Heartless Hero (Crowne Point 1)

The words hurt me more than they did him, I think, because an almost-smile twisted his square jaw. He seemed to take up all the space in the room.

Outside, the crash of waves and trill of seagull caws amplified our silence. The sun was setting, and I knew I should be getting ready for Gemma’s party.

Theo walked across my room to the mini fridge hidden beneath discarded silk blouses and unmatched heels—Mother always said I was a mess even the maids couldn’t wrangle. He pulled out a water, and I was reminded again that Theo knew me, knew every hidden spot in my room and heart.

Theo had been in my room before, but I’d always snuck him in. Now my favorite pearly-pink couch had been replaced with a foldout—a foldout. I must have really fucked up to have my mother put such a thing in my wing.

He twisted the lid off the water, handing it to me. “I think we got off on the wrong foot.”

I took it warily. I didn’t want to be enemies with Theo. Sometimes I did things without thinking—most of the time. My heart was sore and bruised from him, but if I could go back in time, I wouldn’t have kissed him.

Both times.

I took a sip of water. “Why are you here, Theo? Really?”

He tilted his head. “Truth or promise?”

My breath hitched.

Laughter echoed in my ear, salt air and summer nights, Theo and I curled together on the sand.

Play a game with me, Theo. Truth or promise?

Theo stepped closer, pulling me from the memory. Instinct had me shoving him away before he could get too close. He slammed large palms on either side of my head, grin stretching like a lion about to eat its prey.

“I’m here for you, Abigail.”

Why didn’t that put my stomach at ease?

Then all at once, he shrugged, stepping back. “The sooner you get your shit together, the sooner I’m back with your grandfather. I’m here to protect your and Crowne Industries’ image until your wedding day. Nothing else.” He folded his arms. “Even stunts like earlier aren’t going to deter me, Abigail.”

Until my wedding day. I swallowed a rock at his words.

I knew it was coming. I’ve been to all the other weddings. First it was my unmarried aunts, then it was my uncles, then they went for the cousins, and even the second-cousins, so on and so forth. Slowly we rebuilt our family on the unsuspecting backs of those who dared to rise above us, until we were back where we belonged: above them.

To date, the only one not forced into a marriage was, ironically, my mother.

Rationally, I know it’s not the end of the world. Gemma says when she gets married, she won’t move out. She’s already planning on forcing Horace to move in. Crowne Hall is big enough that they need only see each other for events. They’ll continue to sleep with whoever they want, as they already have been.

But I don’t want that life.

I’m stupid enough to want love.

I lifted my chin. “I want to be the best Crowne I can be.”

He gave me a look, and for a moment I thought he was going to call me out. There was a time when I’d told Theo all my deep dark secrets.

Like what I really wanted to do with my life, or how I hated myself for wanting to be better than my sister. How I wanted to be something, do something, more than be just a Crowne.

How I wanted my mom to love me more than anything.

He smiled, but it wasn’t the smile I knew. It was cruel, his pale eyes gleaming with something wicked beneath the shadow of his dark brow, and his plush lips curled.

It sent shivers down my spine.

“Like I said, Abs. I’m here to help.”

He’d used his old nickname for me, but there was no caressing lilt. If anything, he may have called me a bitch for all the warmth there was.