“Not to mention, some fuckwit head of Dynasty is responsible for the cyanide attack.”
Cruz shakes his head as King, Carver, and Grayson all look at each other with shifty eyes that makes me suspicious as fuck. “Babe, we’re not discussing this,” Cruz insists. “We can work out the plan and figure out all the bullshit in a few weeks. Until then, all we’re doing is waiting for your guts to heal. There’s no reason to put you at risk. It’s too dangerous.”
I shake my head. “Spill. What the fuck is going on?”
“What do you mean?” King questions. “Nothing is going on.”
“I’m not fucking stupid. I know when you guys are planning something, and right now, you’re planning it without me, and if I find out that you guys are making a move without taking me along for the ride, I’m going to be pissed.”
Grayson scoffs. “Sorry, babe. I really wish we could tell you that we had a plan, but when the fuck would we have had a chance to come up with one? We’ve been here with you since you came barging in here on a fucking gurney.”
I press my lips into a hard line. I guess he has a good point, though that doesn’t make me any less suspicious. These guys are shady bastards at the best of times. “You know where she is, don’t you?”
The boys’ shifty eyes start all over again and I realize that I’ve hit the nail on the head. They know exactly where to find London Ravenwood, or at least, they have a good idea where to find her. Cruz lets out a sigh and King groans, knowing that his best friend is about to break. “We think she’s been staying in your parents’ manor home in the mountains.”
I shake my head. “No, that’s not right. It burned down when Royston killed my father.”
Carver leans back in his chair. “Dynasty wasn’t going to allow their home to remain in ruins like that. Your father built that from the ground up. He was very proud, so Dynasty rebuilt it about a year after the fire.”
“No shit,” I breathe, slicing my gaze toward the back wall as I think it over. “So, technically that’s mine too?”
Grayson shakes his head. “Well, up until your mother showed up, we thought it was, but seeing as though she never actually died, that means—”
“I’ve technically not inherited anything,” I say, cutting him off and finishing his sentence. “So, my home … I … I don’t have a home.”
Grayson nods. “Technically, yes, but you can’t look at it that way. It’s your home and it’s going to stay that way. She’s not been here and I doubt she’s going to go storming through your front door and demand the place back. She’s been in hiding and she risks too much by showing herself now. Fuck, from where I’m standing, she’s looking pretty fucking guilty where your father’s death is concerned.”
I narrow my eyes at him in curiosity. “You really think?”
Grayson shrugs his shoulder. “I don’t know, that’s just a theory. I could be way off.”
I nod, seeing exactly where he’s coming from. Royston told us she was there the night my father was killed. He told me how she was asleep in bed right beside him and she screamed as Royston slit his throat, but what if that was a lie? Royston wasn’t exactly an honest man. What if he was working with my mother, and together, they conspired against my father?
No. I don’t want to go there. It’s too much to think about. Cruz was right. No matter how much I want to go out there and kick her ass, I can’t do anything until my body is healed. I’m a liability like this.
I turn my gaze to Carver. “Do you think she’s in the manor home?”
He slowly nods. “I do,” he says firmly. “We’re going to go down there and check it out, but not before you’re out of the hospital and back at my place. We can’t leave you here with no protection.”
“Whoa, slow down, cowboy,” I say, throwing my hands up to cut him off before he says something even more ridiculous. “There’s a lot to unpack there.”
“Like what?” he grunts as King sits forward, watching me closely.
“First off, you guys aren’t going to the manor home without me. I’m coming whether you like it or not. And secondly, you’re insane if you think I’m moving back into your place. Haven’t we already learned that the five of us living in close proximity is a bad idea?”
Carver scoffs. “Tough shit. I don’t give a fuck that you’re the leader of Dynasty and what you say goes. Not anymore. Your safety comes first, and right now, you’re not safe in your place. How many times have people been able to sneak onto the property? Your fucking mother got in there without alerting a single one of us, and do I need to remind you what happened in the pool? From now on, you’re staying right where we can keep an eye on you, and I don’t give a shit if you like it or not.”
I let out a sigh, and as King reaches out and takes my hand, I look across at him to find his eyes shimmering with helplessness. “Please, Winter. Don’t fight us on this. We’ve had too many close calls with you. I know you love having your independence and putting on this big show about not needing anybody but do this for us. We need you there with us. We need to know that you’re safe.”
I groan, and just as I’m about to respond, Ember sits forward, pulling her feet off the edge of the bed and meeting my stare. “Don’t hate me for this, but I think the boys are right. You need to be somewhere that you’re safe. I mean, can you imagine if someone actually got through and killed you? Dynasty would be up shit creek, the boys will be a mess, and the world will be a really shitty place without you. If I could protect you half as well as they could, I’d keep you locked in my closet, but I can’t. It won’t even be that long. The boys will find the threat and deal with it. Once it’s gone, you can move back to your own place and rebuild it without all of your mother’s shit.”
“But—”
“No,” she says, her tone firm and filled with authority. “You know that I’m right. You’re just too stubborn and pigheaded to admit it.”
My face scrunches in distaste, hating that she’s right, and hating even more the feeling of being ganged up against, but there’s no denying it. They’re all a hundred percent right. My home isn’t safe and I’d be a fucking idiot to keep living there while there are still so many threats against me. “Fine,” I grumble. “I’ll move into Carver’s place, but Lady Dante is coming with me.”
Cruz, King, and Grayson all sigh while Carver just sits still, more than happy to mask his emotions, but what’s new? I wouldn't expect anything less from Carver. “Thank fuck,” Cruz says, tipping his head back against the couch and showing just how much the idea of me staying in my home was weighing on his shoulders.
“Wait,” I say, making all their gazes snap back to mine. “I just have one condition.”
Grayson’s eyes narrow to slits. “What?” he asks cautiously.
“I’m coming with you when you go to find London.”
Carver shakes his head. “No, absolutely not. You’re staying home where you’re safe. I thought we’d been over this.”