Page 26 of Monsters Wear Crowns (Crowned Monsters Duet #1)

I woke slowly, the world swimming into focus. The sheets beneath me were soft, and the air smelled like cedar and gunsmoke.

Rafe.

The memories slammed into me all at once, the gunfire, the blood, his arms around me, his fear. I shifted, wincing as pain lanced through my side.

“Don’t move.”

His voice came from the corner of the room, rough and low, and I turned my head to find him. He was sitting in a chair, elbows on his knees, watching me with that steady, unreadable gaze. But something was different now simmering beneath the surface.

“You’ve been out for hours,” he said, his voice softer this time. “How do you feel?”

“Like I got shot,” I muttered, trying to push myself up on one elbow.

He was on his feet instantly, crossing the room in a few long strides. Before I could protest, his hands were gentle but firm, easing me back against the pillows. “Don’t,” he warned. “You’re not going anywhere.”

I glared up at him, but it lacked heat. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine,” he snapped, his voice suddenly sharp. “You could’ve been killed, Adela.”

The intensity in his eyes stole my breath. He wasn’t just angry, he was shaken . And that was something I hadn’t expected .

I swallowed, trying to lighten the mood. “You act like this is my first time being shot at.”

That…did not help.

Rafe’s jaw clenched, his eyes going ice cold. “That’s not funny.”

“I wasn’t joking,” I said quietly.

The silence stretched between us, absolutely thick with tension.

“Who were they?” I finally asked, needing to shift the conversation away from the thick emotion in the room. “Do you know?”

His jaw tightened. That muscle in his cheek jumped, the only tell in an otherwise unreadable mask.

I waited. A second stretched into an eternity.

He exhaled slowly, but it wasn’t calming. It was the kind of breath someone takes before pulling the trigger. “Nicolas Moreau.”

The name hit the air like a gunshot. My stomach lurched.

I wasn’t involved in his world, not really.

Not like he was. But even I knew that name.

Anyone with half a brain did. Nicolas Moreau wasn’t just a criminal–he was a ghost story, whispered quietly in back alleys from men who claimed they knew him so they could commit a heinous crime.

The kind of man who made people disappear without a trace.

And Rafe was the other name people spoke of with the same terror. The two monsters who owned this city. And now they were fighting.

My chest felt too tight. “Moreau.” The name tasted wrong on my tongue. “ That Moreau?”

His eyes were steel. “There’s only one.”

Jesus Christ.

A war. I was caught in a war between the only two men powerful enough to burn this city to the ground. The idea of being involved in this made my stomach twist. “What now?” I whispered.

Rafe’s eyes softened just a fraction. “Now, you rest. And when you’re ready, we start tearing through every lead we have until we find whoever is feeding him information.”

“And when we do?”

The corner of his mouth lifted, but there was no humor in it. “I’ll rip their heart from their fucking chest while you watch.”

A shiver worked its way down my spine, but it wasn’t entirely fear. The room went quiet, and I found myself studying him, the tension in his shoulders, the shadows beneath his eyes. He hadn’t left my side. I knew it without having to ask.

“You should sleep,” I murmured.

He shook his head. “I'm fine.”

“Rafe–”

“I almost lost you tonight,” he said, his voice low and raw. “I’m not sleeping until I know that’s not going to happen again.” The air between us thickened, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered.

He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes unreadable. And then he leaned down, brushing his lips against my forehead.

“Get some rest, Adela.” But even as my eyes drifted closed, I knew neither of us would find any real peace until this war was over.

***

I woke to the sound of raised voices.

My head felt heavy, my body aching as I slowly blinked myself into awareness. The room was dim, the soft glow of nightlights releasing long shadows, but it wasn’t the low lighting that caught my attention. It was the unmistakable sound of Lauren’s sharp and furious voice. Oh, dear.

“You don’t get to make decisions for her!”

My stomach flipped. I pushed myself up, wincing at the pain in my side, but I ignored it. My vision cleared just in time to see Lauren standing near the door, her eyes blazing, her hands clenched into fists.

Rafe stood across from her, calm in a way that only made him more threatening. His arms were crossed, his expression cold and bored. But his eyes…those icy blue eyes were locked on her like she was a threat he was debating whether or not to eliminate.

“She was nearly killed tonight, you fucking psycho,” Lauren spat. “And you want me to believe that’s just some unfortunate coincidence?”

“Lower your voice,” Rafe said, his tone so quiet it made the hair on my arms rise. “She’s sleeping.”

“Not anymore,” I rasped.

Both their heads snapped toward me.

“Adela!” Lauren was at my side in an instant, her hands brushing my hair back as she scanned my face. “Are you okay? Jesus, I’ve been losing my mind–”

“I’m fine,” I said, even though it wasn’t exactly true. But I was alive. I wasn’t about to complain.

She didn’t believe me. Not even a little. Her eyes softened, her lips pressing into a thin line. “You scared the hell out of me.”

“I scared the hell out of myself.” I forced a weak smile. “But you’re here. How?”

Rafe answered before she could. “I had my men retrieve her. I wasn’t taking any chances.”

Lauren stiffened, her jaw tightening as she glared at him. “Right. Because it’s totally normal to kidnap your girlfriend’s best friend.”

He didn’t even blink. “You’re welcome.”

“Rafe.” My voice was quiet but still managed to sound reprimanding. “What happened?”

“I sent my men to your office after the attack,” he said. “They found Lauren there alone, closing up. I wasn’t about to leave her unprotected.”

Lauren huffed. “They hauled me out of there like I was some kind of hostage– ”

“You were a target,” Rafe cut in, his voice like ice. “And I don’t leave loose ends.”

The room went still.

I could feel the anger vibrating off Lauren, but beneath it was fear, fear she’d never admit to. And I knew her well enough to understand why. She wasn’t used to feeling vulnerable. Neither of us were. And now we were both tangled up in something far bigger and more risky than we’d anticipated.

“Lauren,” I said softly, taking her hand. “I’m okay.”

She squeezed my fingers, her eyes flashing. “For now. But how long until you’re not, Adela?” She turned her glare back on Rafe. “You’re dragging her into something that is going to get her killed. Moreau? You’ll both fucking die.”

“That’s not going to happen,” he said, his voice low and deadly.

“Really?” She let out a humorless laugh. “Because it sure as hell looks like it’s already starting.”

“Lauren,” I warned, but it was no use. She was on a tear.

“You think you can just own her?” she demanded, stepping toward him. “She’s not some piece on your chessboard–”

“I know exactly who she is,” Rafe said, his voice soft and dangerous. “And I don’t take what’s mine for granted.”

The words sent a shiver down my spine.

Lauren’s eyes widened, and then her gaze flicked back to me. “You’re really okay with this? With him ?”

I met her stare head-on. “I know what I’m doing.”

“ Do you?” Her voice cracked. “Because this isn’t just some power play, Adela. This is your life . And I swear to god, if he gets you killed–”

“I won’t,” Rafe said quietly, but there was nothing soft in the promise.

Lauren didn’t believe him. Not yet. But she didn’t push it. For once. She exhaled sharply and turned back to me. “I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe. ”

“You’re safe here,” Rafe said. “My men are outside. No one’s getting in without my permission.”

Lauren snorted. “Oh, good. Because that’s so comforting.”

I sighed, already feeling the start of a headache. “Both of you, just–stop. Please.”

The room fell silent.

“Lauren,” I said gently. “I appreciate you being here. I do. But I need you to trust me.”

She sighed, but I could see the fight still simmering beneath the surface. “I trust you ,” she said. “I don’t trust him.”

“Fair,” I murmured.

Rafe’s lips twitched like he was trying not to smile.

“Just…give us a minute, okay?” I asked.

Lauren hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. But I’m not going far.” She shot Rafe one last warning glare before disappearing into the hallway.

The door clicked shut behind her.

I let my head fall back against the pillows. “She’s going to kill you in your sleep, you know.”

“I’d like to see her try.”

I cracked an eye open. “Don’t tempt her.”

Rafe didn’t smile. He just stared at me, long and hard, like he was trying to figure out what to do with me.

“She’s not wrong,” he said finally.

“About?”

“This being dangerous. You being in peril.” He crouched beside the bed, his eyes level with mine. “I can keep you safe, Adela. But you have to let me.”

I swallowed hard. “I’m not very good at letting anyone do anything for me.”

His lips curled, but there was no humor in it. “I noticed.”

He reached out, his fingers brushing my cheek. And just like that, the anger and fear faded.

“I meant what I said,” he murmured. “No one touches what’s mine.”

My breath caught.

“Rafe–”

The door burst open, and Lauren’s voice rang out. “We have a fucking problem.”

Of course, we did.

***

The warm weight of Rafe’s hand guided me through the dim hallway, his touch both grounding and possessive.

My side still ached from the fight, but the bandages were tight, and the pain was manageable.

What wasn’t so easy to manage was the war of emotions still crashing inside me.

Fear, anger, desire, and his presence made everyone burn hotter.

But then I saw them.