Anchor of Secrets by Tessa Hale
29
“Talk to me,”I begged, as Declan’s foot pressed down on the accelerator.
But he didn’t. He hadn’t said a word since demanding to know more.
I’d told him what I knew, which wasn’t much, and Declan had gone cold.
I squeezed his hand as hard as I could, hoping the bite of pain would bring him back to me somehow.
“I thought he left,” Declan said in a hoarse whisper.
“I know,” I said softly.
“He was living in hell, and I was pissed at him.”
“You didn’t know.”
Declan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “He thought I knew?”
“Your father is clearly a master manipulator.”
Declan shook his head as he swung into the drive of The Nest. As soon as the guard saw it was us, he opened the gates. Declan didn’t hesitate. He gunned it up the cobblestone road. Screeching to a halt, he threw the SUV into park and pulled out his keys.
“Dec, wait. You need to be calmer—”
But he was already gone.
I cursed, jumping out of the G-wagon and running after Declan.
Voices came from the dining room, and I moved in that direction.
Declan skidded to a stop in the space, and the guys looked up. Declan only saw Ronan, his twin. “Dad sold you?” he croaked.
Ronan’s gaze shot to me. “What the fuck did you tell him?”
I paled, never having seen such anger pointed at me from Ronan. “I’m sorry. I—”
“Did. He. Sell. You?” Declan’s voice bellowed so loudly I swore the walls trembled.
Dash and Colt were on their feet, moving toward Declan. Trace stood, staying near Ronan.
Ronan shoved back from the table. “Like you didn’t fucking know.”
“I didn’t,” Declan snapped. “He told me you ran away.”
Ronan scoffed. “And you just believed him.”
“He had a note. It was in your handwriting.”
Ronan’s footsteps faltered for a moment, then he shook his head. “You should’ve known me better than that.”
Declan shoved Ronan hard. “And you should’ve known me better. You think I would’ve been okay with sending you into that nightmare? I know what those pits are. Know they’re hell on Earth.”
Ronan whirled on Declan. “You don’t have a first fucking clue. Hell would be a vacation compared to them.”
Declan paled. “I didn’t know.”
Ronan’s eyes flashed. “You wanted the crown.”
“Because you didn’t. I didn’t want you to have to rule when you didn’t want it. I wanted to change things!”
A muscle ticked wildly along Ronan’s jaw, his hands fisting. “Bullshit!”
Declan got right up in his face, grabbing his shirt and shaking him. “Look at me and tell me you think I’d betray you like that.”
Ronan brought his arms up, breaking Declan’s hold. “You never came looking for me. Not once. I lived in blood and death for three goddamned years, and you were just living the dream.” Ronan jerked his head in a shake. “Get the hell away from me.”
He stormed out of the room without another word.
The only sound was Declan’s heavy, ragged breathing.
No one moved. No one spoke. But my heart broke into a million tiny pieces.
That pain was nothing compared to what Ronan had endured. The thought jerked me into motion. I started for the door, but Colt caught my elbow. “Don’t, LeeLee.”
I pulled my arm from his grasp. “I have to.”
“He was different after the pits,” Colt said, his voice low. “He’s not always himself when he’s triggered. He could hurt you.”
“He won’t.” My voice held more confidence than I truly felt. But I wouldn’t leave Ronan alone in this, even if it put me at risk.
“Little Bird…” Trace warned.
I shook my head. “He needs to know he’s not alone.”
I moved without waiting for an answer. I jogged down the hall and listened. There was nothing. I went for the stairs first. Ronan’s room was his fortress, his sanctuary. If he hadn’t gone for the beach, this was where he’d be.
Making my way down the hall, I stopped in front of his door. The keypad lock taunted me. I worried the corner of my lip as I grabbed hold of the knob.
I didn’t let myself think too hard. I simply twisted. The door opened.
Maybe Ronan hadn’t thought anyone would dare follow him while he was in this dark a mood. Maybe he’d been too distracted to lock the door behind him. Whatever the reason, I was grateful for it because I didn’t have the first clue as to how to pick a lock. Especially one as high-tech as this.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Ronan growled as he paced the floor of his bedroom.
“Maybe not, but I’m here anyway.”
His head jerked up, that gold in his eyes flashing. “This is none of your damned business.”
Pain carved a home in my chest. “I care about you. Both of you. Your dad fucked with both your lives, and you needed to know it so you can stop blaming each other.”
“He should’ve known,” Ronan growled.
“If this happened now? Sure. But he was ten years old. He saw a note in your handwriting.”
Ronan picked up a porcelain pen holder on his desk and chucked it against the wall. “He knew me better than that. He wanted the power!”
I took two steps in Ronan’s direction. “And shouldn’t you have known Declan better than that? Shouldn’t you have known that your father would mess with Dec’s head?”
Ronan grabbed a picture frame and threw that against the wall next. Glass flew in every direction. “He left me to rot!”
I grabbed hold of Ronan’s tee and held on. “He didn’t. And deep down, you know it.”
That gold went molten as Ronan growled low. “You need to leave. I’m not in control.”
My breath hitched as Ronan’s hand closed around my throat.
“You stay, and I’ll take it out on this tight little body. I’ll break you. Destroy you.”
My eyes flared, but I didn’t look away. “Do it.”