Broken Reign: Enemies-To-Lovers Romance

“I grew up in a very different time. In a very different reality than you did.”

“Drugs?”

“And then some.”

“You can trust me.”

“I know I can, Skye.” I take a breath. “He was the man who brought the majority of cocaine through America in the early 2000s. Anyone doing coke at that time was probably doing coke that passed through our hands.”

“Was it very dangerous? Growing up with him?”

I want to laugh, but I don’t. “It makes what happened to us look like a walk in the park,” I answer truthfully without details.

“H-How did you ever survive?” Skye’s voice cracks, and her expression is tight. She’s trying her hardest not to fall apart but is failing.

I lean forward and place my lips on hers. “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

“And you had the will.” I can feel her smile against my lips.

“I did.” Pulling back, I let out a yawn.

“You need to rest.”

“I rested all night.”

“Rest some more.” Usually, I would call her bossy, but she’s right. I need rest, especially with everything coming next with Felix.

With that, I feel Skye take my hand, and my eyes close.

39

Skye

Tobias fell back asleep. As much as he thinks he’s above needing to recoup from a gunshot, he’s not. His body is obviously exhausted, and he’s too much of a tough guy to admit it, but alas, it didn’t matter.

He’s now lying in bed, breathing softly with a peaceful look on his face. His usually hard and focused features look rested and relaxed for the first time since I’ve met him for the second time. Even when we were kids and he held me in that storage closet.

My brain is on overload, trying to remember everything that has passed between us since we’ve been reacquainted.

At any point did I know? A part of me thinks I did, even if it was subconsciously. There was always a gravitational pull to him. And ever since he re-entered my life, my thoughts of the older boy from the closet were always close by.

Somewhere inside me, I knew.

Standing from where I’m perched on the bed, I peer around the room.

What am I supposed to do now? Do I just sit here, or am I supposed to be doing something?

With the quiet of the room, I can’t help how my mind wanders. There is so much we don’t know. The first thing is Felix. We know he’s involved, that much is clear, but the whys are still out there, hovering above us where we can’t see.

Then there is the matter of Tobias. Glancing back at the bed, I part my mouth into a smile. He’s resting peacefully, his chest rising and falling with every inhale and exhale, but then my lips thin.

I was told a lie, and I need to find out why.

Why didn’t you tell me the truth, Dad?

About anything.

It’s not just that he lied about Tobias, but he still hasn’t told me that he’s ill.

No matter how often I call to check in, and I call often, he doesn’t utter anything about his health.

At first, I felt disappointed that he wouldn’t confide in me, then hurt, but now, I’m just plain angry with him.

I don’t know what to think. I need to ask him why he lied. Why he told me that Tobias died.

I start to pace the room, but finally, I can’t handle it anymore. I need to call him. But first, I need to make sure I can. I don’t know the protocol.

Where’s Gideon when I need him?

I check on Tobias one more time before I leave, and yep, he’s still out for the count. Then I’m opening the door slowly so as not to wake him, and I slip outside to go in search of Gideon.

Despite the fact that it’s early in the morning, the halls are dark. This place is also confusing as all hell.

If this were a children’s book, I’d find a piece of bread and leave crumbs for myself. This place is huge. It reminds me of a British manor. I bet the security is intense.

Not that it matters in the long run.

The security in his building was crazy, yet Felix could still hit him. I shudder at the thought, at how lucky we were, because many of his men were not.

Hell, we were almost killed. I almost lost Tobias before I found him.

It takes me over five minutes before I see a light a few feet up the long dark hall, and when I make my approach, it looks like an office.

Gideon must hear me because he’s speaking before I even step inside. “Can I help you, or are you just sulking out there?”

Taking a step to enter, I lift my gaze to see Gideon staring right at me. I’m at the threshold of the room. “Can I come in? Am I disturbing you?”