Page 59 of Reckless Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 8)

The girl I remember from that night holds my gaze, her eyes softening before I look to the woman beside her. The similarities in their eyes are unmistakable, and I figure it must be her mum.

“Hi, Jodie,” the older woman says. “I’m Maria, Toby’s mum. And this is Stella, my daughter.”

My chin drops as I stare at the girl who looked after me that night. She’s Toby’s… sister.

Why didn’t she tell me?

“Uh… hi,” I stutter somewhat awkwardly.

Having my father's wife—who he abused—and his long-time lover in the same room isn’t anything I thought I’d ever have to experience, but here we are.

“I’m sorry, I know this is beyond awkward, and I really hope you don’t mind us just dropping in on you like this but—”

“What’s going on? Is Toby okay?”

Maria’s face drops and my heart plummets with it.

“We were hoping you might have heard from him,” Stella says softly. “He’s disappeared.”

“I… uh… I messaged him hours ago, but it hasn’t even been delivered,” I confess.

“Shit,” she hisses.

“Please,” Mum says kindly. “Come in, you don’t need to loiter in the hallway. Would you both like a drink? Tea, coffee, vodka?” she asks with an uncomfortable laugh.

“Vodka sounds perfect,” Maria agrees with amusement.

“You’re really worried, aren’t you?” I say to Stella after her mum has followed mine toward the kitchen.

“We all track each other. Our one rule is that we never disconnect so we can always find everyone. He dropped off the face of the earth at dawn.”

“It’s my fault. I made him leave this morning.”

“This isn’t on you, Jodie,” she says, resting her hand on my forearm. Her eyes hold mine, and unlike the last time I was in her company, I’m able to see the similarities to her brother, but more than that, I can read her concern. Both for him and me. “Are you okay? Last night must have been terrifying.”

My lips part to tell her the same as everyone else, that I’m fine, but suddenly, I find the truth spilling free.

“It was. I still don’t really know how I feel about it all.”

“Just give it time. This life, it’s… crazy. But it’s also incredible. You couldn’t find a group of people who care more about each other. I hope last night helped prove just what lengths he’d go to for you.”

“I assume you know the truth about what happened that night?” I whisper, my cheeks heating with embarrassment that it was his own sister who helped me run, who saw me at my lowest.

“Yeah, and I kicked his ass for you when I got back.”

“Y-you…”

“Don’t let this face fool you, Jodie. I’ve been trained just like they have.”

“Jesus,” I mutter.

“And for the record, I’d have done exactly the same as Toby last night, should I have been the one to find you.”

My lips part to speak, but I quickly find I have no words.

“We’ll find him. You don’t need to worry. Come on, my mum has had this fascination about meeting yours for a while.”

“This is so weird,” I mutter, following her into the kitchen to find both women smiling at each other.