with the Prince, or maybe the pressure of being famous.
She reminds me of Mama.
Our mother had Huntington’s disease. She had a gene mutation that affected her brain. It started with tremors and uncontrollable movements, and as it progressed, it started affecting her moods. She was more irritable and became a different person. It was difficult to see her change, to see her be mean where she’d been gentle before.
Really, really difficult.
I shake the thought away. Margot doesn’t have Huntington’s. We got tested just a couple of months ago. The results were negative. She told me so.
As I slip into my own bed, I vow to stay by my sister’s side.
Margot has done everything for me. She worked from the time she was a toddler to make sure that our family had food on the table. She’s given me a job, and a place to sleep, and as many bags of flour and mixing bowls as I could ever want.
She tortures herself, starves herself, and puts herself in the public eye so that my father and I can have a good life.
In return, she only asks for my support.
As I snuggle into my pillows, I think of the Prince. A part of me wishes I hadn’t washed my sheets after he was in my room. Maybe a faint smell would still cling to the sheets where he lay. Closing my eyes, I imagine the lines of his chest, his abs, his shoulders, everything so defined as water dripped down them tonight.
I think of the bulge I saw between his legs, and excitement teases up my spine.
Letting out a sigh, I know I can never have him.
He’s promised to my sister, and the last thing I want to do is betray her.
10
Luca
When I wake up, the sun is streaming through the windows and someone is knocking on the door. Groaning, I drag myself off my pillows. My head is still throbbing where my stitches are, and my body screams with pain.
Just like it does every morning, and every afternoon, and every night unless I dull it with drugs.
Before I answer the door, I open my bedside table and catch the pill bottle that rolls to the front. Swallowing a couple of painkillers, I slip my feet into slippers with the Farcliff crest embroidered on them and drag myself to the door.
Beckett stares back at me, lifting a cup of coffee toward me, and a small silver platter with a cinnamon bun on it.
“These were sitting on this trolley,” he explains, nodding to the breakfast trolley by my chamber doors.
I accept them with a grunt.
“You look like hell.” He looks me up and down and then steps past me into my room.
“Thanks.” I try not to wince as I turn to face him. It’ll be a few more minutes before my pain dulls, and every movement is agony. Every step feels like I’m walking on a bed of hot coals. The soles of my feet burn. I lower myself down onto a sofa and take a sip of coffee, grimacing at its bitterness.
“I didn’t think you’d sleep here tonight.”
I arch an eyebrow. “No?”
“Thought you’d have an after-party at your new girlfriend’s house.” His eyes flash, and a wicked tingle flashes through my heart. He has a thing for Margot. I can tell.
If I were interested in her, it might be a problem. Since I’m not, though, it’s merely entertaining.
“After-parties aren’t my thing.”
Beckett snorts, and I turn to the cinnamon bun. When I tear it open, I see little pieces of apple in it. My lips curl into a smile as I think of Ivy’s special touch.
Seems like hell has frozen over, because she’s baking for me already. She must be downstairs, working with the pastry chef.
“Where did you disappear to last night?” Beckett asks, eyeing me from across the room.
“Why? You keeping tabs on me?” I stare at my brother as I chew the sweet dough.
Damn, Ivy’s good. This cinnamon bun is unreal.
My brother doesn’t answer the question. “So, where were you?” There’s an edge to my little brother’s voice, and the mean part of me likes the fact that he’s jealous.
“Went for a dip in the pool.”
“In the middle of a dinner party?” Beckett’s brows draw together, and I wonder if there’s anything else going on. Is this simple jealousy?
I haven’t seen my brother in over two years. None of my family came to visit me while I was getting treatment. They video-called me, and sent me messages and emails, but no