Frowning, I shut the door and force myself not to dwell on Easton’s strange behavior. I’m not allowing myself to get caught up in any Royal drama again, not if I want to survive my time here.

I stick the wallet into my backpack, whip my sweatshirt off, and crawl onto the bed. The silk coverlet feels like heaven against my bare arms.

In Nashville, I was staying in a cheap motel with the scratchiest bedspread known to man. The thing was also covered with stains I never, ever want to know the source of. I’d landed a job waiting tables at a diner when Callum showed up, same way he’d shown up in Kirkwood and dragged me out of the strip club.

I still can’t decide if my life was better or worse before Callum Royal found me.

My heart clenches as I picture Reed’s face. Worse, I decide. So much worse.

As if he knew that I was thinking about him, Reed speaks from behind my closed door. “Ella. Let me in.”

I ignore him.

He knocks twice. “Please. I need to talk to you.”

I roll over on my side with my back to the door. His voice is killing me.

A growl comes from the other side of the door. “You really think this scanner is gonna keep me out, baby? You know better.” He pauses. When I don’t answer, he goes on. “Fine. I’ll be back. Grabbing a toolbox.”

The threat—which I know isn’t an empty one—has me flying off the bed. I slap my hand on the security panel and a loud beep fills the room as the lock clicks. I throw open the door and meet the eyes of the guy who was in the process of destroying me before I left. Thank God I put a stop to that. He’s never getting close enough to have any impact on me again.

“I am not your baby,” I hiss out. “I am nothing to you, and you’re nothing to me, you understand me? Don’t call me baby. Don’t call me anything. Stay the hell away from me.”

His blue eyes do a thorough examination of me from head to toe. Then he speaks in a gruff voice. “Are you okay?”

My breathing is so short it’s a wonder I don’t pass out. No oxygen is getting in. My lungs burn and my vision is red and hazy. Did he not listen to a word I just said?

“You look thinner,” he says flatly. “You haven’t been eating.”

I move to close the door.

He just shoves a palm against it and pushes it open, stepping inside while I glare at him.

“Get out,” I snap.

“No.” His gaze continues to sweep over me, as if he’s checking me for injuries.

He should be checking himself, because he’s the one who looks like he got beat up. Literally—there’s a purplish bruise peeking from the collar of his T-shirt. He’s been in a fight recently. Or maybe several fights, judging by the slight grimace on his face when he draws a breath, as if his rib cage can’t handle the act of breathing.

Good, a vindictive part of me crows. He deserves to suffer.

“Are you okay?” he repeats, his gaze never leaving mine. “Did anyone…touch you? Hurt you?”

Hysterical laughter bubbles out. “Yes! Someone hurt me! You hurt me!”

Frustration clouds his face. “You left before I could explain.”

“There’s no explanation you could give that would make me forgive you,” I spit out. “You screwed your father’s girlfriend!”

“No,” he says firmly. “I didn’t.”

“Bull.”

“It’s true. I didn’t.” He takes another breath. “Not that night. She was trying to convince me to talk to my dad on her behalf. I was trying to get rid of her.”

I stare at him in disbelief. “She didn’t have any clothes on!” I stop abruptly, my mind snagging on one particular thing he’d said.

Not that night?

Anger rises in my throat. “Let’s pretend for a second that I believe you didn’t have sex with Brooke that night,” I glare at him, “which I don’t. But let’s pretend I do. You still slept with her some other time, didn’t you?”

Guilt, deep and unmistakable, flickers in his eyes.

“How many times?” I demand.

Reed runs a hand through his hair. “Two, maybe three.”

My heart seizes. Oh my God. A part of me had expected a denial. But…he’s actually admitting to having sex with his dad’s girlfriend? More than once?

“Maybe?” I screech.

“I was drunk.”

“You’re disgusting,” I whisper.

He doesn’t even flinch. “I wasn’t with her when you and I were together. The moment you and I hooked up for the first time, I was yours. Only yours.”

“Oh, lucky me. I got Brooke’s sloppy seconds. Hurray!”

This time he does wince. “Ella—”

“Shut. Up.” I hold up my hand, so grossed out I can barely look at him. “I’m not even going to ask you why you did it, because I know exactly why you did. Reed Royal hates his daddy. Reed Royal decides to get back at his daddy. Reed Royal has sex with his daddy’s girlfriend.” I gag. “Do you realize how messed up that is?”

“Yeah. I do.” His voice is hoarse. “But I never claimed to be a saint. I made a lot of mistakes before I met you.”

“Reed.” I meet his gaze head-on. “I will never forgive you for this.”

A flash of determination lights his eyes. “You don’t mean that.”

I step toward the door. “Nothing you say or do will make me forget what I saw in your bedroom that night. Just be happy I’m keeping my mouth shut about it, because if Callum finds out, he’ll lose his shit.”

“I don’t care about my dad.” Reed advances on me. “You left me,” he growls.

My jaw drops. “You’re mad at me for leaving? Of course I left! Why would I spend another second in this awful house after what you did?”

He moves even closer, his big frame invading my personal space, his hand coming out to cup my chin. I shrink from his touch, and that makes his eyes blaze hotter.

“I missed you every second you were gone. I thought about you every goddamn second. You want to hate me for what I did? Don’t bother—I was hating myself for it long before you showed up. I slept with Brooke and that’s something I’ve gotta live with.” His fingers tremble against my jaw. “But I didn’t screw her that night, and I’m not letting you throw away what you and I have just because—”