Page 40 of Royal Beast (Royals of the Underworld #1)

KELLAN

T he sharp clink of a coffee mug hitting the counter snaps me out of my thoughts.

I rub the bridge of my nose, trying to shake off the lingering unease that’s been gnawing at me since Darcy left for the hospital.

Liam is with her. Clary, too. They’ll keep her and Rose safe , I tell myself, but it doesn’t stop the tight knot in my chest.

I shrug on my jacket, checking my phone for any updates before heading out. Just as I grab my keys, the screen lights up with Rory’s name. I answer immediately.

“What’s up?” I ask, expecting the usual check-in. Instead, Rory’s voice cuts through, tense and rapid.

“Kells, we’ve got a problem. A big one. The Russians just called and the deal’s off.”

“What?” My hand tightens around the phone. “What the hell are you talking about? We just closed that deal. What changed?”

“Our messengers let us know that the Russians were informed that we were planning to double-cross them,” Rory says, his frustration barely contained.

“Double-cross?” I snap. “Where the hell are they getting that idea?”

“I don’t know yet,” he admits, his voice edging into panic. “All I know is they’re convinced. I tried to talk them down, but they weren’t having it.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, my headache slamming into me full-force. “You’re telling me someone’s feeding them bullshit about us. That’s what this is.”

“That’s my guess,” Rory replies. “But whoever it is, they’ve done a damn good job. Anatoly is furious.”

“Of course he is,” I growl. “They don’t play games.” I pause, inhaling sharply. “I’m coming to the office. Don’t talk to anyone else until I get there.”

“Kellan—”

“Don’t,” I cut him off. “Don’t say another word over the phone. I’ll be there in ten.”

I end the call, shoving my phone into my pocket as I grab my jacket. My mind is already racing. Someone has set us up, and if the Russians believe it, that someone wants bloodshed.

I step into the office, my jaw clenched, and my eyes immediately find Rory.

He’s pacing, his face lined with stress, but when he sees me, he gives a short nod.

I walk past him to the large conference table where a few files are scattered, and the room feels far too quiet for the storm that’s brewing.

“You get anything?” I ask, not even bothering to sit down yet.

Rory exhales sharply, running a hand over his face. “I tried calling Anatoly. He’s refusing to take any calls now. His people just keep saying the deal is off, and they’ve made it pretty clear that they don’t want to hear from us anymore.”

My jaw clenches at the thought of it. “They don’t want to meet again? At all?”

“No. Not unless it’s under their terms. And right now, their terms are ‘fuck off.’” Rory slams his hand on the desk, frustration bubbling over. “This is insane. They’ve put us in a corner.”

I slam my hand on the desk, a loud thump resounding in the room. “We need to fix this before it blows up in our faces. The longer we let them think we’re weak, the more they’ll push.”

I pace the length of the room, hands behind my back as I think. “We can’t let this drag out. If the Russians think we’re bluffing, they’re gonna make a move, and when they do, they’ll wipe us off the map.”

Rory glances at me, eyes narrowing. “So, what? You’re suggesting we go in guns blazing?”

“No.” I stop, turning to face him. “We need to be more strategic than that. Hit them in a way they’ll never suspect. Make it clear we’re not to be fucked with.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Go after Anatoly himself?”

I shake my head. “He’s too protected. We need to strike where it’ll hurt the most.” I pause, a thought forming. “Dariy. He’s always been the one close to Anatoly. Going after him would be a personal blow to Anatoly. Dariy’s been his right-hand man for years.”

Rory’s expression hardens. “He’s a fucking ghost. The kind of guy who knows how to stay under the radar. But if we hit him, we send a message straight to Anatoly.”

I nod, a cold smile curling on my lips. “Exactly. We plant a bomb in Dariy’s car. Make sure it detonates when he unlocks it. That’ll make sure they know that this is what happens when you threaten our family.”

Rory’s eyes flicker with a dangerous gleam. “You want to bomb his car? Make sure they know we mean business, huh?”

“That’s the plan,” I reply. “We’re gonna remind them who’s in charge.”

We sit down, and I can feel the weight of the decision settling in. It’s brutal, but we don’t have a choice. In this world, it’s kill or be killed. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let the Russians think they can trample us without consequences.

“Let’s get to work,” I say, pulling out a map of the area where Dariy’s been spotted most frequently.

Rory nods. “I’ll get the guys on it.”

“We need this done quickly, and cleanly,” I add, tapping the map. “Make sure it’s Dariy’s car, but we don’t leave anything behind. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

“Agreed,” Rory says, already on the phone with someone.

We’re going to make sure they know we’re not backing down this time.

The two of us are in the middle of planning the logistics when Lucky bursts into the room, eyes wild. “Turn on the news. Now.”

Rory barely blinks, immediately reaching for the remote.

He flicks on the television, and we all go silent as the screen lights up with flashing red and blue.

The scene is chaotic. There are paramedics, reporters, and police cars blocking off a section of the street downtown, but the camera pans and focuses on a wrecked car.

It’s unrecognizable, mangled beyond belief.

The camera zooms in, and the reporter’s voice breaks through the static, crisp and urgent.

“…female driver, appears to have lost control of the vehicle after swerving… severe crash, injuries unknown at this time…”

I can’t pull my eyes away. There’s something about the way they’re framing the wreck, the shattered windshield, the position of the car that feels too familiar.

I lean forward, squinting at the screen. “Hey… that looks like Clary’s car,” I say under my breath, my pulse kicking up in my chest.

Lucky cocks his head. “Isn’t that Clary they’re talking about?” He nods toward the screen where the camera is zooming in on the car again.

My heart stops for a moment, and Rory doesn’t need me to say anything more. His face turns pale, and without another word, he’s on his feet, moving for the door.

“Rory!” I call out, but he’s already gone, rushing down the hall without a glance back.

I stand there, frozen for a second, trying to process the gravity of the situation when my phone rings. Darcy’s name flashes on the screen. I don’t even wait for the first ring to finish before I answer.

“Darcy, oh, my God, tell me you’re safe. Tell me that you weren’t with Clary when the accident happened…”

She inhales sharply, then I hear the sound of her voice, panicked and sharp, and it stops me cold. “What? What do you mean, an accident?”

I grit my teeth. I don’t want to say it, but I have to. “Clary… there was an accident… It’s on the news, Darcy. The car’s wrecked, and it looks bad. I don’t know how bad yet, but?—”

There’s a beat of silence on the other end, then I hear her take a deep, shaky breath before her voice comes back on the line, high-pitched and frantic. “What are you talking about? What do you mean there’s been an accident, Kellan!?”

I try to hold it together, my heart pounding in my chest, but the weight of her fear pulls me under. “Darcy, calm down, okay? We don’t have all the details yet, but I’m getting to you. I’m on my way. Just stay calm.”

I can hear her starting to hyperventilate, her words blurring together so fast I can barely keep up. “Kellan! Rose was in that car! I sent her home with Clary just a half hour ago! Where’s Rose?” Her voice gets higher-pitched, almost hysterical. “Where is she? Where’s my baby!?”

My stomach drops, heart lurching in my chest. Panic grips the edges of my vision, but I force myself to take a deep breath, trying to stay composed as I sit back in my chair.

“I don’t know, Darcy. They haven’t said anything about a little girl on the report yet, but we’ll find her.

I’m going to find her, okay? Just stay calm and breathe. ”

She starts sobbing into the phone, her words coming out in choked gasps. “She has to be okay, Kellan. She has to be okay. Please, don’t tell me she was in the car. Please don’t tell me.”

I close my eyes, struggling to steady my breath, interrupting her before she can work herself into hysterics.

“Darcy, listen to me. We’re going to find her.

You’re going to stay calm, okay? I’m not going to let anything happen to her.

I swear to God. Stay put. I’m on my way to you.

It’ll be faster if I come to get you. Safer, too.

You can’t be driving right now. Just stay calm, okay? I’m on my way.”

Her response is a choked sob. “Kellan, please be careful. Please don’t let anything happen to our baby girl.”

“I won’t, I swear. Stay calm. I’ll be there soon.”

I hang up without giving her a chance to speak again.

There’s nothing left to say. I can’t think straight.

I’m racing down the hallway, grabbing my jacket and keys, my mind spiraling.

I don’t know what’s happened to Rose. The news hasn’t said a damn thing about a child being involved.

No little girl reported injured, nothing.

The only thing I can think is that she was with Clary, and she could be all alone and scared, or worse, or she’s hurt and trying to get help.

What if no one is there to help her?

I need to focus, try to keep my head clear, but my mind is a mess of worst-case scenarios.

Forcing myself to take a few deep breaths, I tell myself she has to be okay. She has to be. Clary is a great driver. Nothing like this should’ve happened. But the state of the car… Jesus, the car was unrecognizable. What if Rose was trapped inside? What if they couldn’t get her out in time?

I grip the steering wheel hard as I drive. I’m moving fast, trying not to lose my shit on the road, but it’s almost impossible. My heart feels like it’s pounding in my throat. My chest tightens with every passing second. I can't lose her. I can’t lose either of them.

I think back to the times I’ve spent with Rose—the little giggles she makes when she plays with her toys, the way her face lights up when she sees me.

She’s come to mean so much to me in such a short time.

I can’t believe how much she trusts me and how easily she’s allowed herself to love me like I’m already part of her family.

I could have never foreseen this. None of this was supposed to happen. But now? I’d do anything for her. I’d go to the ends of the earth if it meant keeping her safe.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but it doesn’t work. I can’t stop picturing her in that car, hurt, trapped, or worse. I’d give my life to make sure she’s okay.

Every minute that passes feels like an eternity.

I need to stay calm. I need to stay focused because Darcy needs me right now. I have to stay strong. I can’t let her see me lose it. But God, the uncertainty, the not knowing whether Rose is safe or not, is eating me alive.

It’s hard to stay positive when there’s no information and nothing to go on right now. I swallow my pride and pray to the God of my father’s religion that she’s okay, she’s safe and unharmed.

Because I can’t lose her.