Ruthless Empire (Royal Elite #6)(47)

Cole: Remember that pic you saw on my phone?

Her brow furrows as she reads the text, and when realisation sets in, her fist clenches harder and her manicured nails nearly crack from the way she holds her phone.

Cole: If you don’t do as you’re told, you’ll regret it.

Silver: Screw. You.

As soon as Frederic finishes the section, I stand up. “I’m going to meet the guys.”

Mum smiles. “Ronan’s again?”

“Yeah.”

“Have fun,” Sebastian tells me.

Silver’s eyes widen, but she quickly masks her reaction. She already knows that she messed up real bad.

On my way outside, I type her one last text.

Cole: I will be screwing someone. It just won’t be you.





19





Silver





I lied.

I told Papa and Helen I was going out with Veronica and Summer. Instead, I’m at Ronan’s house.

Okay, Veronica and Summer are here too, so it’s not like it’s a complete lie.

Papa doesn’t like it when I party. He doesn’t say it out loud, but he thinks it’s beneath me.

It’s not like I love it myself. Unlike what everyone believes, I don’t like attention. Or at least, I like it on my terms, and not twenty-four-seven.

The three of us stroll through the entrance. Lars, Ronan’s favourite butler, greets us by name. And yes, when Ronan’s earl father isn’t around, he has his butlers organise the parties for him, and he practically throws them at every chance possible.

He makes any event a reason for celebration.

Summer and Veronica each flip their hair back. I do too, not to announce my arrival, but to boost myself with some confidence — I need every drop that exists.

For that very reason, I wore my short peach-coloured Louis Vuitton dress. It stops above my knees, the slits at the front and the back giving it a provocative view while still saying ‘You can’t afford what’s underneath this shit.’

I pulled my hair up in a ponytail and put on red lipstick, thinking of Mum’s words.

Red kills them, Babydoll.

I finished the look with red nails and heels so high, they make my legs taller and my arse perfect.

Silver Queens is here to conquer.

Aiden and Cole have always been unbeatable at chess, but what they seem to have forgotten is that I also play. I plot, too.

Just because I let Cole invade my body in that brutal, unapologetic way doesn’t mean he gets to step on me.

The thumping of some trendy pop music echoes in the air. RES’s students dance to the beat, chugging alcohol and grinding against each other.

Some make out openly, clinging to one another as if tomorrow will be the apocalypse.

“Ew, gross,” Veronica chirps loudly as we pass them by.

“Get a room, losers,” Summer continues.

I stare back at the couple even after we pass them. My chest aches at the view and I shake my head refusing to think about the reason.

“Mission?” I ask them.

“Find Cole before he does something stupid.” Veronica readjusts her generous cleavage.

“On it, Sil.” Summer gives me an ‘I’ll call you’ sign as we split up.

I told them I can’t let Cole do anything that will hurt Papa’s image. It’s true — but only partially.

One, Cole would never do that. He’s too careful.

Two, that’s nowhere near the reason why I’m here.

I begin my hunt through the house. The problem is, Ronan’s mansion is so damn huge. I get lost in it on normal days, let alone when it’s full of people.

Pulling my phone out, I type.

Silver: Have you seen Cole?

The reply comes immediately.

Aiden: Since when are you so obvious about looking for him?

Silver: Answer the question.

Aiden: That would be a no. I don’t like being ordered around. Try again in ten years.

Aiden: Best of luck finding him when he chooses to disappear.

I swear I’ll punch Aiden one day, but that won’t be today or as long as he’s agreeing to be engaged to me. I’m not an idiot. I know he’ll leave me in a heartbeat if he chooses to, and if that happens, I’ll be completely at Cole’s mercy — or the lack thereof.

At least now, he feels threatened. Now, when he thinks no one is watching, he looks at Aiden like he wants to murder him.

Cole has always gravitated towards Aiden more than Ronan or Xander. It’s like an understanding of sorts. What if he’s only hung up on me because Aiden has me, and once Aiden disappears from my side, he’ll consider himself the winner and move along?

My chest squeezes at the thought.

Since when did I start to have Mum’s mindset?

My phone vibrates with a text.

Summer: Spotted at the eastern wing fifteen minutes ago.

That doesn’t help. There are, like, fifteen rooms there.

I type the fastest I ever have.

Silver: Alone?

Summer: With Jennifer from the track team.

My fingers hover over the keyboard and moisture fills my eyes.

No.

I won’t allow myself to cry about this.

The moment I lift my head, my gaze collides with Adam’s. He’s sitting in a small lounge area with the rest of the rugby team. Those guys are popular, too. Not as much as the football team, but they have their share of girls and glory. While his team members are joking, laughing, and drinking, he’s not.