Cruel Hearts (King’s Crossing #2)

Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Zane

I hate Mel’s suggestion we don’t go back to the hotel.

I hate she’s right.

I hate I should have thought of it.

I hate being away from Stella, but I’ll need to force myself to spend more time at the penthouse instead of the hotel. My main priority is keeping Stella safe, and to do that, I need to act as if nothing has changed. Sleep at the penthouse. Go to work. Socialize with Ash and his friends.

Do all the things I would have done if Stella hadn’t come back.

Silently, Nathalie walks into the guest bedroom and shuts the door. I’m glad she doesn’t try to persuade me to fuck her. It will make things easier.

I stand under a long, cool shower, brush my teeth, and scroll through social media. Pictures of Nathalie and me are everywhere. A photographer was hiding inside Luna Blanc, and there are candid shots of us eating, drinking Cristal, having fun on a double date.

There’s speculation who Nora is to Ash and if they’re a couple. A little gossip about Zarah and if she and Ash are no longer engaged. Someone working at Quiet Meadows leaked to Truth or Dare she’s no longer a patient there. For now, no one knows where she is, the gossips guessing I’ve locked her away in the penthouse instead.

There are photos of Nathalie and me outside the building. We’re walking up the steps, and I have my arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her. We’re so natural. A blogger comments on how easy we are together. Of course we are. It’s something she and I have done a million times in the last five years we’ve been together. This is the kind of photo I do not want Stella to see.

Instead of lounging in bed willing myself to sleep, I work off my agitation in the weight room. I work out until I can barely stagger to the private lift and press the button to close the doors. I thought it would help me sleep, but all I do is count the minutes until I can go back to the Crowne and see Stella.

The night holds a lot of minutes.

The next morning, Nathalie and I go to the hotel. She doesn’t want to, saying she’d prefer to stay at the penthouse, but I question the wisdom of leaving her alone. I entice her into going by promising her time to sunbathe on the rooftop.

The idea of the glamorous rooftop pool appeases her and she loses some of her surliness.

We take a taxi, and I impatiently tap my foot as the driver weaves around thick morning traffic. Nathalie places a hand on my knee, and I blow out a breath and count to twenty. No use throwing how much I want to see Stella in her face.

As a precaution, the taxi drops us half a block away and Nathalie and I casually stroll the riverbank pretending to be tourists in love. Humidity is already thick in the morning air, and my clothes stick to my skin. Lying by the pool with Zarah and Stella sounds fun, relaxing, and much needed, but the paparazzi is determined to hunt us down and spending time outside may not be wise.

Not having the freedom to do whatever the hell I want is a new concept, but that’s what got me into this mess. Stella thinks I’m na?ve and stupid, and I haven’t proven her wrong yet.

We go in through a side door, and we stand in the elevator, not touching. Nathalie doesn’t have anything to say and maybe she doesn’t care it’s been over twelve hours since we’ve seen anyone, but it’s given me anxiety. Max’s room door is propped open as usual, and the scent of pancakes and butter meets my nose. I don’t see Stella, and fear grips my heart.

“Do you want some pancakes?” Mel asks, her eyes flicking to me as we step into the room. “There’s plenty if you haven’t eaten breakfast. And coffee. Mimosas if you’re so inclined.”

All I want is to see Stella. To see for myself she’s okay. To see for myself she didn’t leave me again.

“Where’s Stella?” My question comes out as a croak.

A redhead I didn’t notice leans around Quinn and wrinkles her nose at me. Her hair is cut short, and she’s wearing glasses.

It’s Stella, but it’s not Stella.

She’s breathtaking, but in a completely different way than the blue-eyed blonde I fell so irrevocably in love with.

Silently, Nathalie sits at the table, and Max pours her a cup of coffee.

Stella swivels her chair, stands, and approaches me. The ends of her hair frame her jaw, exposing her swan-like neck. Her glasses glint in the sun shining in through the windows, and the teal sundress she’s wearing does crazy things to her eyes.

“Do you like it?” she asks, self-consciously brushing her fingers at her hair. “You used to like my hair long.”

“You’re beautiful,” I say honestly, cupping her cheek and rubbing my thumb over her skin.

She smiles, but not the full-blown grin she used to display whenever she was happy.

I get it. She’s trying different personas.

I hold my arms out, and she steps into my embrace. Kissing her lips, I taste maple syrup. I lean against a chair, and cuddling Stella in my arms, I watch everyone eat and sip coffee and mimosas.

This is my team. These are my friends. Everyone from Denton to Douglas will help me do what I need to do to prevent Ash and his father from hurting anyone ever again.

It’s been a long time coming.

Mel hops up and pours two mimosas into delicate flutes. She hands them to Stella and me.

“I propose a toast,” she says, her voice clear and strong.

Paulo rolls his eyes.

She swats his shoulder. “Listen. We’re here because in some way, Ashton and Clayton Black have hurt us. They’ve tried to kill Stella multiple times. They murdered her foster mother. They hurt Quinn, almost ending her life as well.”

Stella stiffens, and I press my lips to the top of her head. “Shh.”

“They killed Zane and Zarah’s parents.”

Max squeezes Zarah’s hand.

“They’ve stolen our financial stability.”

Denton scoffs.

“They’ve taken our freedom.”

Nathalie looks down at her plate.

“We need to trust each other. We need to have each other’s backs,” Mel continues. “If anyone has an issue with anyone else, we need to know. Not to point fingers, but to resolve the situation. The whole of our mission is more important than our needs as individuals. I’m reminded of this every day I’m on the job.” She raises her flute. “So, I’d like to propose a toast. To those in this room who are willing to sacrifice. Or to those who already have. May the world be a better place after Ashton and Clayton Black are no longer walking among us.”

Douglas nods, one quick jerk of his head.

Paulo hoots, ready for action.

Nathalie sighs.

A look of confusion and fear crosses Zarah’s face, and she frowns. I’ll need to ask her doctor if there’s a way we can gradually expose her to everyday life without setting her back. Listening to details of what Ash and Clayton did to us and our family will be part of her recovery.

Max rubs her shoulder. “It’s okay,” he says and nods at Mel.

Everyone turns to me and Stella.

I raise my glass. “Hear, hear.”

Stella raises her glass, too.

As everyone sips and cheers, I catch Stella’s attention. “No matter what happens, no matter if we go our separate ways when all this is over, I promise to love you for the rest of my life.”

I tap my glass to hers and sip the sweet liquid.

Tears fill her eyes, and I pretend they’re happy ones.

Maybe someday, they will be.