Ella holds up her hands, mimicking the scales of justice. “You going to prison for twenty-five years, or me living with Daniel.” Her left hand drops down and her eyes burn angrily at me. “Take the Delacorte deal.”
“Even if I was remotely okay with that, which I’m not, there’s too much evidence to get rid of. There is no Delacorte deal anymore,” I say through clenched teeth. “They have no one else to pin this on. Grier says they have me on means, motive, and opportunity, which is all they need to convict me of a crime.”
“You’re not pleading guilty, Reed.” Her tone is harder than steel.
I swallow hard. Then I lock my gaze to hers and say, “Yes. I am.”
27
Ella
My emotions are all mixed up right now. I hate Reed for thinking I’d ever be okay with his stupid plea deal, but I love him for wanting to make this whole mess go away. I know that’s why he’s not fighting this. He’s decided that he needs to save his family from a stain on their reputation.
I get it, but I hate it.
“For the record, I’m not on board with this plan,” Easton tells the room.
“Same,” the twins say in unison.
Reed nods at them. “Noted. But it’s happening whether you like it or not.”
Bitterness jams in my throat. Well, I guess that’s the Royal decree. And to hell with what anyone else thinks about it, right?
A soft tap on the doorframe has our heads turning. “Everything okay in here?” Callum asks, his tone oddly gentle.
Nobody says a word.
He sighs. “I assume Reed’s told you about the deal?”
Easton frowns at his father. “And you’re cool with it?”
“No, but it’s your brother’s decision. I’m going to support him no matter what.” Callum’s stern eyes imply that we should all be doing the same thing, supporting Reed.
“Can I have a moment alone with Reed?” I ask tightly.
At first, nobody moves, but then they notice the look on my face, and whatever they see spurs them into action.
“Come on, boys, let’s go down to the kitchen and rummage up some dinner,” Callum tells his sons. Before he leaves the room, he glances my way. “Oh, and Ella, I’ve already arranged it with Steve that you can spend the night here. I’m sending Durand over to your hotel to pick up your uniform.”
“Steve was okay with that?” I say in surprise.
“I didn’t give him much of a choice.” With a wry smile, Callum ducks out of the room and closes the door behind him.
Once I’m alone with Reed, it’s impossible to contain my anger anymore.
“This is crazy! You didn’t kill her! Why would you ever, ever, ever say you did!”
He slowly sits down beside me. “This is the best option, baby. Five years in prison isn’t the end of the world. But the alternative? Going to prison for the rest of my life? That is the end of the world. I can’t take that chance.”
“But you’re innocent. You can go to trial and—”
“Lose,” he finishes flatly. “I’ll lose.”
“You don’t know that.”
“The statement from Ruby Myers is too damaging. She’s going to tell a jury that I threatened to kill Brooke.” He sounds frustrated. “I don’t know why that woman is lying about me, but her testimony will put me away.”
“Then let’s prove she’s lying,” I say desperately.
“How?” His voice is low, defeated. “She signed an affidavit.” Reed takes my hand and squeezes it tight. “This is happening, Ella. I’m taking the deal. I know you don’t like it, but I really need you to support me on this.”
Never.
Out loud, I only manage a weak croak. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t. It’s only five years. It’ll fly by, just watch.” He hesitates suddenly, raking one hand through his dark hair. “Unless…”
I narrow my eyes. “Unless what?”
“Unless you’ve changed your mind about waiting for me,” he says sadly.
I gape at him now. “Are you kidding me?”
“I wouldn’t blame you.” His fingers tighten through mine. “And I don’t expect you to, either. If you want to break up, I’d totally underst—”
I cut him off with a kiss. A furious, incredulous kiss. “I’m not breaking up with you,” I hiss angrily. “So erase that thought from your stupid head, Reed Royal.”
Rather than answer, he yanks me toward him again, his mouth locking with mine. His broad body pushes me onto the bed as he kisses me so deeply that it sucks all the breath from my lungs.
His hands are down my pants. Mine are busy tugging at his shirt. His lips break away from mine for the second that it takes to pull his T-shirt over his head. Then that mouth is back on mine. His hand reaches between my legs. I rock my lower body against the hard, hot length of him.
We sink into the mattress, his body pressing against me. My shirt comes off. A thigh nudges its way between my legs as his mouth finds my breasts, lavishing attention on the aching tips. A light tug of his teeth has me arching off the bed and crying his name.