Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(112)

With those parting words, I hang up.

“Is that good enough—”

The knife Stone was holding falls to the floor and his hand wraps around my throat and squeezes.

I barely have time to register what’s happening before his fist goes flying into my mouth.

Everything inside me shatters.

It’s almost a surreal, out-of-body experience. As if my brain doesn’t want to accept the fact that in the blink of an eye, I just became the girl whose fiancé punched her.

Correction—ex-fiancé.

Shame snakes up my spine.

There was a time when he used to give me butterflies…but now all I see are the warning signs I’ve excused.

Like his need to control my every move, the way he ridiculed my outfits, how he’d screw me while I was sleeping…or pinch my thigh when I said the wrong thing in front of his friends.

The first time he called me a slut.

And the last time he tried to control me by mistaking my kindness for weakness just so he could manipulate me.

Because he sure as fuck won’t get a chance to do it again.

God, the fact that he actually thought I was the kind of girl he could do this to is revolting.

Because I’m sure as hell fucking not.

Wiping the blood trickling from my mouth, I glare at him. “Did you enjoy that?”

He tries to say something, but I don’t give him the chance.

I kick him in the balls so hard he yelps and crouches over.

I snatch a fistful of his hair, because I want him to look me in the eyes when I say this. “I really hope you did, because that’s the first and last time you ever fucking put your hands on me.” Snickering, I add, “On second thought, that baby dick of yours probably didn’t get the full message.” I strike him in the balls again and he howls. “Did you feel that, bitch? Or do I need to get a magnifying glass and burn it—”

The sound of my door flying open cuts me off.

Oakley storms into the room like a hurricane. He quickly scans the scene, his hard stare darting from Stone to me.

His gaze narrows on my mouth, and then all hell breaks loose.

His voice is a lethal low rasp, shaking me to the core. “I’m gonna fucking kill you.”

That’s the only warning Stone gets before Oakley pushes me out of the way and charges him.

The only thing I can hear over my erratic pulse is the sound of Oakley’s fist flying into Stone’s face repeatedly, as if it’s his own personal punching bag.

They grapple for a moment, but Stone has nothing on Oakley and it’s not long before Oakley has him pinned to the ground.

Shifting so he’s on top of him, one hand wraps around his throat while the other continues taking jabs at Stone’s bloody face.

Stone tries to get some leeway, but it’s impossible because Oakley’s strikes are filled with so much venom, I can practically taste it.

And then I realize, Oakley wasn’t kidding before…he’s actually going to kill him.

Oakley halts his movements momentarily, but only so he can snatch Stone’s arm and bend it at an abnormal angle.

Seconds later, the sharp snap of bone assaults my ears. It’s immediately followed by the sound of Stone screeching in pain.

“Oakley, stop,” I scream.

Not because I give a fuck about Stone, but the last thing I want is for Oakley to go back to jail.

It’s like he doesn’t even hear me.

He goes back to punching him with so much vigor I’m surprised Stone’s still breathing.

It’s only when I scream at the top of my lungs that Oakley suspends his swings momentarily.

“Stop—” I start to say again, but Stone takes the opportunity to punch Oakley in the head.

I can tell the move takes him by surprise, but he doesn’t let it deter him. He seizes his leg next and begins twisting…

Until he starts violently shaking.

Oh, God.

Three things happen in that moment.

Oakley starts seizing.

Stone picks the knife up off the floor and plunges it into Oakley’s side.

And my brothers walk in.





Chapter 53





Bianca





“What the fuck happened?” Jace barks, rushing over to us.

“Stone has a knife,” I shout before focusing on Oakley who’s still seizing.

Cole looks down at Stone who’s now laying limp and kicks him. “Not a problem. He looks dead.”

The rise and fall of his chest tells me he’s not.

I peer down at the blood soaking Oakley’s shirt. Normally you’re not supposed to touch someone who’s having a seizure, but I have no idea how deep the gash is and I don’t want him to bleed out.

I reach for one of my shirts and place pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding.

“What happened?” Jace repeats before his eyes drop to my mouth. “Why the hell is your lip bleeding?”

Ignoring him, I give my undivided attention to Oakley. I wasn’t able to keep track of the time, but it seems longer than usual. “He’s been seizing for a while now.”

“I’ll call 911,” Cole starts to say but then we hear sirens outside my window. “On second thought, it sounds like someone already did.”