Page 117 of Reign of the Queen
My hands shake as I pocket the phone again.FUCK. I let my fist hit the wall, the sheetrock cracking along with my knuckles. I can’t leave him like that. They’ve tortured and beaten him almost to death.What will they do next to him if I don’t come?Even if he survives the beating and torture right now, how much more can he take? He’s been a victim of his dad for as long as I can remember. He and I have a strong bond forged in the fires of abuse at the hands of our fathers. One beating at a time laid the foundation for our friendship. We are the only two of the kings that know what it's like to survive daily in hell.
I decide right there and then that there is no way I am leaving him there. If they want me, they can have me. My life is a vicious cycle of beatings, mistakes, and terrors. Any hope I had of a better life with Mia, and the guys just died when I saw those pictures.
I can’t lead Mia and the other guys to them, though. I can’t let them follow me. I can’t leave the property undetected, and if I try to make a run for it now, Mia and the others will try to follow. I have to make my escape at the last minute when we’re gone from the house and either already at the hangar boarding the plane or just before we take off.
With that decision made, I go in search of some pain pills and weapons. Pulling out my phone, I start calling in every favor that’s owed to me. If shit goes right tonight, I might even get a chance to kill one of our fathers. That puts a small smile across my face as I enter the room occupied by “Minion Number One,” as Mia likes to call him. I start looking through the cases of tactical gear and weapons he has stored and pocketing things I will need for tonight.
I’m coming, bro. I’m fucking coming to get you.
We leave for the hangar hiding my grandmother’s plane just after ten. Mateo and Finn sit with Tom and two of the armed security team in the back of the van Tom procured from somewhere. Everyone’s lost in their own thoughts and fears. The group feeling is somber and morose. Raegan clutches my hand so tightly that my fingers have long gone numb, but I don’t have the heart to pry my fingers loose. Her mom was not okay with her coming with us to Manhattan, but when we explained the alternative, she urged Raegan to go.
Watching Raegan and her mom clutch each other tight made me remember the relationship I used to have with my mom and broke my heart even more. I need to fix things with her, she’s my only parent and I love her. Knowing that she’s safe right now from Vincent helps alleviate some of my fear.
I look over at Carter, who’s sitting close to the van’s side door. He looks pale and on edge. He keeps raking his hand through his hair, and I can see his knee bouncing nonstop. Nurse Mary was concerned that he wasn’t looking very well before we left. Carter, being Carter, completely shut down any talk of him not being in top shape. It’s like he’s afraid we will leave him behind if he’s not strong.
Where his mind is at I don't know. Nothing would make me leave him behind at the mercy of his dad right now. Especially knowing that Theo is being most likely tortured so we can get away. He did all of this to protect Carter in the first place, so there’s no way I’m not following through with that.
“Miss Stratford, when we get to the hangar, the vans will pull inside, and then we will all exit quickly and head straight to the plane. The plane will be ready to take off immediately. We should be in the air shortly. Clark has set up a perimeter at the private airfield outside Manhattan. We will have a full tactical team waiting for us there. Two of my men will remain here in Casbury to continue to assess the situation,” Tom explains.
I nod, and once again, my eyes return to Carter. Something is going on with him, I can see sweat beading on his forehead, and he keeps fidgeting with his phone. Fuck I hope he’s not about to have another seizure or something right now. Nurse Mary and a few more of the security team are in the vehicle behind us, but it’s not safe to stop out in the open.
I’m about to unbuckle myself and change seats to sit next to Carter, but I spy the hangar fast approaching. Fuck let’s just all get on the plane, then I’m going to have Mary give him a complete once over and maybe something for his anxiety.
The two vans pull into the enclosed hangar, and we’re immediately ushered out of the vans and up the stairs leading to my grandmother’s Gulfstream. She sent the big boy to get us. Well, at least there will be a bed on board so Carter can lie down, and we can store the luggage below.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Tom ushers all of us on board. “Everyone on board quickly and in a seat.”
I catch the look of fear and wonder on Raegan’s face. This is her first flight on a private jet or even on a plane, for that matter. I know she’s scared, so I grab hold of her and wrap my arm around her waist as we ascend the stairs to the spacious cabin that’s all furnished in deep brown and cream leather, cream and chrome accent pieces and a patterned carpet of cream and brown swirls that lead to the spacious seats.
Nurse Mary quickly pulls Carter into the bedroom at the back of the plane. I move to follow, but Finn grabs my hand and pulls me into the seat next to him.
“Don’t mother-hen him, Mia. He already feels like he’s a burden to us.” Finn mumbles as he pulls me into my seat. I can see the strain across his face, he doesn’t want to leave Theo behind and it’s breaking his heart to know we have to. I thread my fingers through his in silent support.
Raegan takes the seat across from us, and Mateo takes the one at her side, looking utterly relaxed. Like we’re not running for our lives, but going on some damn adventure. That’s Mateo, though; looks can be deceiving. I know he’s struggling just as much as the rest of us are with the decision to leave Theo. The last couple of hours he’s barely said a word. He didn’t even contact his parents to tell them he was leaving the state, worried that they would go straight to Vincent.
I keep watching the door leading to the bedroom, worry flowing through my system, I have to make sure Carter is alright. I promised Theo and nothing will make me break that promise. Maybe this is a mistake. Perhaps this will make Carter worse? The guy almost died a few days ago, and I know the guilt of leaving Theo is ripping him apart.
Mary comes out of the room and heads toward me. I can see the concern on her face. “His blood pressure and heart rate are a little high. I gave him something to help with that and allow him to get a much-needed nap. He should be out the rest of the trip back to Manhattan.”
Nodding to her, I release the breath that I was holding. Glancing over to Finn, he smirks back at me and tightens the grip on our entwined hands. I draw strength from him. He leans over and kisses my forehead, then turns to watch out the window as we ready for departure.
The cabin crew starts making the rounds, asking us what we would like to drink and going through the preflight safety rules. I release the breath tightening my chest as they close the door and prepare for takeoff.
Looking over at Raegan, she has her eyes shut tightly and I’m pretty sure she’s praying under her breath. Mateo is playingCandy Crushon his phone, ignoring the world around him. Finn’s sitting next to me, distractedly rubbing his thumb in tight circles over the top of my hand. His mouth is in a scowl, and I can only guess his thoughts are on us leaving Theo behind. I know that’s where my thoughts are firmly placed.
I’m so angry and devastated by my grandmother’s decision not to go in and try to rescue Theo. There had to be a way we weren’t seeing. The knowledge that we are leaving him behind, to unspeakable horror at the hands of his father, makes me want to scream and vomit. I vow once I get back to Manhattan all my focus will be on getting him out of there and the hell away from his damn father. I am not leaving him behind for long.
I should question why I care so much but the answer is right there in front of my face and it’s undeniable. I have caught feelings for Theo, for all four of them really. I don’t know exactly when my feelings started to change, but somewhere along the line, rage turned to lust, then hate turned to want and need. Now here I am running away to Manhattan with three out of four kings of Casbury, that I came here to destroy and leaving a part of my heart behind with the fourth one.
I look out the window, but all I see is the inside of the dark hangar starting to disappear as we start taxing toward the short private runway. Then the crew instructs us to put on our seat belts, and we take off.
Raegan grabs onto Mateo’s leg, digging her nails in, and he lets out a loud shriek. Finn and I look at each other and crack up laughing.
“Girl, you alright?” I give her a grin.
“She’s pitching a hissy fit with a tail on it.” Mateo groans trying to pry Raegan’s nails from his thigh. We all laugh again. That is the most North Carolinian shit I have heard in years. I guess Mateo’s southern roots are showing.
“I’m gonna whoop you where the sun don’t shine, Mateo,” Raegan mumbles, finally letting go of Mateo’s leg, an embarrassed blush crossing her cheeks.
