Lawless Kingdom (Reign & Ruin 1)

“Don’t get smart with me, Rhiannon.”

Oh, so that was the card she was going to pull. They’d both unknowingly confirmed what Judas had said. They knew the Barrons. How, was what I wanted to know. Not once had they ever mentioned them.

I was going to let it go, play up the scolded adolescent. My mind had already leapt back to his, “Ask the Clermonts,” comment.

“Of all people, why a Barron?” Mom sighed.

“Is there something wrong with them? Something I don’t know about it?” I knew the answer to this.

I’d glimpsed a darkness in Judas more times than I could count, one I appreciated. One I assumed came from being an heir to his family’s empire. But they didn’t know I knew him that well. I wasn’t about to mention it now. Besides, I wanted to hear what they had to say.

“What’s so terrible about Judas and his family? Is it because they have money?”

Dad’s fork clattered to his plate. “Is this why you like him? We raised you better than that. Do we not provide for you well enough?”

What the hell? “I didn’t say that.”

Mom steepled her fingers beneath her chin and stared up at the ceiling. “Then why would you whore yourself out?”

If it wasn’t my mother across from me, I would have a great response for what she’d just said.

Like, knocking her ass out of the chair. But it was, and I couldn’t believe she had. I mean, ouch. Did she really think I would do that?

“Evie, that was unnecessary,” Dad reprimanded, his voice gruff.

“Well, Marcus. She is a little more… developed than most teens. Maybe she’s taken notice.”

That comment hurt ten times more than the last one. She knew how I used to struggle with my body image. That was a low blow. “Maybe? My ass is huge, Mom. Half the girls around me are the same size as you. Of course, I’ve taken notice.”

She simply stared at me, no apology or restructuring of what she’d just said coming forth.

“She didn’t mean that the way it sounded. You know you’re beaut—”

“It was exactly the way it sounded, Dad. Don’t stick up for her. She’s in control of her own words. I don’t care. Someone clearly has a body complex, and I promise it’s not me.”

I stood up and left the room before whatever bullshit she had to say could be spewed next. There wasn’t an apology for the truth; sometimes that shit had to hurt.

I locked myself in my room, taking in the pastel colors. They weren’t really me, but they helped me feel better about the shit inside my head sometimes. I’d acted on my urges only once. One year ago. Funny how everything kept coming back to that night. To that specific person. I couldn’t even say why I did it, only that it felt right in that moment and I’d never regretted it.

I grabbed my cell off the nightstand and flopped down onto my bed, propping my chin on a balled-up pillow.

Scrolling through the contacts, I found who had to be Judas under a simple letter J. I hovered over the message box a few seconds. Did I really want to bother him and start a conversation?

Did he not just have his fingers inside your pussy and make you come? my inner voice snarked.

Touché to that.

Monday, August 12th, 2019

Me: U were telling the truth. 6:45 PM

I went to toss the phone aside, but it pinged back instantly.

J: I would never lie to you. 6:46 PM

No idea what I was supposed to say to that. Somehow, for whatever insane reason, I believed him. I didn’t understand his motive. It’s not like he owed me anything. What we had between us was the furthest thing from a relationship. It was a screwed-up mess of emotional turmoil and blackmail.

Me: Why tell me at all? 6:46 PM

He didn’t text back that time. I sent a quick message to Audrey saying I needed to talk to her, and then I sat the phone to the side.

I woke up fifteen minutes later than I should have, and when you needed to primp, every minute was precious. I went for the same style uniform I had the previous day, knowing sooner or later I would have to wear the dreaded white one. I only had four.

My mother called for me as I was racing for the door, but I ignored her. I wasn’t in the mood and didn’t want to hear any apology she might’ve had. Not right then.

I hit the clicker for my Soul to unlock the doors, pausing at the bottom of the stairs. Judas’ sleek Mercedes was at the end of my damn driveway.

After yesterday, I would not be getting back in a car with him. It had nothing to do with Mom or Dad and everything to do with my desire to ride him in his front seat.