up, Em.” Royal rolled to a stop before a red light. “We can’t go busting in and take Hiro from the doctor. That shit will get back to Rio immediately and any good grace we’ve won tonight vanishes. Doc is sober now and he’s good at what he does. He’ll patch Hiro up.
“As for the triplets, I can tell you straight up Rio will let them go. The two of them bring in too much money. He needs them working for him.”
“What does he need money for?” Bitterness made acid on my tongue. “Looks like he has plenty.”
“The Horsemen are making big moves. It requires big cash.”
I trailed a finger along his jaw. I loved touching him. I loved that he let me. “Any point in asking you what those moves are?”
“None.”
I chuckled despite myself. “Thought so.”
We lapsed in quiet for a spell, me drawing lazy circles on his stubble.
“Are we going to your grandmother’s place?” I asked.
“No. It’s my apartment. I got it as soon as I turned eighteen.” He finished his sentence with a right turn, pulling into the drive of a nondescript two-story building flanked on both sides by more nondescript apartments.
Royal parked and I climbed out, following him around to the back staircase. I felt oddly nervous going up those stairs. Royal and I had sex. Our hands had been down each other’s pants so recently I still felt him inside of me. All the same, every new step I took with him equal parts rattled and excited me. He opened up to me in the gazebo and invited me into his space. I had no doubt he’d been with a lot of girls at the academy, but I guessed he didn’t bring them here.
He let me go inside ahead of him. Royal’s home was everything I expected and nothing I pictured at the same time. His sketches covered the wall, grimmer in the wake of my understanding. A simple couch sat before a flat screen and armchair. The marbled tile was cool on my bare feet as I toed off my shoes. I padded to the middle of the rigidly tidy space.
My toes sank into a clean, vacuumed brown rug, and looking past the dining table I saw the kitchen was wiped down and clear of dirty dishes.
“How often are you here?” I asked.
Royal shrugged out of his jacket. “Most weekends.”
“It’s nice.” I skimmed a finger over the coffee table. After being handed three thousand dollars from Caesar, I had an inkling Royal was well-funded. His apartment confirmed it.
It wasn’t that his furniture was glaringly expensive like my uncle’s. But leather couches, flat screens, and cars like his didn’t come cheap to anybody.
“The bathroom is that one,” he said, motioning to the door closest to the kitchen. “Grab the first shower. I’ll get you some clothes.”
“You can go first,” I replied. “I’m going to text Eli. He should still be up and I need to reassure myself he’s okay.”
He nodded. Royal disappeared through the second door I assumed was his bedroom.
Getting comfy, I plopped in his armchair, putting my feet up as the shower turned on.
Me: Hey. Are you up?
Eli: Watching a movie with Tatum. Eating in front of the TV. Mrs. Wallis snuck us sundaes with dinner. When are you coming back?
Mrs. Wallis was one of the cafeteria workers. I was wholly unsurprised Eli burrowed under her skin and managed to get special treats out of her. Something about that cherub face melted the coldest hearts.
Me: Tomorrow. I miss you. You’re my only family. It’s you and me and I’ll always be there for you.
Eli: I know that. Why are you being weird?
Me: Loving you isn’t weird, jerk.
Eli: It is the way you do it.
Pinching my nose, my head fell back on the seat. Who invented fourteen-year-olds and why weren’t they stopped?
Me: I’m going to trade you for a real handbag one of these days.
Eli: No, you won’t.
The imp shot me half a dozen emojis sticking out their tongue.
Eli: Are you staying at the mansion?
Me: No, I’m at a friend’s place. Want me to bring you back something from the real world?
Eli wasn’t to know what happened that day. My brother had enough to deal with. Fearing the Horsemen would not be on that list.
Eli: No, I’m good. I gotta go. Love you.
Me: Love you too. Text me if you need anything.
Eli: K.
Eli was undoubtedly fine. I tried the triplets again to find out if they were. They didn’t pick up.
“Ember.” Royal leaned against