Craven Cove Royalty (Craven Cove)

“You don’t think it would be nice to live together? We wouldn’t have to sneak around.”

“We can’t live together, Rory.” I shake my head at the stupid thought. Then the anger I already have inside of me builds. I want it. But wanting things you can’t have is dangerous. I don’t let myself do that anymore, not since I was a young girl.

“Why?” Rory stops walking, looking confused. To him it’s so simple. He doesn’t have anything to lose.

Must be nice.

“You don’t even know me, Rory. We can’t live together.” I roll my eyes, trying to jerk my hand out of his again, but he only tightens his hold on me.

Something crosses his face, and his whole demeanor changes. The air around us grows thick with tension and then it hits me. He knows. Of course he knows.

“Don’t play stupid, Anna. You’re far from it,” Rory says. “I’m not stupid either. I know who you are.”

Maybe I am stupid, because I thought I could con a man like Rory Crew and he wouldn’t go digging into my past. With how much time he’s spent not only with me, but inside me, of course he did. I have no right to feel betrayal, but it hits me right between the ribs. Never once did I have the upper hand with him. I was once again just a silly girl who let an older man cloud her judgment.

“Good for you, Rory. Did you learn anything interesting?” No wonder he shoved that black American Express into my hand so quickly that night. He knew if he gave me money, he could keep me for as long as he liked.

“Besides the fact that you and Celeste are con artists? The Binx girls go across the country robbing fools and cheating men?”

Fuck, that stings. The look on his face is so confusing because I’d swear it’s like those things mean nothing.

“You’re one of those fools, Rory,” I point out, wanting to hurt him right back.

Why the hell would he ask me to move in, knowing those things about me? My head starts to spin because none of this is making sense.

“Is that true?” I hear Apollo’s voice, and my eyes snap to the door Rory and I are standing next to. Apollo and my daughter are here.

“Kind of?” Celeste responds to him, her voice soft.

They both must have heard everything Rory and I said. I close my eyes as guilt engulfs me, and I don’t catch whatever Apollo says back to her.

“It’s not what you think,” Celeste answers.

“This is all a con?” Apollo says back to her. “Are you even on birth control? Is that what this is? You’re trying to trap me.” My eyes fly open, and I see red. I’ll fucking kill him.

When I jerk my hand again, this time Rory is smart enough to let it go.

Celeste’s gasp is loud from the other side of the door, and Rory shakes his head before he rubs his hand across his face. Even he’s disappointed by his son’s response.

“Fuck you,” Celeste hisses.

“I’m pretty sure you fucked me,” Apollo spits, then it’s followed by a loud smack that I know without a doubt my little girl gave him.

“Celeste.” I grab the door, trying to open it because I need to get to her.

“Leave us alone,” Apollo shouts. His voice filled with panic. It should be.

“Rory.” I glare at him, making it clear he better get this fucking door open for me right now.

“Oh, I’m definitely going to leave you alone,” Celeste says a moment before I hear the lock pop, and I yank the door open.

“Can we leave?” Celeste blurts out when she sees it’s me standing there.

“Yes,” I say without hesitation, but both the Crew men say “no” at the same time. As if they could stop me right now.

“We’re not done,” Apollo says, trying to step in front of my daughter. His cheek is already starting to turn red where she smacked him. Good.

“We’re more than done,” Celeste responds to him, holding her chin up high, fighting those tears. She pushes past him, and I grab her hand.

Apollo doesn't hide his feelings of regret and anguish. Good. The little fucker should regret what he said to Celeste. It will do him good to wallow in it for a few days.

Rory almost steps in front of me but thinks better of it at the last minute. “This isn’t over,” he says.

“You’re right.” I let all my anger show. “I’m taking your car, and you can pick it up tomorrow. Then it will be over.”

I want to break, but I don’t have that luxury. I have to be strong for my little girl. All I’ve ever wanted to do was protect her and to protect the little girl that still lives inside of me.

I’ve failed both of us.