Page 113 of Reign of the Queen
“This girl, Zofia, she’s... alive?” I ask.
Finn leans forward in his seat. “Barely, but she’s got the best chance we could give her to escape and get out of Casbury.”
“There’s more. Theo thinks all of us are being tracked and watched by his dad. We had to go in loops and trade cars to ensure Vincent couldn’t track the girl or where we were taking her. Finn and I found not one but two trackers on the Caddie this afternoon,” Mateo divulges.
Fuck, I’m going to have to come clean, shit on a fucking stick. “One of those was mine. I was tracking you.”
“You were what?” Finn stands up from the chair, his expression hardened.
“How long were you tracking us? Why were you tracking us?” Mateo questions, eyebrow cocked, confusion crossing his face.
No matter what I say here, they aren’t going to be happy with me,so fuck it.Let them see that I’m not playing. “I’ve been tracking all of you for weeks. Theo’s Range, your Caddie, Finn, and Mateo’s Jaguar, even though you barely drive it. The only car I haven’t tracked is yours, Carter. For obvious reasons, you never fucking drive.”
“Why?” Finn asks, his voice filled with emotion.
“You know why,” I answer, leaning forward in the chair and looking at Raegan. “You four threatened Raegan and my sister. I had to know what you were up to. You planned to hurt my loved ones and control me to save your worthless crowns.”
“So you put trackers on our cars?” Carter questions with disbelief.
“I fucking own you Carter, all of you. Do you not understand that yet?” I shout, anger filling me.
“What else have you done Mia?” Finn stares at me with a look of rage.
“Whatever I had to Finn, to ensure that you weren’t able to control me and mine.” I look away from his dark gaze.
“Raegan’s dad?” Carter asks.
“Gone, and out of your reach.” I answer.
Silence and heavy tension fills the room, making the air feel thick and oppressive. I feel everyone’s eyes on me, and it’s like insects crawling across my skin. Emotions are running through my body: anger, sadness, and longing. Longing for what I don’t even know.
Do I want them not to hate me?I can’t bring myself to look at any of their faces. I know with my revelations I have changed the pieces on the board once again. Hell, I'm not even sure what game I’m playing anymore. Either way, I am no longer winning, that I know for sure.
“You came here to hurt us, didn’t you, Mia?” Mateo questions in a whisper, rubbing his chest right above his heart. The look on his face has my own heart tightening in my chest. He looks devastated, like I just told him the world was on fire.
“Yes.” The word leaves my lips, and there is no way to take it back. I glance from one king to the other. They are all staring at me with different expressions: disbelief, sadness, and betrayal.
“Why? Why did you come here?” Finn snarls.
“It doesn’t matter. Regardless of my original motivations, things have changed.”
“Of course, it matters! You came here to hurt us. I want to know why Mia. Why come to Casbury, and hurt a bunch of strangers?” Carter shouts at me.
Raegan rises from the sofa, bends downs and grabs my clenched hand, loosening the tightened grip and giving me a squeeze of support. Her beautiful eyes are swirling with emotion. She’s filled with sadness for me, I can see it plain on her face. Her penetrating green eyes stare into mine, her strength filling me. Her gaze questions mine, she whispers quietly to me. “Mia?” At the nod of my head she turns back to the room and its occupants.
“Y'all are not strangers to her,” Raegan spits out.
“What are you talking about, Raegan? Have you lost your ever-loving mind? I would remember knowing Mia. Before the beginning of the school year, we never laid eyes on Mia a day in our lives.” Mateo shakes his head in disbelief.
“It doesn’t matter who I am and what I came here to do. It all doesn’t matter anymore,” I reply forcefully, my heart clenching with the truth of those words. “I need to know what is happening right now. Where is Theo?” For a moment, it looks like none of them will answer me.
“It matters Mia, and this doesn’t just go away.” Carter motions between the kings and me with his hand. He looks paler than when we arrived.
“He went home, back to the Saint-Lambert estate and his dad,” Mateo answers quietly. He won’t look at me directly, and his shoulders are all hunched in.
“Is he in danger?” Jessie asks from next to Raegan.
“Yes,” all three kings reply with conviction.
