We can fight, we can fuck, but by morning, we’re going to set this all straight. I reach for the door handle, but my phone begins to ring. I curse under my breath and look at the caller ID on the dash.
My brows draw in as I look at the name of the caller. My chest tightens. This is not someone who calls me often, if ever.
Why now? I glance at the tablet in my hands at DJ. She still hasn’t moved.
“Hello,” I answer the call.
“Hello, Brooklyn.”
“Phoebe. How can I help you?”
“Oh, no. I’m calling to help you. Although you’re not going to like this.”
“I’m listening.”
“Are you? Because it’s important that you do. You will lose everything if you don’t. The crown, the empire, the clan, and most importantly to you, the girl.”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
“Good, I need you to step back. Don’t enter that house. Leave her to her anger for now. She will learn the truth when it’s time.
“If you ignore my warning, your tempers will get in the way, and she will never arrive in the place that matters.”
“The place that matters?” I ask in confusion.
“Ah, yes. You are to be king—one of the various Kings of New York, and one of the most powerful there is. Your brother will lean on you when times call for it, and you will need to lean on your queen.
“A queen meant to be one of the Bellas. Not just any Bella, but the right hand of Death herself. You will resist at times, but this is the way it must be.
“Congratulations, King Cole. You’re in the major leagues now. Make the right decision. I will be in touch when the time is right.”
With that, the line goes dead. I sit staring out of the windshield. I know not to ignore the old gypsy. However, her words don’t entirely make sense to me.
I glance down at the tablet, unseeing. The one thing to stick out from Phoebe’s words is that I’ll lose DJ if I enter that house.
“Fuck,” I roar and punch the steering wheel.
Before I pull off, I take a screenshot of DJ lying in our bed. Then I do the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life: I drive away.
CHAPTER 32
AGift for You
Deja
Three months later …
I’ve been goingthrough the motions for the last three months. Nothing matters. I’m putting one foot in front of the other.
I had planned to leave, but Carrick and Graham showed up at the house the next morning—after I had beaten the hell out of Cole’s car—to let me know the house was mine and I didn’t have to leave.
I thought long and hard about whether or not I should leave. In the end, I decided to stay as long as Cole stays away from me. Now I’m not sure if I’m happy that he has or disappointed that he didn’t even fight for us.
I should feel silly for that, but here’s the thing. Cole was my friend way before whatever we became. When we were younger,he was someone I could trust, someone I would talk to. I can’t believe this is who he turned out to be.
“Hey, Deja, earth to Deja.”
I’m brought out of my thoughts as I stand behind the bar in the pub. I should be getting ready to open. I look up to find Graham McGowan staring back at me.
