Royal Prick (A Stepbrother Romance)

by J. L. Beck

  “Dude, she grabbed my beer in the car and started chugging it down. It had some Molly in it. What the fuck do you want from me?” He sneered. This prick was a dumb fuck for thinking he could get away with this fucking shit.

  “What do I want?” I roared as I slammed him against the wall, my hand going around his throat in a tight grip as I watched his head bounce off the brick wall behind him.

  “Did she fucking know it was laced, asshole? Huh?” I asked, anger rolling through my body. What the fuck was wrong with this dickhead that he found nothing wrong with what he did?

  “Uh I don’t know, man, I didn’t tell her but she also didn’t ask. It’s her fault for taking someone’s drink and not asking questions. I just figured she was looking for a good time or something.” This little weasel kept running his mouth, but I was done fucking listening.

  “Are you really going to stand here and try to defend your part in this? You just hurt what’s mine, and you act as if it’s no big deal. You want to know what I want?” I seethed, too angry to stop.

  “I want you to keep your fucking drugs to yourself. I want you to keep your fucking hands to yourself too, before I break every bone in your pathetic little body,” I growled as I pushed his shoulders firmly against the wall. The sound of his head smacking off the brick only giving me a small amount of satisfaction.

  “Royal. Stop. I know he deserves so much more, but they’re taking Noelle now, and they want you to ride with her to the hospital.” My grip on the asshole’s throat tightened briefly before I released him with a shove. I wanted so badly to break some of his fucking bones, but I couldn’t let her go through this alone. Noelle needed me right now, and I wouldn’t let her down. Not just to make some fucker pay. No, Noelle was far more important than revenge.

  “You’re lucky that she needs me right now because if she didn’t then it would be you they were loading up in that ambulance and on the way to the hospital,” I spat, giving him one final death glare before walking away and heading over to the ambulance. I got in, my eyes taking in Noelle. She was strapped down to the gurney, her eyes were closed, and they had a needle in her arm along with what I assumed was an IV bag. There was a man working furiously on her, and I could hear some kind of machine going off around her. I sat there in shock as we rode to the hospital for what felt like forever, wondering how the hell we had gotten to this point.

  ***

  Heads were going to roll as soon as I got Noelle out of this fucking hospital. Hearing her mother’s fake ass weepy voice in my ears for the last hour had me on the edge of insanity. I couldn’t stand the woman, and I was about to go off on her at any minute. I knew if this was going to work out that I needed to get away from her. Tearing her a new one wasn’t going to do Noelle or myself any good.

  “This is your fault! I knew you would end up hurting my daughter.” She pointed her finger at me, accusations swimming in her hateful eyes. I wanted to laugh in her face. Apparently she was that fucking stupid. All of this was on her. Not me. Noelle was trying to escape her mother and the expectations she had for Noelle.

  “It’s no one’s fault, Viviana.” Mark tried to calm her down by hushing at her. Even I knew that wasn’t going to work. Did my father not know his wife at all?

  “Actually it is her fault. Everything that has happened tonight is Viviana's fault, but don’t mind me while I let you convince her that she has done nothing wrong. Like she is this perfect mother who actually gives a shit about her kid.” I was on a roll and there was no stopping me now that I had started.

  “It’s not like Noelle’s health is important or anything. It’s because of what you’ve said and done to Noelle; the expectations you require of her and the fact that you constantly belittle her and try and break her down that she needed to escape. She put herself in harm's way tonight just to prove that you didn’t control her. Just to be free of you even if it was only for a few hours.” I had so much hate for this woman, but I needed to focus on Noelle because otherwise I would take things too far.

  “Royal,” Mark warned, shooting me a look that said I’d gone far enough and I needed to stop. I could go all day; didn’t he get that? Viviana’s rap sheet of bullshit was a mile long.

  “No. She’s a bitch, and she’s making everyone’s life a living hell, especially her daughter’s. I know for a fact Noelle never would’ve went to that party if her bitch of a mother had just left her alone or shown her just an ounce of support for anything in her life.” I narrowed my eyes at Viviana, a growl ripping from my throat.

  “I think you need a breather, Royal.” Mark stepped in front of me, stopping me from getting any closer to that bitch. I stopped but only because my chest clashed with my father’s.

  “I need that stupid cunt out of my life and out of Noelle’s as well,” I gritted out, shooting daggers at her from over my father’s shoulder. She was mother of the fucking year standing here playing the fucking victim even with her own daughter in the hospital.

  Noelle had the street drug Molly slipped into one of her many drinks at the party tonight. An allergic reaction occurred causing her body to shut down. The doctors told us shortly after we arrived that Noelle could have died from it, and still her mom was sitting here placing blame on anyone and everything when she should have been sitting in the room hugging her daughter. Being thankful that she was still alive and here with us.

  “Cunt? Did your mom not teach you an ounce of respect you little delinquent?” Viviana spoke the words over Mark’s shoulder, her eyes clashing with mine. She was only saying it because she could hide behind my father and feel protected.

  “Didn’t your mom teach you not to be a no good lying whore?” I slammed my shoulder into Mark’s trying to get to her. I just needed to get a little closer. Just one touch and I would bring her ass to the ground. I didn’t usually lay a hand on women, but then again I didn’t really see this bitch as a woman. She was scum. My mother deserved that retribution, and I would be the one to give it to her.

  “Mark…your son is making a scene. Whatever is he talking about?” she said, scooting further and further away from me as if she knew the second I got my hands on her I would end her.

  This bitch was rich thinking that I didn’t know what kind of person she was and the lies that she told to break of my family. She might’ve had my dad under her thumb and she might be able to break Noelle down, but there was no fucking way that she could tell me what to do or try and demand my respect. To me she was nothing but a disgrace to the world, a pitiful fucking excuse of a human, and one of the biggest mistakes my father’s ever made.

  “No worries, Daddy dearest, I’ll show myself out. I wouldn’t want to make a bigger scene than I already am,” I mocked, shoving away from Mark while giving Viviana a shrill look. The bitch could rot in fucking hell for all I cared.

  I scampered from the waiting room they had placed us in, and headed in the direction where they were holding Noelle. I wanted to scream in anger and frustration as I saw her lying there on the cot-like bed, IV’s hooked up to her body. She looked so small and fragile lying there in the bed, completely out of it.

  This was Viviana's fault. All of it. She was toxic and needed to pay for all that she had done. My fingers reached out, circling around Noelle’s. My touch was gentle against her skin. Her hand felt so small in my large one, her skin was warm against mine.

  I couldn’t stop the thoughts from entering my mind as I stared down at my beautiful princess. Was it possible that I loved her? I didn’t even have a real taste of her yet, but I loved the person she was, and I craved her touch when she wasn’t near. I could feel her presence from across a room and seek her out in the middle of a crowded place.

  “She will pay for hurting you, princess. She will pay for all the damage she has caused you,” I whispered the words as I placed a soft feather light kiss against her forehead and then to her cheek. That sunshine-colored hair of hers was a disastrous mess, and she smelled like a mix of alcohol and the antiseptic stench of
a hospital. Still she was the most beautiful fucking woman in this entire place.

  Quite possibly the entire world. That and she was all mine.

  I placed my ass in the uncomfortable blue chair right next to her bed, patiently waiting for her to wake up, my eyes never once leaving hers not even when the seconds seemed to turn into hours.

  A nurse came in and administered some drugs into her IV and asked me if I wanted anything to eat or drink. I shook my head no, vowing not to leave Noelle’s side until she woke up. I wanted to be the first thing she saw when she finally opened those beautiful hazel orbs of hers. She would know that I was here for her.

  I wouldn’t let her mother twist my image, or make Noelle think that I didn’t care enough to be here for her when I did. I sat in that chair for almost an eternity. My ass hurt, and my arms were stiff, but it was worth it. I would sit here for the rest of my life if that’s how long it took her to wake up. My eyes drifted closed, too heavy to stay open any longer. I was merely trying to catch a breath of sleep when a soft squeeze awoke me.

  I blinked my eyes open, the feeling of joy and relief coming over me, my eyes meeting Noelle’s big ones. I reached my arm over to the small stand by her bed grabbing for the water that the nurse placed there, and offered it to her without hesitation.

  “Everything is okay, babe, you’re going to be just fine.…” I reassured her bringing, the straw up to her lips. She took a small gulp of water and then another before releasing it back to me. I waited eagerly for her to say something. Anything, almost wanting to beg her to speak right this second.

  “I’m sorry.” Her voice was coarse, and it seemed to take her some time to get the words out.

  “No, baby, don’t be sorry. I wanted to be here for you when you woke up. You didn’t do anything wrong.” A frown marred her beautiful features, and I wanted to take my thumb and wipe that sad look away. Her brow furrowed as she started to speak again.

  “Are you okay?” Her eyes were missing that twinkle they usually had and that caused a pang of sadness to creep into my chest.

  “I’m fine, babe. Perfect. A million times better now that you’re awake.” I smiled. I couldn’t have her thinking any of this was her fault.

  “Do you remember what happened to you? Why you’re here?” I asked for no other reason than to see what she knew, to see if she had any clue as to what happened earlier that night.

  “No, not really. I just remember going out with Jordan. I wanted to forget everything that happened with my mom and the rejection I felt after what we did. One minute I was drinking, having a good time and the next you and I were talking and I started feeling really weird. Like I needed to rest and then I woke up here, with you.” There was a small smile on her face when she mentioned me, which made me feel good until the guilt started creeping its ugly head in.

  I was partly to blame for this, just like Viviana claimed. I felt like a class A dick for making her feel as if I had rejected her. That was never my intention. I just wanted to protect her from myself until I could calm down, until I could rein in the darker parts of me. I fucked up royally. I was a royal prick.

  “Noelle, I’m so sorry for making you feel like I was rejecting you, baby. I just needed to calm down. Telling me just how pure you were got me way too excited. I just needed to clear my head before I could taint your precious body any more than I already had.” I spoke softly hoping that my words could soothe her, and bring some type of comfort to her emotions.

  Her eyes started to drift closed again. I understood why she was so tired. She needed to heal, and they said rest was the best kind of medicine. The drugs that she was given caused an allergic reaction that almost stopped her breathing. If I wasn’t with her, who knows what would have happened to her.

  I needed to give Noelle some time to heal and get better. I also needed to take some time to realize just how badly my words hurt her.

  “Don’t worry about a thing; you just sleep. baby.” I spoke the words against her skin, as I placed a kiss against each eyelid. Noelle had me like no one else ever had. I would do anything to protect her. To keep her safe.

  As soon as I knew she was in a deep sleep, I slipped from the room and headed out of the hospital. I had a couple of phone calls I had to make. I wanted to stay here with Noelle, but I wasn’t sure I could handle spending the next six months being around Viviana. She was already under my skin, and the fact that she was the reason for my miserable upbringing and everything that occurred with Noelle today didn’t make it better. I needed to distance myself from her before I did something that could land me in jail.

  I pulled my cell out of my back pocket and hit my mom’s contact, listening to the phone ringing on the other end. Two rings later and she finally answered. I had no idea what time it was but I hoped she wasn’t asleep or at work.

  “Hi, sweetie!” She sounded happy to hear from me. Guess there was a first time for everything.

  “Hi, Mom!” My voice went flat. I didn’t want to bring up what I was about to, but I needed to let her know that I knew.

  “Is everything okay? You sound upset.” I could see her now, pacing the floor, wondering if I had gotten into another fight or did something else that would get me into trouble.

  “I’m fine. Perfect actually, I just need to ask you something, and then I need to make a choice.” I was more so saying what I needed to do out loud instead of just explaining what I wanted to.

  “Okay…” She trailed off, hesitation laced her voice.

  “You knew this whole time and you didn’t tell me.” I left the comment open ended. I knew she would understand what I meant. There was a moment of silence before she started to speak.

  “I didn’t think that it was something that would change things. You can’t dwell on the past, Royal. What your father and I had was amazing, but there wasn’t anything that could be done once Viviana became involved. I didn’t send you there to get involved in all of it, I sent you there because you needed a better relationship with your father.” She sighed.

  “Well you got what you wanted there. I get him more than I ever did before, and I hate him less which I guess is a good thing. However, now that hate has shifted to Viviana, and I’m so angry, Mom…” I was gritting my teeth, and gripping my phone without meaning to. I took a deep breath so I could finish my sentence.

  “I hate her, Mom! I hate her for hurting you, and for hurting me. I hate her for forcing my father to be married to her. I can’t stand her and because of that I think it would be best for everyone if I were to come home. If I don’t I’ll end up doing something I will one day regret.” As I spoke the words out loud, my chest constricted. Was this me walking away from Noelle?

  I leaned against the exterior wall of the hospital, staring up at the light blue sky; the sun was shining down on me, reminding me of Noelle. Everything seemed to remind me of her.

  “If you want to come home, sweetie, you can, but don’t leave because of her. If you’re finally getting things to a good place with your father, then I think you should stay.” My mother was trying to see the good in it all, but she wasn’t living with Viviana so she had no idea what kind of person she was or what it was like to live with her. I didn’t want to leave Noelle; even speaking about it was tearing me apart, but I had to do something to change the course of action I was on.

  “I’ll talk to Mark, but you should know I’m coming home, Mom.” I assured her of that. I couldn’t stay here, not even for Noelle. Once gone I would do whatever I could to get her out of that mess, but until then I had to be okay with walking away from her for a while. No matter how much it ripped me apart. Maybe things with her mother would calm down with me out of the picture.

  “Do what’s right for you, sweetie. If you want to come home, you know you have a room here and you always will. And one more thing, Royal. I’m very proud of you, son, for seeing that there was a problem and wanting to avoid a fight or doing something you shouldn’t.” I smiled, knowing I would soon get to see my mother.
She was right about everything. Coming here and finding out the truth changed me. It made me a better person, it gave me Noelle, and I would forever be grateful for that even if it led to the dreadful truth.

  “Okay! I’ll see you soon. I love you, Mom,” I spoke into the phone before hanging it up. I didn’t know what Mark would say about me coming home, or how he truly felt about any of it. I would find out tonight though. I headed back into the hospital and back to Noelle’s side. I had to see her beautiful face one last time before I left.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  -Noelle

  Time seemed to move at a snail's pace when you were left alone in a huge house like this. It’s been seven long ass boring days since I was released from the hospital, and even longer since I last saw Royal. The house was twice as quiet and twice as lonely without him here. I felt like I was going stir crazy locked inside with nothing but my thoughts to occupy myself with.

  It was strange how much it could hurt when you had to go without seeing someone that had become a constant in your life. Someone you had every day for months. Everything went from being a norm, to being something that never happened again.

  My fingers glided across the handwritten note I found left on my nightstand the night I came home from the hospital. It was a letter Royal left for me the night he left. This was the last thing I had left of Royal minus the shirt he left in his room.

  I tried texting him and calling him. Nothing worked. He either blocked my number or he just didn’t care to respond. I read the letter to myself for the hundredth time as I laid in bed wondering what the hell happened between us.

  -Noelle

  Please understand that me leaving has nothing to do with you but everything to do with me. I’ve learned to deal with things so much differently because of you. You have changed me for the better and will forever hold a special place inside my heart. Even if it hurt to hear the truth of what happened between my father and Viviana, it hurt more to have to leave you there knowing that you would have to deal with her alone.