Page 61 of Monsters Wear Crowns (Crowned Monsters Duet #1)

I lit the fireplace first. The old stone hearth came to life with a flick, flames catching on dry logs, pouring gold across the darkened room.

Shadows danced on the old photos still hanging in the hall, ones I hadn’t looked at in years.

My mother’s face in grainy color. Me, young and stupid, still believing I could escape who I came from.

I couldn’t touch them.

Upstairs, I turned on the shower and let the steam fill the air before stepping under the spray.

It scalded my skin, but I didn’t flinch.

I braced both hands against the tile wall, head bowed, and let it burn.

I wanted it to strip everything away. The blood.

The guilt. The way she had looked at me before she left. I stood there until the water ran cold.

And even then, I didn’t move.

***

ADELA

The silence in my penthouse felt oppressive.

I told myself I wanted this–the space, the distance.

I told myself I needed it. But as I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the black SUV parked across the street like a shadow I couldn’t shake, it didn’t feel like freedom. It felt like a different kind of cage.

Rafe’s men hadn’t left since I walked away from him. And even though I hadn’t seen him in days, I felt him everywhere. My phone buzzed on the counter. I didn’t want to look. I already knew who it was.

Rafe: Have you eaten?

I stared at the message, my heart twisting in my chest. He hadn’t called since the night I left.

Maybe he knew I wouldn’t answer. I was still too raw, too angry, too broken.

But the texts kept coming. Short check-ins.

Sometimes hours apart. Sometimes, right after each other, like he couldn’t help himself.

I hated that I wanted to answer. I hated that a part of me wanted him here. I didn’t respond. Later, when I finally made myself leave the apartment, the black SUV followed me. I pretended not to see it.

***

At Sinclair Solutions, Laura was waiting–perched on the edge of my desk with that familiar devilish glint in her eyes. But when she really looked at me, the teasing faded.

“You look like shit,” she said. “I mean, you’re still disgustingly gorgeous, obviously. But I can tell you haven’t slept.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, dropping my bag and sinking into my chair.

She didn’t let it go. “You want to tell me what’s going on, or should I start guessing?”

“Laura–”

“You disappear for days ,” she cut in, eyes narrowing. “And then you show back up looking like someone ran you through a paper shredder. If this has to do with that criminally hot man of yours, I swear to God–”

“It’s over,” I said quietly, suddenly feeling as if an ice pick struck my heart. I hadn’t actually voiced it out loud until now.

Laura’s mouth snapped shut. For a second, she just stared at me. Then she folded her arms, her expression shifting into something darker. “What did he do?”

I didn’t answer right away. I didn’t know how. How was I supposed to explain the tangle of anger, love, fear, and longing that Rafe had left me with? How was I supposed to explain how he broke me. And how I still wanted him, even now?

“Adela,” Laura said softly.

I exhaled shakily. “I fucked up, Laura.” My throat tightened. “ Moreau took me to his place. He told me his side of the fight... and we drank wine, and…” I hesitated, watching her eyes widen with every word. “He came onto me. But I pulled away and demanded he take me home before anything happened.”

“What the fuck –”

“And then he sent the video to Rafe,” I cut in, finishing with a frustrated sigh.

“Why would you even listen to him? He’s evil , Adela. But I guess… so is Rafe.”

I nodded, chewing at my lip.

“So what did Rafe do when he saw it?”

My stomach twisted. “He just...made me sad, Laura.”

Her entire face went still. Then it darkened. “ I’ll fucking kill him. ”

“Get in line.”

A heavy silence fell between us. When she finally spoke, her voice was lower. “You still love him.”

It wasn’t a question.

I closed my eyes. “I know how messed up that is.”

“It’s not just messed up,” she said gently. “It’s dangerous . You’re still caught in the middle of all this, and if you’re not careful, your heart’s going to get you killed.”

“Not like my mother,” I replied quickly.

Laura paused, her jaw tightening. “No.”

I spun my chair slowly toward the window, gazing out at the city. It looked the same as always, but everything in me had shifted. I missed the long days buried in work, the carefree nights out with Laura, back when love didn’t feel like a war zone.

“Let’s go out tonight,” she said, pushing off my desk and heading for the door. “Just us. Our favorite drinks. Our favorite place.”

I raised a brow. “Rel Mahoys?”

She grinned. “You know it. What do you say?”

“I’d love that,” I murmured, letting out a heavy exhale. “ And hey, bonus–we’ll have security shadowing us the whole time.”

Laura laughed as she stepped out. “Romantic as ever, babe.”

***

Rel Mahoys was buzzing with its usual blend of class and chaos. It was an upscale sports bar where crystal chandeliers hung above wide-screen TVs and the scent of truffle fries mingled with seared steak. It was our favorite–always had been.

Laura and I slid into a curved leather booth near a back window, the dim lighting pouring a warm glow over the polished wood and sleek decor.

The faint roar of a soccer game hummed in the background, but it didn’t drown out the clink of glasses and laughter from other tables.

The air smelled like rosemary and grilled perfection, and for the first time all day, my shoulders loosened.

Large windows were open, carrying the warm summer air and excitement from the city into the restaurant.

“Well, if it isn’t the two hottest, most powerful women in New York,” Laura announced, tossing her curled, blonde hair with a grin as she grabbed the menu. “How shall we celebrate our brilliance tonight? With overpriced wine or overpriced cocktails?”

I smiled despite myself. “Both.”

“That’s my girl.”

We ordered swiftly–a bottle of something expensive and red, along with an array of indulgent appetizers: charred octopus, wagyu sliders, and a burrata salad I was already eyeing like it was my salvation.

The first sip of wine went down too smooth, and when Laura raised her glass for a toast, I didn’t hesitate.

“To men who are beneath us,” she said dramatically. “And the poor fools who think they can tame us.”

I clinked my glass to hers. “May they suffer horribly .”

We burst into laughter, the kind that felt liberating. The wine kept flowing, and so did the food. Laura kept the conversation light, telling a wild story about one of her dates–something involving a disastrous attempt at oysters and a man who clearly had no business eating them.

But my eyes kept drifting to the sleek black car parked just across the street.

Rafe’s men.

They weren’t subtle, but they weren’t supposed to be. I could feel their eyes on us, and the mix of frustration and…safety that brought made my stomach twist.

“Hey,” Laura’s voice softened. “He’s not here, Adela. You can breathe.”

I forced a smile. “I know.”

But did I?

Laura’s hand found mine briefly, squeezing. Then she brightened. “Okay, no more brooding . I refuse to let you spiral when we have these sliders in front of us.” She lifted one in salute. “To reckless decisions and perfect seasoning.”

“Another toast?” I snorted, lifting mine in return. “Hear, hear.”

The night blurred into laughter and warm, heady conversation. By the time we ordered dessert–a molten chocolate cake with salted caramel gelato–I was pleasantly buzzed, my cheeks flushed and my mind finally, finally free of Rafe Vaughan’s shadow.

Or so I thought.

Because when I glanced toward the door, heart light and full of wine, I swore I saw him. Just for a second. A figure in black. Broad-shouldered and dangerous. Watching from a dark hoodie. My stranger.

But when I blinked, he was gone.

“Adela?” Laura’s brow furrowed. “You okay?”

I forced my smile back into place. “Yeah,” I said. “I’m fine.” But my heart was racing. And deep down, I knew the war I was trying to escape was far from over .

As I lay in bed with the city lights spilling across my room later, my phone buzzed again.

Rafe: Are you safe?

I stared at the screen, my heart a thunderstorm in my chest. And before I could stop myself, I typed out a single word:

Yes.

The response was instant.

Rafe: Good.

I swallowed hard, staring at his name on my screen until my vision blurred. Rolling over, my head buzzed with all the good food, alcohol, and laughs with Laura.

I didn’t answer him again even if my soul reached for his.