Page 2 of Royal Bargain

But inside, my pulse is pounding, my thoughts still looping back to her.

That wasn’t even the worst of it, finding out I had a kid I didn’t know about.

No, that came later on when Rory stormed up to me and demanded to know why I was talking to Annika Volkov.

The truth came spilling out, the entire sordid affair. We started seeing each other a year and a half prior, shortly after we’d met at the meeting between our family and Volkov’s men.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the tall, curvy redhead who walked into the diner that day. She had on a white dress, sort of old-fashioned looking, but it suited her full figure. She moved with a confident grace, all curves and poise, slipping into the seat beside Anatoly like she belonged on a stage instead of at a war table. I was done for the second I saw her.

We dated in secret for ten months, a tumultuous, whirlwind affair, until the flame burned too hot and too bright and Ana dumped me unceremoniously.

Rory had stared at me, stone-faced, while I told him the story. It wasn’t until I was done that his expression changed, hardening into something harsher.

“Tell me you’re not that fucking stupid, Liam,” he’d said, mouth curled into a disapproving sneer.

I didn’t answer. What the hell was I supposed to say? That I had been stupid? That I knew it was reckless to date the daughter of a man who would rather see our entire family buried six feet under? That I ignored every single warning, every instinct that told me to stay away, just because I wanted her?

Rory let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. All this time, I thought you were just slacking off, skipping out on responsibilities because you’re lazy, but no—turns out you were sneaking around with Volkov’s daughter like a goddamn idiot."

Fuck. That stung. More than I wanted to admit.

“You think this family can afford your bullshit, Liam? Kellan’s busy keeping his own house in order, I’m running the show, and you—what, you decide your job is what? Chasing tail and playing Romeo with our enemy’s daughter?”

I clenched my jaw, refusing to rise to the bait, but Rory wasn’t done. He took a step closer, lowering his voice, every word razor-sharp.

"You are the family screw-up, Liam. You always have been. Every time we need you to step up, you let us down. And now? Now you’ve made things worse for all of us."

I wanted to hit something. Maybe even Rory. But the worst part was, deep down, I knew he wasn’t wrong.

Even though I wanted to deny it, to throw his words right back in his face, I couldn’t shake the sinking feeling in my gut that told me, yeah, maybe I really have screwed up here. I’d been selfish and I’d been thoughtless. I let things go too far with Annika, and now I was dealing with the fallout.

As the middle child, I’d always metaphorically hidden behind Rory and Kellan or run to our father when things went topsy-turvy for me, but now I had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. It was just me, facing up to the consequences of my own reckless actions.

My fingers curl into the glass harder as I glance at Lucky, wearing a wide, oblivious smile as he reaches out to shake Senator Burns’s hand.

It’s not like I hadn’t tried to step up, but at the end of the day, I was brushed aside. Even now, Lucky has been put in charge ahead of me, despite being the youngest.

Kellan and Rory always had it much easier. They were the ones expected to lead, the ones our father handed over the reins to on a silver platter. Kellan always had his plans, his responsibilities lined up neatly like dominoes, and Rory—Rory was born to run things. He took charge and people followed. He made it look effortless.

But I was the one everyone expected to screw up.

So yeah, maybe I had been reckless. Maybe I had let my heart lead me into a situation I should’ve avoided. But for once, for one goddamn moment, I hadn’t been just Liam Brannagan, the family screw-up. I’d been something more.

I exhale sharply, forcing my grip to loosen around the glass in my hand before I shatter it. Resentment burns under my skin, hot and unwelcome. Maybe Rory was right. Maybe I had let everyone down. But I couldn’t change the past, and I sure as hell wasn’t about to let him keep treating me like I was some idiot kid who didn’t know what he was doing.

I glance at Lucky, who’s still watching Burns, eyes sharp with determination. He’s hungry to prove himself, desperate to show that he’s more than just the youngest.

I get it. More than he realizes. Because I need to prove something too.

Burns steps up, reaching for my hand. I don’t even realize what I’m doing until the words are already out of my mouth. “I’d like to be your campaign manager, sir.”

Burns’s hand freezes in mine and he smiles, though his eyes look puzzled. “Are you sure you can handle that kind of responsibility, Son?” he asks, tilting his head as he studies me.

“Of course I can,” I say, scoffing at the idea that I couldn’t. “Keeping things running smoothly and cleaning up messes? That’s what I do best.”

I lean in, a smirk on my face as I lower my voice. “And I’ve always been good at getting people to do what I want them to do. Call it a natural talent, or a skill, but I know just how to persuade people to see things my way.”

Burns pulls back, and I watch as he stares me down for a few lingering seconds before his lips curl into a smile. “Sounds good. Let’s have a meeting tomorrow, then, you and me. We’ll iron out the details.”