Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(98)

I toss the empty bottle in his trash. “What?”

“I don’t know what enjoying a single glass of alcohol even means. I hear people talk about it all the time, like it’s normal.” He leans against the counter. “But I always need the excess to drown it out.” A hefty sigh escapes him. “And pretty soon one glass leads to ten, which leads to a few lines of coke, which leads to popping some pills. But I didn’t think I was an addict like my mom…I thought I had the shit under control.” His eyes meet mine. “But I don’t, because it was controlling me. It’s still controlling me.”

“That’s because you have a disease,” I point out.

“I wish I didn’t.”

I tell him the cold-hard truth. “There might not be a cure, but you can manage it. You just have to want it bad enough. You have to fight for your sobriety and make it the first priority in your life. And you have to surround yourself with people who love and support you.”

“You mean the people I’m constantly disappointing because I fuck shit up.”

“No one was disappointed tonight.”

We were relieved.

Because the old Oakley would have given in.

And even though temptation was sitting right in front of him, summoning him to fall down the rabbit hole, and he could have listened…he didn’t.

He let me in instead of going to the dark side.

Just like I did with him.

Once upon a time, I built walls up to keep people out…

But now I’m realizing those same walls also kept out my happiness.

The ability to trust and love people.

Including my own family.

I will always love my mother and wish she was here…but I’m tired of keeping her secrets.

I want to be free.





Chapter 47





Bianca





“I’ll be right outside if you need me,” Oakley declares when we pull up to the house.

“I know.” Pressing my cheek to his shoulder blade, I squeeze my arms around him, soaking the strength he’s giving me up like a sponge. “Thank you.”

Nerves bunch in my stomach when I look around the driveway and spot my father’s car along with Jace’s royal blue Lexus.

They’re all inside waiting for me.

And they have no idea what kind of missile I’m about to launch.

My legs shake as I get off the bike, and for a moment, I debate telling Oakley to drive me back to my dorm.

But I don’t.

A groan lodges in my throat when my phone rings. Stone’s been blowing up my phone all morning, despite telling him I was busy studying for a test.

I suppose I could have told him what I was really up to, but then he’d have a bunch of questions for me.

I’d rather tell him everything after I tell my family.

I’m about to hit the ignore button, but I realize it’s not Stone calling me after all.

I don’t recognize the number, but I answer anyway.

“Hello?”

“May I speak with Bianca Covington?” a deep voice asks on the other line.

“Speaking.”

“Hello, this is Detective Pollard with the Special Victims Unit. I was calling to give you an update about your case.”

To say I’m surprised would be putting it mildly because I was told it would take a while to gather evidence and get the ball rolling.

“Oh. I didn’t think it would be so soon.”

The detective clears his throat. “Yes, well unfortunately the case will be closed.”

Anger rushes through my veins. “What the hell do you mean the case will be closed—”

“Dr. Young was murdered late last night.”

My head whirls and a stunned gasp flies out of me.

“Wait, what? Murdered? By who?”

I see Oakley tense. “Who was murdered?”

I quickly hold up a hand, silencing him because I need to know what happened myself before I can tell him.

I hear the detective’s sharp inhale of breath over the extension. “I’m not at liberty to disclose all the details, but the department was conducting another investigation involving a different victim. However, the victim’s father decided to take matters into his own hands.”

Holy. Shit. I’m literally speechless.

“I…wow.”

“Even though the case will be closing, if you would like some counseling or to come by and speak with—”

“No,” I quickly say. “Thank you, though.” I can’t deny that I’m awfully curious as to who’s responsible for giving this piece of shit his due karma. “Do you know who murdered him?”

“We have someone in custody, yes.”

When it’s obvious he’s not going to tell me who that person is, I thank him for calling and hang up.

Then I look at Oakley.

I ended up telling him about my plan to take down Mark late last night, but there’s obviously been a new development.

“Someone killed Mark.”

His blue eyes go wide. “Holy fucking shit.”

“I know.”

I pull up the search engine on my phone. If the police have someone in custody there’s a chance a local news station might know who and report it.