Page 58 of Wicked Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 2)

Thankfully, he dragged on his underwear before storming out here after me. I’m not sure I could cope having this argument with him still naked, tempting me.

“Tell me why you’re really here,” I demand. “And don’t give me the ‘I missed you’ bullshit. The only thing you could have missed is humiliating me in front of anyone who cared to watch.”

His lips part to argue and a warning growl rumbles up my throat.

“The truth, Seb. For fucking once in your life.”

His lips purse, but something flashes in his eyes. Guilt.

I fucking knew this wasn’t as simple as him missing me.

“Fine,” he spits. “The boss wants you back to lure out the attacker.”

“Finally,” I cry. “The fucking truth.” I hold his eyes, hoping like hell that he can’t see the pain that lashes at my insides when he doesn’t continue to plead his case for missing me.

I knew I was right. I knew he was spinning me a line.

“So what, he told you to do whatever necessary to get me back where I belonged?”

“Something like that,” he mutters, clearly pissed.

“And my friends?”

“What about your fucking friends?”

“When did you decide to make them yours and insert yourself into every part of my life?”

“And here I was thinking you’d be grateful that I called them to explain why you wouldn’t be in touch for a while.”

“You expect me to believe you did that for me?”

“Believe what the fuck you want, Princess. Clearly it doesn’t matter what I say. I could tell you the fucking sky was blue and you’d go outside and check.”

“Can you blame me?” I shout back, the anger that’s making my body tremble starting to get the better of me. “All you’ve done since the day we met is lie to me.”

His lips part to argue, but I beat him to it.

“Why do you hate me, Seb? We’re here now. Tell me everything.”

“Your dad,” he spits. “He killed mine.”

Disbelief floods me and forces a laugh to erupt from my throat.

“Fucking hell,” I mutter. “All of this is some fucked-up revenge tactic on my dad? Humiliating me, leaving me creepy fucking messages, generally being a fucking cunt… all of it’s because of him?”

I shake my head. Unable to stand still any longer, I start pacing.

“And your plan was what, exactly?”

He doesn’t respond immediately, and when I look at him, he swallows nervously.

“A bit fucking late to be shy, don’t you think? What were you planning, Seb?”

“I wanted to break you, hurt you, and then deliver you back to him in the same kind of mess he left my family in.”

“Wow,” I breathe, everything suddenly making sense.

“He killed my father, took you, and ran like a fucking pussy. He was never meant to come back.”