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Thirty-Seven

Reign

I know who you are.

Why would you lie?

Those were the last messages I sent Killian, also known as Star.

My mind has been in circles, and I can’t think straight.

All of my secrets and darkest thoughts are known by someone who’s just been lying and scheming.

Was I a part of his master plan for this whole thing?

Was I just a pawn in his game?

Everyone’s explained how Killian is worse than his dad because he loves nothing and no one, feels nothing for anyone.

But everything we’ve experienced together seemed different, like I actually mattered to him.

I just need him to tell me it’s all a lie.

“Reign,” I look up at my dad and see his eyes open. He’s lying in the hospital bed in front of me, looking weak and fragile.

Right when he fainted, we had a car get us to our family doctor.

Luckily the surgery went well, and they took the bullet out before it caused serious damage and before he could lose more blood.

I’ve been with him since he got taken in. I just can’t leave him, especially knowing that he could have possibly died. And since we got into the hospital my mind has been in overthinking mode, trying to put all the pieces together and figure out what happened.

I scoot my chair closer to him. “I’m here Papa.”

Baba and Mama are at home taking showers since they haven’t gone home. Baba went with Mama since she was worried about her.

She’s been by Papa’s bedside since he got admitted, wouldn’t leave his side other than to go to the restroom.

“Water,” Papa says in a scratchy voice.

I grab a water cup and hold the straw to his mouth. “Are you okay? How are you feeling?” I ask him as he swallows the water.

He finishes and I take the water cup back and place it on the side table. “I’m okay, Reign. Thank you,” he assures me. “It just hurts a little, but I’ll survive,” he says, sitting up a little.

“Do you want me to grab the doctor for you?”

Papa shakes his head. “No, Reign. I’m okay, thank you sweetheart.”

“What happened?” I ask, my eyebrows furrowing at him.

Papa sighs and shakes his head lightly.

I already know what he’s going to say is going to be about Killian and it won’t be good things.

I can’t imagine what happened.

“Killian,” Papa says, confirming what I already knew.

“What happened? What’d he do?” I ask, my heart racing inside my chest.

“He’s still working for his dad. He betrayed us Reign. He was using us-”

“Killian wouldn’t do that, though. We…”

We’ve done so much and spent so much time together.

It just hurts to think he would do something like that.

Especially since I was so close or pretty much on the verge of falling for him.

“Killian was sent to Bulgaria to kill me. That fire he saved you from was probably a decoy. He used us Reign,” Papa says, making me shake my head lightly and my heart clench. Please don’t make it true. “You may think that he loves you Reign or cares about you, but the harsh reality of this world is that Killian is a made man and made men care only about one thing. I’m surprised I didn’t see this coming because he is in line for the role of capo since his sister turned down the role.”

But all of the memories and moments spent together seemed perfect.

Almost like it was too good to be true.

I want to argue with my dad but even I know deep down it can’t be a lie.

Not when he was Star all along, learning about all my weaknesses and secrets so he could use them against me.

But I can’t imagine him doing that.

All of it seemed so real.

“He couldn’t-”

“Think Reign, all the facts point towards Killian. Stop being naive, I taught you better than that. His men shot me while Killian walked away, wound-free. We were all just a part of his plan to take the crown from his dad. You aren’t allowed anywhere by yourself from now on, he could come back to finish his mission.”

I widen my eyes lightly. “What? Why?”

“You are going to have a guard 24/7 from now on.”

“That’s not-”

“He used you to get to me, Reign!” Papa yells, his eyes turning into glares at me.

“But he acted like-”

“Like he loves you?” Papa raises his eyes at me. “Reign, sweetheart, please tell me you don’t actually love this boy! He will only hurt you!”

Tears form in my eyes.

It can’t be true.

Killian needs to just explain his side of the story.

He just needs to explain, and it will all be okay.

“You don’t know him like I do, Papa,” I say, shaking my head.

“I know he is Ace De Luca’s son. He will follow in his dad’s footsteps.”

“Killian isn’t anything like Ace.” I shake my head again and tears are finally falling. “I know Ace did things that you hate him for, but Killian isn’t like that. He’s sweet, caring, and protective. He is nothing like Ace, I know it.”

My poor naive heart, denying everything Papa says even though the factual evidence that points towards Killian.

“How do you know Reign? Because of a few moments spent together and a few secrets shared? He was lying!” Papa argues. “That’s how the De Luca’s are, using anyone in their path to get their way. They will take down everyone if they have to. They don’t feel an ounce of emotion, Killian especially.”

“It can’t be true. Papa, I love him.”

“Don’t have so much hope for Killian. He only cares about himself. He will burn everyone to the ground if he has to.”