Page 111 of The Colour of Revenge

“You should invite her over one day. Your father has yet to meet her.”

I swallow hard, my throat clogged. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m sure she’d like that.”

Untangling myself from her embrace I step backwards. “I should head out. I just wanted to check in.”

“Oh… okay. Thank you, Nathaniel. I’ll let you know once your father turns up.”

He won't.

And I pray to God she never finds out why.

My chest tightens. “Love you, mum.”

Before I leave the house, I head towards my father’s study, slipping inside silently.

His passport is easy enough to find, and I know the code to his safe. I grab the passport and a handful of his emergency cash before heading back out this house, careful to leave everything else untouched.

It’s only once I’m back at Carina’s do I feel like I can finally breathe.

“Why is this one freaking me out more than the others?” Carina says, looking at me with wide eyes.

We sit across from each other on her sofa, finally trying to unwind after the chaos of the day.

“It’s too close,” I say quietly, my eyes tracing the patterns on the couch.

“This is my fault,” Carina murmurs, her voice full of regret.

“No, it’s not,” I respond, shaking my head. “He needed to die. It would’ve happened eventually.”

“But I didn’t plan it well. I was too focused on the betrayal, on the anger.”

“It’s done now, Princess,” I murmur, trying to reassure her.

Carina sighs, her head dropping back onto the cushions before it pops up again with a playful sparkle in her eyes.

“Okay, hypothetically, if dads came with return labels, but only the best excuse got approved... who’s getting their refund first? Yours or mine?”

I blink. Then I laugh—a real, chest-rumbling laugh that shakes something loose inside me.

She grins. "That was a good one, right?"

I shake my head, still laughing, my shoulders lighter than they have any right to be.

"Yeah, baby. Perfect timing."

Because right now, I need normal. And with her, normal is ridiculous.

27

Guess We’re Fighting Princess

Hypothetical Question: If your life was a true crime documentary, who would you want to narrate it?

Carina

Daddy Death:Got a plan yet?

Queen Carina:Nothing. Nada.