Page 172 of Kings & Queen

The words died in my throat. He wouldn’t ever be able to. There was no way for him to, unless I said something. I couldn’t do that, though. He mentioned she experienced trauma as a child. When I heard the guys mention she didn’t talk and had some issues, I figured something had to have happened to her. But never in a million years could I have predicted this.

Did they know? Think, Kinsley, think.

“Ms. Taylor, I’m going to need you to listen closely.”

Marcel’s Dom voice rang out throughout the room, and I gulped and nodded. I instantly became a little girl again, needing him to tell me what the rules were. He would know what to do.

“Running to Sophia and Christopher’s will not get her to accept the relationship any easier. That’s not the answer. Avoiding people who are uncomfortable with the arrangement will quickly become tiresome.”

His words were spoken calmly, and I was thankful he hadn’t been able to read deeper into my reaction.I wish to god this situation was that simple.If only it was embarrassment about being in a relationship with the King brothers that set heroff, maybe then we could get past this, but it wasn’t like I could share that, so I remained quiet.

“If I know Sebastian, he’s talking to her about her behavior right now. You will not do anything hasty. In fact, you’re going to take a deep breath and then do what I expect. You’ll do what your Kings expect. And that is to be the wonderful young lady we all know and love. Isabella could use a friend like you,” he said.

“Dr. Marcel, I don’t know if that’s possible.”

“I don’t believe that for one second. If anyone could understand her, I believe it will be you. She has her own story, one we only know smart bits and pieces of. She doesn’t like sharing. Reminds me of someone I used to know,” he said with a soft smile.

There was noahamoment, no connection of dots being made, and I stared at him, wondering what on earth she told them happened to her. Because I for sure as hell knew. I knew it all. He hugged me and kissed the top of my head sweetly.

“It’s not my place to tell her story. And I don’t want you to worry too much about it. Her experience wasn’t like yours, but similar enough that I know in my heart you’ll be good for her.”

“Similar?” I asked stupidly.

“Yes, Ms. Taylor, but entirely different at the same time. Now promise me you’ll try with her.”

I nodded, even though in my heart, I knew there was nothing I could do on my end. My heart hurt, my head hurt, and I never felt more confused in my entire life than I did at that moment. He patted my hand, and Alek, Nik, and Ivan strolled into the room, taking his place.

Chapter 67

Isabella

Look Inward

The air was still,almost suffocating as I tried to keep my panic at bay. No one in my family understood my desire to create a fortress, a sanctuary where I could be in solitude without prying questions.

No one understood that the walls I erected were a coping mechanism from the world I’d left behind all those years ago. Well, no one understood, except maybe her. But how on earth was Kinsley, the silly girl I had been rolling my eyes at every time her name was mentioned, one of my season sisters?

How?

Memories crept in like tendrils of smoke from my father’s cigars. I had tried so hard to bury those, and when I couldn’t shove them down, I painted or drew. The pounding in my head was loud, like an unrelenting war drum. I needed distance, like, yesterday.

When I managed to tear my eyes from her and looked at Nikolai, an electric surge of fear raced through my veins. She still looked sweet and shy. Just a slightly older version of the dancing girl I once knew. With my heart racing, I did the only thing I knew how to do; I ran.

Each step propelled me farther from her, from the memories clawing at my soul. But now, standing in my room at their house, the panic seized me. Did they know about her past? What if she’d talked already? I then remembered my mother and Sophia discussing Marcel and how he was counseling her.

Shit.

My skin crawled as thoughts of her talking to him about all we’d endured threatened to choke the very breath from my lungs. I couldn’t stay. There was no way in hell I could. If Marcel knew, then Bash would know.

They didn’t keep secrets from one another, especially when it came to family. This was why I stayed cooped up, confined to my small little world. You couldn’t run into your past if you didn’t go anywhere.

Leave,my brain shouted.Save yourself, at any cost. Do what you must.

Still feeling like I was in another world, I pulled my suitcase onto my bed. My muscles constricted, and my heart was on the edge of exploding. I needed to get out of here immediately. But before I could, Sebastian stormed into my room.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

Great, perfect. Just what I needed.