“I commend your bravery, Hunter, but I’m afraid it’s too late for that. He is very much already after our girl.”
Her fingers drum an annoying pattern on the wooden table as she stares off in the distance.
“Le Milieuis not as strong as we once were. Though Char left behind immense wealth, it’s not like there are stacks of bills we could use ourselves to do what needs to be done. The riches aren’t easily accessible, which is the root of the problem. We don’t have the money or connections it will take to defeat him and his allies. He spent many years pursuing your mother, all with the hopes of taking her legacy and wealth for himself. It’s an obsession for him.”
“But I have nothing,” I say, not understanding. “Even if I’m her daughter, I have nothing. Why would he come after me?”
“You’re not understanding, Ella,” she murmurs sympathetically. “You’re the last Moreau. Every penny, every mile of land, every supporter and enemy, every weapon at our disposal…it’s yours.”
Somehow, I’m not shocked by her declaration. Somehow, I think I already knew this was coming and I’m now too numb to care.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Hunter mutters, swallowing hard. He tightens his grip on my cheeks and releases a slow breath. “Okay. Okay, we can handle this. It’s fine.” He glances over his shoulder.“We’ll come back to that. For now, who were the masks last night? Are they connected to this man who was after Charlotte? Is he coming for Ella now?”
“Yes.” She sighs, rubbing her brows. “We’ve had a team watching him for years. He mostly remains hidden or outside of the country. But last night, something changed. It all happened so quickly, they must have known they were being watched. It’s the only explanation. Our surveillance team called in for backup as soon as they realized his men were headed to you. By the time we arrived, there was already a fight. We—”
“You were there,” I cut in, but it sounds like an accusation. Leaning forward, I grip the table. “What did you see? I was with Hunter. I…” I swallow bile, remembering those devastating moments before I was taken. “I didn’t see what happened to my guys. Did they…are they…” A sob bubbles up my throat. I can’t even say it.
Hunter pushes to his feet and picks me up, wrapping me in his arms. I scramble to move, scared of hurting him, but he ignores me, tucking me against his chest. The second I’m in his hold, my muscles finally relax.
“They’re not dead,” Evelyn quickly says. “The last I saw them, they were kicking ass and putting those vile supporters of Augustus on their asses.” She smiles approvingly. “They’re badasses, your men.”
“They were alive?” I ask, unable to focus on anything else. “They were all okay?”
“Yes,” she agrees. “But we left before the fight had ended. A second team arrived after we pulled you and Hunter out, but your men were already gone. Our people took care of clean up, and ensured all the party guests wouldn’t speak of what they saw.” Reaching forward, she grips my knee firmly. “We are searching for them, Ella. Daniel and I know how much they mean to you. We will not abandon them, I promise.”
I release a shaky breath and nod. “Thank you.”
My body melts into Hunter’s as everything I’ve learned today filters through me. But then something Evelyn said before finally clicks in my exhausted mind.
“Wait. Did you sayAugustus’supporters?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” She bobs her head, looking ill. “Augustus Luna is the man who was after your mother. And now, sweetheart, it seems he’s after you.”
Holy shit.
Like a burst of painful, bright lightning, everything comes racing back to me. Every word, every memory. Char and Miles teaching me everything they could, promising to keep me safe. Madeline reading to me under the big tree in our massive backyard. The story Gage and Maddox told me about their childhoods. The way their mom was killed. The explosion.
My chest cracks open, and I suck in a sharp breath.
“Our father has always been fucked up, but that night destroyed him, like a lot of others. Nyxon’s last remaining relative, his father, Elijah King, was killed. He was an amazing person and a wonderful dad. Both of Stone’s parents were killed as well. Lucas and Mia Hendrix were terrible people and even worse parents, but they were all the family Stone had and Charlotte and Miles killed them ruthlessly, just like our mom.”
I remember that night. A night I thought was nothing more than a twisted nightmare. I watched everything from outside that window, and what I saw…
It’s not what the guys think happened. Not even close. Miles and Charlotte aren’t the ones who started the fight. They didn’t shoot Gage and Madd’s mom or kill Nyx’s dad. They’re not the ones who ended the lives of the Hendrix’s or anyone else.
It was allhim. The bad man with the angry face and the gun.
The room spins and I have to drop my head between my legs to keep myself from throwing up.
“Who makes you feel afraid, Skylar?”
“Mr. Luna.”
It was Augustus behind everything. He was the man who killed my parents. Who destroyed so many lives. The man with the angry face who haunted my nightmares for so many years.
He’s the man who hired Eric Keaton, who put me in the hands of the people that tried to ruin my life. And all for what? Money? From what Gage and the guys have said, Augustus has money of his own. He’s built his own empire. Why does he need…mine?
The Princess of the Bay.
