Page 39 of Deviant Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 5)

EMMIE

I’m still reeling from Theo’s words when we climb in the lift at his building a little over thirty minutes later.

He stopped for doughnuts and milkshakes, which makes me feel somewhat better about how my day is panning out.

“You can ask, you know,” he says as we climb through the building, clearly able to sense the questions that are only growing inside my head.

I blow out a long breath as I consider asking the one thing I’m not going to be able to unknow once I do.

The lift dings, announcing our arrival, and I sip my milkshake.

“Go on then,” I say, taking a step forward. “Who am I actually related to?”

Fuck it. I might as well know the whole fucking shebang now I’ve got this far.

“Shit,” I quickly add. “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”

I briefly think of his friends. Could I cope with actually being blood-related to any of them? Ugh.

“Nah, I think it could be awesome.”

I can’t help but groan.

“Who is it?”

Please let it be Stella and Toby. Please,I silently beg as we continue forward.

“Okay, you’re cousins with—” Theo’s voice cuts off as we turn the corner and find two people standing at his front door. “Seb,” he breathes. “What are you doing here, man?”

“W-wait… what?”

“Coming to make sure Emmie was actually still alive, you douchecanoe,” Stella says, stepping up to Theo and slapping him upside the head. And he doesn’t have a lot of choice but to take the abuse, seeing as his hands are full of milkshakes and a box of doughnuts.

“Seb, control your woman,” he barks, although there’s only amusement in it.

“Like you’ve been controlling yours?” Seb tilts his chin at me in greeting, but my head is still fucking spinning.

Was Theo about to say his name? Is Seb my cousin, or was that just really fucking bad timing?

“Fuck off, man. We’ve just been enjoying ourselves. Right, Em?” Theo asks, shooting me a warning glare.

“Yeah, time of our lives.” I force a fake smile onto my face in an attempt to play along. I’m not sure I’ve got the energy to find out what might happen if I don’t.

Seb smirks, but Stella doesn’t miss my fakeness. I didn’t expect her to.

“Here, take these. I assume you’re coming in.”

“Good job we brought extras.”

Theo presses his hand to the pad and the doors unlock for him.

“What the hell is going on?” Stella hisses quickly the second I’m beside her.

I’m torn.

Completely fucking torn.

Stella’s my girl, and I have no doubt that she’d try to do right by me.