Cruel Prince (Royal Hearts Academy, #1)(95)

As if on cue, there’s a loud crash upstairs.

Cole whistles. “I’m gonna take a guess and say you pointed him in the right direction.”

Bianca blows on her nails. “Duh.”

“Thanks a lot.”

I take the stairs two at a time.

Cole follows behind me. “What did you do?”

“I have no idea.”

“I’ve never seen him so mad before,” Bianca whisper-shouts.

Cole and I turn around. “Go downstairs.”

Pouting, she slinks down the staircase. “I hope Liam takes a bat to your balls.”

Great. Another sibling I’ve managed to tick off tonight.

Glass shattering assaults my ears as I open my bedroom door.

My stomach falls when I see my broken computer screen. “What the hell are you doing?”

Bat in hand, those angry green eyes swivel to me. “T-t-taking s-s-something you l-l-love aw-w-way.” He swings again, attacking the tower this time. “Maybe n-n-now you’ll k-k-know w-w-what it f-f-feels lik-k-ke.”

Jesus Christ. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I didn’t take anything away from—”

“Dylan,” he seethes, moving on to my Xbox. Various pieces of plastic and metal fly across the room. “I s-s-saw you two k-k-k-kissing in t-t-the c-c-c-loset.”

Shit. How do I even begin to explain this?

Easy…I can’t.

“About damn time,” Cole says unhelpfully.

“S-s-shut up,” Liam screams, his voice breaking.

Cole holds up his hands. “Bro, you’re acting like a psycho. Put the bat down.”

“No.” He strikes the stack of my most prized video games next. “You k-k-knew how m-m-much I l-l-loved her.”

He’s right. I did.

My chest feels like it’s made out of lead. “How did you find out?”

Dylan told me he was dancing with Heather, there’s no way he could know we were in there.

“I j-j-just t-t-told you, dumbas-s-ss. I s-s-saw—”

“How did you know we were in the closet?” Cole’s words from earlier detonate my brain. Tommy. “Goddammit.”

He smashes my television next. “Tommy t-t-told me you were s-s-sneaking around b-b-behind my b-b-back. I didn’t b-b-believe him, but he s-s-said he could p-p-prove it.”

How did he know?

It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters right now is Liam thinks I betrayed him.

“I’m so—” The sound of my phone ringing cuts me off.

The ringtone tells me it’s Dylan calling, but no way in hell am I going to answer it in front of him.

As if sensing my internal debate, Liam zeros in on me. “Is t-t-that her?”

Taking my cell out of my pocket, I turn it off. “Doesn’t matter.”

Shaking his head, he places my brand-new laptop on top of my desk.

I take a step toward him. “Liam, stop!”

Liam swings at the air between us before he flips my laptop open and proceeds to smash the screen and keyboard to smithereens.

“Did you t-t-tell her I l-l-loved her?” He swings again and his voice cracks. “Did you b-b-both g-g-get a g-g-good laugh?”

“No.” Liam made me promise never to tell her until he was ready. I swore I’d take his secret to my grave. “I told you I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Ha. Like I c-c-can t-t-trust you,” he screams. “You’re n-n-nothing b-b-b-b-but a liar.”

“Christ, man. Get a grip,” Cole yells. “Stop acting like a maniac and destroying Jace’s stuff.”

Liam glares at his twin. “He k-k-kissed, Dy—”

“Yeah, I know. But Dylan was never yours, dude.” He snorts. “Did you really think you had a shot with her?” He rocks back on his heels. “A blind person could see she’s been into Jace for a while now. But even if she wasn’t, no way would she ever date someone like you.”

My fingers curls into fists. “Cole.”

Despite my tone and Liam’s tears, he continues.

“No one likes you, Liam. Not even your own family.” His features twist in disgust. “You’re embarrassing. Always looking for attention with your crying and stuttering—”

“That’s enough,” I growl, winding my fist back. “Say another word and I swear to God I’ll beat the shit out of you.”

“Whatever. Screw this.” He looks at Liam. “Screw you.” He flips us both the bird. “You assholes sort your own shit out. I’m done.” He starts walking but pauses when he reaches the frame. “I wish it was one of you who died instead of Mom. Maybe then this family wouldn’t be such a disaster.”

With that, he leaves, slamming the door behind him.

Three siblings down. Zero to go. Awesome.

After clearing a spot, I sit down on my bed. “I’m sorry, Liam. I know you’re mad. You have every right to be. But I didn’t mean to hurt you. Dylan and I—”

“Yes, you d-d-did. Otherwise you w-w-wouldn’t have d-d-done it.” Tears cloud his eyes. “You k-k-know how m-m-much I l-l-love her. S-s-she w-w-was the only g-g-good t-t-thing in m-m-my l-l-life.” His body starts shaking with sobs. “N-n-now she’s g-g-gone. J-j-just like M-m-mom.”