Page 69 of Royal Bargain

I read the message three times before the words finally register. A sob catches in my throat, sharp and messy.

She misses me.

And now I have a chance to find out the truth.

Even if it hurts.

Liam isn’t homewhen I decide to go.

He would never let me leave if he knew—not alone, not like this. And I can’t blame him. We’ve been balancing on a knife’s edge for weeks. But this… this is something I have to do. For my own sanity. For Lily.

I tell Kate I need some fresh air and ask Shane to come with me, keeping my voice as neutral as possible. Not a lie, exactly—but not the whole truth either. Shane eyes me with mild suspicion but doesn’t push. He checks his holster and nods for me to lead the way.

I tuck Lily into her stroller, layering her up in a soft pink hat and a cozy fleece blanket. She coos up at me, oblivious. I envy her for that.

The meeting spot is a small, abandoned greenhouse tucked behind an old community garden, the glass roof partially caved in, weeds sprouting through the tiles. It’s quiet here, hidden from the road. We used to sneak away here as kids when we didn’t want to be found. Sasha remembered.

I spot her almost immediately, standing near one of the broken windows, arms crossed, her bodyguard lingering a few paces behind her. She looks thinner than I remember. Tired. But her face lights up the second she sees me.

“Annushka,” she breathes, rushing forward before she can stop herself.

Shane steps protectively between us, and Sasha’s guard mirrors the move, tension crackling between them like static. I lift a hand.

“It’s okay,” I say softly. “She’s my sister.”

Shane hesitates, then eases back a little, still on alert.

Sasha’s eyes dart to the stroller, and her breath catches. “Is that… ?”

“Yeah,” I murmur, reaching in to gently lift Lily into my arms. “This is Lily.”

Sasha stares at her like she’s seeing a miracle. “Oh, my God. She looks like you. No—wait, she looks like him. The Irish boy, right?”

I stiffen slightly but nod. “She has his eyes.”

Sasha’s lips tremble as she reaches out, almost touching Lily’s hand before pulling back. “Can I… ?”

I let her take a step closer. Lily yawns and blinks sleepily, completely unbothered by the tension between the adults around her.

“She’s beautiful,” Sasha whispers. “You did good, Annushka.”

Emotion swells in my throat again, raw and choking. “I need to know, Sash. I need to know if it was him. If it was Papa. If my family—our family—was behind the shooting.”

Sasha goes still.

The wind rattles a broken pane of glass in the distance, a soft, eerie sound.

“Sasha. Please.”

Her eyes meet mine. And I see it—hesitation. Fear. Grief.

And maybe guilt.

Sasha glances over her shoulder, as if someone might be listening. Her bodyguard stays back, but his hand rests near his weapon. Shane shifts too, clearly not liking this, but I give him a quiet look.Let me have this.

Sasha lowers her voice. “It’s not him.”

I blink. “What?”