Crowned by Fate (Crowned 2)

I slam the door closed and run down to my bedroom, dashing inside in a frenzy. It takes a few minutes to calm my erratic heartbeat.

I take four breaths while pulling my phone off the charger beside my bed. I hit dial.

The phone rings.

“Hey.”

“Hi,” I whisper. “I’m coming.”

“What?” she bites out through a whisper. I hear doors closing in the background of wherever she is. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

I hold my breath. My eyes water. “Jess. I need this. I need to be away.”

“Wait…” Jess pauses. “You mean you’re not telling Bryant?”

“I have to go. I’ll see you soon and will call you when I land.”

“Isa…” Jess warns. “I love my brother, but this isn’t a good idea. He—”

“—Jessica!” I snap, and then feel instantly guilty. Jess has done more for me than I could have ever expected from anyone. She is my saving grace. I owe her my life.

I sigh. “I have to get out of here. There’s so much uncertainty and lies. I feel like I’m suffocating.”

Pause. “You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”

I lick my lips, chewing on the bottom one nervously. “I know.”

I hang up the phone quickly. Before I can cross my bedroom to make my way to my closet, Bryant pushes open my bedroom door. “What are you doing, Isa?” His voice is soft, but the waves in his frequency are strong enough to drown me.

I rub the tears from my eyes. “I’ve got to go.”

“Go where?” he tests. I find myself casing him out. Strong build, tanned skin, dark eyes and messy hair. Bryant is everything I ever wanted wrapped in everything that I can’t handle.

He might kill me for what I’m about to do, but it’s a risk that I’m willing to take. “Leaving.”

He finally enters my bedroom, kicking the door closed while shoving his hands into his pockets. I continue with the task of tearing down clothes and tossing them into my suitcase. He watches carefully. I almost think he’s not going to say anything at all until he breaks the silence with his iron fist.

“That wasn’t part of the deal.”

I sigh, zipping up the bag and turning to face him.

I take two steps. And then another. Until his shiny shoes are up against my bare feet.

I lick my lips and bring my eyes up to his. “I have to.” I’m stuck. Confused. Agitated. Confused.

“Baby,” he murmurs, his arm wrapping behind my back to pull me closer into his chest. His lips fall over mine and my stomach drops to the ground. “I need you.” The words that wrap around his tongue so expertly fly out and punch me straight in the chest.

I squeeze my eyes closed. “I don’t think I’m strong enough.”

I feel his palm against my cheek before I realize tears are falling down my face. “Look at me.”

Slowly, I peel my eyes open until ours are connected. Every fleck of color that lines his irises. Every thick lash that frames his lids. I see it all. My heart thunders in my chest. “You don’t have to be strong. Not with me. Not ever.”

I feel that crack slowly split open in my chest.

“I will always do everything and anything I can to support you, Isa. I fucked up by not digging into why you were left in that asylum.” He breathes out over my mouth. “I will not fucking do that again.”

Slowly, I let out a deep breath of air.

I want to tell him.

He deserves to know.

But I know if I tell him now, it will distract him. Or will it help him focus? Before I can stop myself, I fall to the ground, bringing my knees up to my chest. I feel horrible. Betrayal caves in around me, cutting off any light. Why is everything suddenly falling onto me at once?

“Hey!” He kneels down in front of me, his fingers wrapping around my chin. “Two more weeks. Two weeks of campaigning and you don’t even have to be part of it. I’m just asking you to be here for it when I take the one thing your father ever cared about. More than his family.”

Breathing in and out, I slowly rein in my breathing. My muscles relax and my shoulders drop as I lean against the bed. “I’m sorry.” The words leave me before I can stop them.

“For what?” Bryant asks, searching my face. I want to say. I need to say. But I won’t. Not right now.

My mouth tips up in a soft smile. “Okay. I’ll stay for two weeks.”

He drops down to the ground, stretching one leg out and leaning against his elbow. “Ready to be my wife?”

My eyes snap to his, but when I see the smirk that’s sprawled over his soft lips, I relax. “Not even close.”

The next day, I keep myself busy. I need to keep distracted if these two weeks are going to go by fast. Or even at a normal speed. People were going in and out of the house on a daily basis. Cars, camera crews, and the phone never. Fucking. Stopped. It feels as though Bryant had halted the chaos until this morning, and now it’s suddenly blowing up.