Fallen Stars and Broken Dreams - C.C. Masters Page 0,111

but I still wasn’t there yet.

Kingston flipped through the menu, looking for something we could all agree on, and I joined in the argument. We finally settled on a comedy, and it felt good to laugh, even if it was superficial.

Pain was still buried in my heart, but in this moment, it had briefly faded to something closer to contentment. Of course, it may have also been that I was too emotionally drained to feel much of anything. As I snuggled into the blanket and glanced over at Maverik, I decided that was the more likely explanation. After all, trusting him would be beyond stupid.

Chapter 33

Katya

It was later the next morning when Richard showed up at the hotel with Nina in tow. Last night with the guys had been surprisingly chill. Security made sure we stayed in the suite, so we just watched TV and after we ordered room service.

I sat hunched on the couch between Maverik and Kingston while Richard paced in front of us. Nina was seated primly across from us and shooting daggers from her eyes. If Richard hadn’t been here right now, who knows what she would have done?

Chills went down my spine at the soulless look in my mother’s eyes. My unscheduled trip to NY had inconvenienced her, and she was going to make me pay. I just hoped it wouldn’t cost me anything I truly cared about.

“I can’t believe you brought Katya into this!” Richard roared. “What if she had gotten hurt while the two of you were drunk and gallivanting around the city?”

Kingston tossed a piece of popcorn in his mouth, completely unconcerned by Richard ranting at us for the last ten minutes. He was spread out on his side of the couch, lounging as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

Maverik was the opposite. He was tense, but under control. His sharp eyes tracked Richard’s movements, and I could see the calculation inside them.

“We weren’t planning on gallivanting,” Maverik said smoothly. “And I had everything under control.”

Richard paused in his tirade to run his hand through his hair in agitation, so I took the opportunity to speak up.

“Actually, I brought them into this,” I said quietly. “It was my idea to leave originally.”

Richard’s head snapped in my direction, and I swallowed nervously. “The guys caught me trying to get to NY by myself, and they decided to come with me to make sure I was safe.”

Richard closed his eyes and breathed in deep. “Is that the truth, or did they set you up to take the fall for this?”

I sat up a little straighter. “I was angry, and I wanted to see Ryan,” I admitted. “Being taken away from my home, losing my best friend, losing my spot in my school, and then moving into a new home with strangers has been overwhelming for me.”

Richard’s eyes softened at my confession, but they hardened again when his gaze caught on Kingston.

“The boys just got in trouble for taking my private jet to New York last week.” Richard shot a glare in their direction. “But, apparently, they didn’t learn their lesson.”

I blushed. “I should have known better, but I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

Richard sighed and sat down in the chair, the fire suddenly going out of him.

“I know you’re trying to do the right thing,” I told him honestly as I scooted forward in my seat. “But try to see it from my perspective. I was struggling to deal with my grandmother’s death, and then my entire life was ripped away.”

I could feel Maverik’s eyes on me, but I didn’t look in his direction. Kingston was surprisingly quiet. I hadn’t heard one joke or even a chuckle from his direction. He’d even stopped crunching his popcorn.

Richard sat down on the couch across from me and sank down into the deep cushion. “Katya, I understand that you were upset, but running isn’t the right thing to do. You should have come talk to me or your mother.”

Kingston snorted, and Richard gave him a sharp look.

“I know,” I said softly. “I thought I was alone, but Maverik and Kingston showed me that I’m not.”

Richard searched my eyes for a moment, then stood. “Katya, I’m glad that you’ve learned an important lesson from this, but I don’t think the boys have. This isn’t the first time that they’ve simply taken off on their own.”

“Katya determined this was the best course of action,” Maverik told him coolly. “I would have never let King go alone, and now