Queen of my Heart

36

I stared at her, fear pumping in my ears. “I'm sorry. Believe me, I didn't mean to do it.”

Madness shone behind her eyes, moonlight illuminated her pale skin, giving it an almost ethereal glow. “Too late, Juliet.”

I closed my eyes, her footsteps muffled against the wooden floor.

I felt her hand around my neck.

She was right.

It was too late.

* * *

2 4  H O U R S  E A R L I E R

* * *

SILENCE HAS NEVER BEEN THIS DEAFENING.

Four pairs of eyes stared at me with a mixture of awe, wonder, and surprise.

“Hi,” I mumbled, giving a small wave. I felt so awkward. Bloody hell, the last time I saw them, I was the third-party to a relationship.

Bryan clapped once, startling everyone. “What's the matter?”

Nicky blinked at the both of us, his lips forming into a grin. “Hello, Juliet.”

Instead of the hotel room, Bryan took me to a small house, which he later explained as their new base. Apparently, staying at a hotel room cost too much that they both a house. Figures.

Fast forward to meeting the lads, we barged inside the house as they were practicing in the living room. Kian was in the piano (organ, I supposed, since it was smaller) while the three sat on the couch. They looked up upon our arrival and had been dumbfounded since then.

Mark walked to me and wrapped me in his arms. I smiled as his musky scent invaded my nostrils. “How have you been, woman?”

“I missed you, too, Mark.”

He pulled away and chattered with Bryan. I was left standing there, watching Shane and Kian.

The latter lowered his eyes, though I didn't know why since I was the one who did him wrong by hurting his cousin. Or maybe he was still mad at me for the whole cheating issue.

Shane was watching me, his eyes tracing every inch of my body. Heat filled my face, not because of arousal, but because embarrassment had made its way for the first time.

“Hi, Shane, Kian.” I flashed them a rather tight smile, taking a step forward. By now even Nicky joined Bryan and Mark in their conversation.

“Juliet.” My former best mate's eyes was a dull hazel, as if my presence sucked out all the good in them.

Kian stood up and wrapped me in his arms. I tried to mask my shock with a chuckle. “I'm sorry, Juliet,” he murmured. “I've been a jerk.”

”Yes, you have.” I held him at arm's length. ”But so have I.” Pulling away, I tried my best not to glance at Shane. Bryan and I have a very important message to deliver. I didn't need any more distractions.

“So what brought you back?” Nicky leaned back against the sofa, eyes bright with curiosity. “Not that I don't want you here, you know.”

As if on cue Bryan and I sought each other's gazes. We haven't really talked about the main topic the whole ride from London. Perhaps we were still trying to convince ourselves about the truth.

If we doubted ourselves, the lads didn't need to know.

You tell them, I mentally said to him.

Bryan's eyes hardened. Why should I? You do it.

I raised a brow. You love me, don't you?

A pause. I could tell he wanted to protest, and I was waiting for him to hold my past actions against me—which would have been reasonable of him, if ever—but then he sighed and faced the lads. “We think Gillian's out to get Juliet.”

His announcement was met with stunned silence.

I glared at my boyfriend (?). Sometimes he was just too blunt. “You couldn't have been gentler?”

His reply was a noncommittal shrug, as if to say, You insisted, I delivered.

With a grunt, I flashed the lads the best smile I could muster. “What Bryan means is that I have been receiving creepy phone calls in London, along with a letter.”

“Wait,” Kian said, “you were in London all along?”

I turned to Bryan. “You didn't tell them until now?”

He was staring at the far wall. “The subject hasn't come up.”

“Liar!” Mark stood up and pointed a shaky finger at Bryan. “We've been asking you for months and you keep telling us to shut it!”

Very calmly, Bryan said, “Juliet needs privacy.”

“Juliet would want to see us eventually!”

“Juliet is here,” I said, hand raised. I glanced at my boyfriend. “We need to talk later.” To Shane, who has been quietly staring at us the whole time, I said, “We don't want to suspect her, but—”

“—but there's no one else to blame,” he finished. The room has gotten silent. “I understand, Juliet. You do what you have to. Just . . . Just don't hurt her, all right?”

I nodded, my stomach sinking at the empty look in his eyes. Just what happened to him all these months? “We still have to prove she's guilty.”

“I don't know what happened to her.” Kian shook his head and for the time, I saw the distress in his eyes. “It's like she doesn't want to get better.”

“It's my fault.” I looked down at my feet, my heart clenching as the memories plagued my mind. The stolen kisses, the tears, the slaps, the betrayal. “I'm sorry.”

“The damage has been done,” said Bryan, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. My body automatically leaned into his warmth. “The best thing we can do now is find her.”

* * *

Looking back, I thought it really was the best thing to do. I thought maybe when we find Gillian, we could make things right. I could make things right.

I was willing to find danger itself just so I could make amends for the mistakes I've done. So I could apologize.

But danger found me first.

And she didn't want to forgive me.

-

Hi! We are about 5 chapters away from the end! (Including the Epilogue)

Sorry for updating so slowly, but I promise to finish the book as fast as I can. I want you to read a coherent and well-written update so I don't want to half-ass my updates.

Thank you for reading!

~G