Page 122 of Wicked Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 2)

Nico might be less than impressed, but Stella’s influence is doing good things for Calli. It’s about time she stood up for herself.

It’s another ten minutes before my bedroom door opens and Toby slips out, still looking wrecked from his confession.

My heart aches for him, for what he’s going through.

I hate that we had no idea.

I mean, sure, I knew his dad was a bit of a prick. I remember as a young kid him being a total control freak whenever we were around his house. But the naïve, young me just assumed he didn’t want his house messed up by kids. I never thought it was anything more. Anything that Toby and his mum, Maria, would have been suffering through all these years.

I let out a breath as I think of her. Whenever I saw her, she was always smiling, always happy. With long blonde hair and bright blue eyes just like Toby’s—and Stella’s—she always looked stunning. In a non-MILF kind of way. My mum was always in such a state that it was nice to see that others cared.

Their house was the same. Always perfect. I could understand why Jonas, Toby’s dad, didn’t want us all running wild through it, causing chaos.

“Here,” I say, passing him a can as he approaches. “Everything okay?”

He nods, putting on his game face that I now realise we’ve all been staring at, completely missing everything he’s hiding beneath for way too long.

“Yeah. Stella’s just having a shower. She’ll be out in a bit.”

I glance back at the door, my fingers curling around the arm of the chair as my need to go and find her almost gets the better of me.

“She just needs a moment.”

I nod in understanding and force myself to stay put.

I can’t imagine everything she’s going through.

A ripple of silence goes around the room. The weight of why we’re all sitting here, why Stella is shut in my bedroom alone presses down on all of us.

“We need to have some fun,” Alex announces.

“The Halloween party is coming up,” Calli says with excitement.

“He letting you go this year?” Theo asks, nodding at Nico.

“This year, he ain’t getting a choice. I’m seventeen. I can shoot a gun now. I’m going.”

“Pain in the arse, brat,” Nico mutters under his breath.

“Might even find a guy to hook up with,” she presses on, the twinkle in her eye showing that she’s just baiting him. Fucking works, too.

“If you could pick someone we’re not about to go to war with, that would be ideal.”

“How the hell was I meant to know who he was?”

“His name is Antonio Santoro. How did you not know?”

“Maybe, arsehole, because I didn’t ask to check his fucking ID before I started dancing with him.”

“Well, maybe you should in the future.”

“Unbelievable.”

“He knew who you were, Calli. It’s not possible that he didn’t. Why do you think he wanted to dance with you, wanted to spend time with you? The Marianos are making a move, and two of their kids decide to get up close and personal to you and Stella?” My fists curl at the thought of that motherfucker touching her. “Not a fucking coincidence, Cal.”

“Ugh, whatever. He was nice.”

“He’s a fucking Italian. He was sent to you for a reason.”