divorce.

However, that’s not the thing that’s gripping my heart in its black, merciless claws.

I force myself to listen as they talk about the wedding preparations and that they need to do it soon, before the elections.

They agree on my birthday, a ‘double celebration’, Papa says.

I open my mouth to scream, NO, but instead, I say, “I promised to call Mum. Can I go?”

“Why, of course.” Helen strokes my arm, her features creasing. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, perfect. I can’t wait to tell Mum the news.”

“I’m afraid she won’t be as acceptant of them.” Papa cuts through his meat with a neutral expression.

“What are you talking about? Mum will always be happy for you.” My voice is on the verge of a breakdown. I need out of here. Now.

And I need to stop trying to look at the arsehole across the table. He wouldn’t help. He ruined it.

“Cynthia? Happy for me?” Papa lifts his head. “Are we talking about the same Cynthia Davis who’s currently gathering people to vote down my bill?”

“She means no harm. I’ll be right back.”

I fly out of the scene as fast as I can. I don’t know how I ascend the stairs, but the moment I’m in my room, I fall to a slumped position on the bed, my heart nearly beating out of my chest.

The need to cry hits me out of nowhere and I can’t control it.

What is happening to me? Why do I feel like I missed the greatest timing of all? Like I screwed everything up?

My door clicks open. I feel him before I see him.

There’s something about his presence that has become familiar over the years. Even in the park, I feel him before he shows up.

In school, I know when he’s there before I step into class.

It’s a curse.

One I haven’t been able to get rid of since he first called me Butterfly and wiped my tears, getting glitter all over him.

Cole stands at the door, placing a hand in his jeans’ pocket. He has bloomed over the years to become tall and with a muscular athletic body that all the girls swoon over.

It’s not only because he’s part of the football team and one of Elites’ four horsemen.

He’s nicknamed Famine because, while he’s mostly silent, he’s deadly in attacks. He sneaks up on you out of nowhere and kills you a slow, torturous death.

The girls think he’s the whole package — smart, hot, rich, and an athlete. I can almost hear Summer and Veronica say I’m so lucky to be his stepsister.

I’m not.

I don’t want to be his anything.

“Are you hiding to cry alone again?” He appears calm, bored even.

“I’m not crying.”

He motions at my eyes as if proving a point. I wipe them harshly with the back of my hand. “Those aren’t tears.”

“Sure, if you say so.”

“What are you doing here, Cole?”

“I need to call Mum. Oh, wait, mine is downstairs.”

“Get out.”

“I should start picking a room. I think I’ll go with the one next to yours.”

“Are you rubbing it in?”

“Rubbing what in?” He approaches me with steady steps. All his nonchalant mood evaporates and his voice turns more lethal by the second. “You set them up. You gave them your blessing. You said, ‘I’m glad both of you are getting a second chance.’ Remember that, Silver?”

I rise to my feet, pointing a finger at him. “You didn’t say no either. You let them. You freaking congratulated them just now!”

“You started this whole mess.” His voice is calm, but his shoulders are rigid as he towers over me. “You let Aiden fuck you in the back of a car and then got engaged to him.”

“That’s because you didn’t keep your promise. If you didn’t save me your firsts, why should I save you mine?” That need to cry hits me again and I lower my head. “It doesn’t matter anyway. It’s too late now. It’s —”

He lifts my chin with two fingers and slams his lips to my parted ones. I gasp against him, my head swirling with dooming thoughts and my body bleeding, trembling, craving more.

So much more.

For a second, I let him kiss me, my heart and my chest tingling with a thousand emotions but none of them intelligible.