Chapter 2 Getaway driver

AIDEN

I had to let Elena go. Getting involved with another Moore so soon after Avory was asking for trouble.

So why did I feel even more like shit after Elena's big declaration?

Fuck her fucking timing.

Everything in my life had been decided for me since the day I was born. The crown. Then not the crown. Then a different crown I didn't even want. The brides. Even being with Elena came to feel like a burden, weighing heavily on my shoulders.

"Just fucking leave me alone," I said to no one in particular, halfway through another glass of champagne (and on the verge of switching to something stronger) when my new guest took the seat across from me like I had reserved it for her.

Terrifying, twinkling dark eyes. Soft, black curls gently laid out over her shoulders. A black dress so tiny it was almost criminal to call her Lady Keira Dormer.

Keira wasn't just my type. She was everybody's type.

"Where's the fun in that? You've already made so many bad decisions tonight, Denny," said Keira, Bloody Mary in hand, one leg crossing over the other making her dress hike up ever so slightly. "What's one more? Want to make some mistakes with me?"

I glared at her. She had to know my hatred for her wasn't going anywhere after she almost killed my brother John. What the fuck was she playing at?

"I'm not interested," I found the strength to say, even while ogling her cleavage and rose to my feet again.

She stood too, stepped into my path, and slid her hands onto my ass.

My breath hitched.

Yeah. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Bad idea.

Too bad I loved those, especially after getting royally fucked over.

Story of my life.

"Sure seems like you are," she said, biting her lower lip. "I may not be the one, but aren't you over that shit? I could be the one for tonight."

I felt like an open book before her. Already buck naked and waiting to be used. Keira saw the Casanova of Caspira. The player. The party animal.

And she liked him.

God help us, that made my dick like her.

"One night. No strings," I conceded like the dumbass I was.

I kissed her hard and fast, angry passion flowing from my lips to hers.

One hour later was where it should have ended. With one perfect, life changing night.

If only I'd had the sense to walk away after we fucked each other silly on that very table behind a flimsy partition.

But no.

I stayed. Got greedy.

One night wasn't enough. Getting lost between the sheets with her was fun. When was the last time anything in my life had just been fun?

The result? A stupid infatuation that had no business existing in our world.

Doomed from the beginning. Always meant to end.

KEIRA

A few weeks later

(Imperium, Stormhold)

After partying up a storm in countries that had nothing to do with Caspira or Stormhold, my enemy turned lover finally took me home to Imperium.

It wasn't like I didn't know it would end this way. The problem? He had changed me. Made me want to experience life, not just breathe and call it living.

So I did the most selfish thing I had ever done in my young life.

I ran.

Tears prickled at my eyes as I fled Madz's office and stormed through The House of Assassin's hallways.

Happy, sad, afraid, ashamed. I was what they called a deserter.

The roller-coaster of emotions was unending as I left my old life behind for a guy hung up on another woman, but I didn't stop. Didn't turn back.

With nothing but a backpack flung over my shoulder, I ran back to the gates, where I'd left him an hour ago now.

It was foolhardy. We had lives. Big responsibilities.

He was a prince.

I was a soldier. Keira the woman didn't give two fucks.

Gone.

Gone.

He wouldn't be there anymore.

Where the fuck are you going?

A lump formed in my throat as I halted a few feet from the gates.

The unshed tears I had been holding back fell when I laid eyes on him.

He was on the other side of the gate, arguing with assassins like he wasn't on foreign soil, endangering his very existence with each word.

"I just need to see her, just…" he trailed off when he saw me.

Our eyes locked. The breath I didn't know I was holding, had been holding for the last decade, eased out of me. I tossed him a relieved smile and started sobbing hysterically.

Not gone.

Not another tragedy I couldn't undo.

Not still hung up on a Moore?

My heart did flip flops.

This must be how normal women felt when boys looked their way.

Silly, yet significant.

"... One more time," he finished, returning my beam with one of his own.

That smile was everything. Worth putting myself first for.

Throwing caution to the wind once again, we got back into the car, slamming the doors behind us like we could block out the world.

"Miss me, Denny?" I asked, eyes stinging as tears continued to flow.

"Your getaway driver prince is at your service, Keira. Where are we taking the party next?" he said, reaching out to lay his fingers down on my cheeks and wipe away the tears.

He'd never seen me cry before, but he didn't remark on it. Didn't ask questions about why I was back. His fingers were gentle and tender.

Kind.

Women didn't leave men like Aiden Condron on purpose.

Did they?

At least not without a broken heart.