Page 12 of Reckless Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 8)

Toby. That’s who was going to want me.

Not that Dad could have known that all this was going to play out, or maybe he did. He must have hurt enough people over the years who want to return the favour. I guess it all makes sense really, in the mind of a fucking psychopath.

“He had another family, Mum. How could you—”

“It was a loveless marriage of convenience, Jojo. It was something he needed to do as a part of his role within the Family. His heart was here, with us.”

I shake my head, not needing any more evidence for where I get my naivety from.

“Did you ever think about them? About his wife? His son?”

“He’s not Jonas’s son, Jodie. She was playing away just as Jonas was.”

She lifts her coffee and takes a sip. I don’t follow suit for fear I’ll bring it back up just as quickly as it goes down.

“That’s not the point, Mum,” I bark, pushing my chair out behind me. “Do you have any idea what it might have been like, being in that aspect of his life?”

“They just existed together for the sake of the Family,” she says, deadly seriously.

“Jesus, Mum. Did you even know the man you gave your entire life to?”

“What?” she asks, her brows shooting up. “O-of course I did. I loved your dad more than anything. And he lo—”

“He was a monster, Mum,” I spit, angry over her poor judgement.

“N-no, he was a good—”

“How much do you know about his other son, Mum?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing really. They lived separate lives.”

“No they didn’t. Their lives were very much intertwined, and he suffered, they suffered more than you can comprehend at the hands of my father,” I seethe.

She pales at my words.

“I’m sorry, Mum. But you made a massive fucking mistake with all of this. That man you’ve shared your life with is not the man you knew.”

I storm toward the hallway, more than ready to escape this bullshit.

She’s been brainwashed by him, of that I’m sure. She might not have suffered at the hands of Jonas like Toby and his mum has, but without doubt, he’s worked his twisted fucking evil on her, ensuring she follows his plan and bends to his rules. I’d put money on it… if we had any.

“Jojo, what are you—”

“You really don’t know who his son is, do you?”

She stares at me, her brow furrowed in confusion as grief and pain continue to darken her eyes.

I literally see the moment the penny drops. Her entire body jolts as realisation hits her.

“No,” she breathes. “T-Toby?”

“Yeah, it seems you’re not the only one who’s been playing with the devil.”

I take off, grabbing the bag I’d already packed before coming down here. The dread that has been sitting heavy in my stomach for the past few days told me how this conversation was going to go, and I just knew that I’d need to get away after it.

“Jodie, where are you going?” Mum shouts, rushing behind me as I pull my coat from the hook.

“I can’t be here right now. I’m sorry, Mum. I just can’t.”

With my bag over my shoulder and my coat in my hand, I blow out of the house and into the cold, leaving the lies and the betrayal behind me.

If only it was that easy.