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Murder

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Chapter 24: Murder (Spencer's POV)

We had just got back to the palace after all the wedding celebrations. "This is your first night here as my wife," I stated while closing the main doors. 

Delilah chuckled softly, "I bet I'll fit right in." She gathered her dress and I grabbed her arm while she leaned down to take off her heels. 

"Let me do it," I offered. 

"That's okay," she flashed me a smile. 

"It'll be easier," I reasoned. 

"It's fine," she laughed, working on untying the heels. 

I sighed and let go of her arm. She stumbled a bit and regained her footing, shooting me a glare. "You should really learn to listen to me," I mumbled, getting down on one knee and reaching under the hem of the dress, finding the ribbon, and untying it before doing the same with the other. 

She stepped out of each heel and I picked them up. She linked her arm with mine, grinning up at me as we walked through the foyer and to the staircase. "So now that we're married will you be more husband-y?" 

"Wasn't I husband-y enough?" I smirked. 

She shook her head, teasing. 

"And what do you classify as husband-y?" 

She shrugged. "I'm not too sure." 

"Then let's find out." 

"Spencer!" We both stopped, turning to Ms. Sunny who came rushing over, her feather duster in her fist. She looked between us with concern etched onto her face. 

I blinked in confusion. "What's wrong?" 

She glanced at Delilah before spilling the beans. "We just got a call from the hospital." 

"The hospital?" Delilah questioned, instantly growing stiff and nervous. 

"Delilah, it's... your uncle," Ms. Sunny informed us hesitantly. 

Delilah stumbled a little, losing her balance but I caught her as she grabbed onto the banister, steadying herself. "What's wrong? What... What happened to him?" She was trying so hard not to let her voice waver, so hard not to tear up and panic. 

"He was hit by a car in your neighborhood. I believe he's all right now, but he'll be in the hospital for a few days," Ms. Sunny explained with a look of distress and pity on her face. 

"I-is he safe? Will he be okay?" 

Ms. Sunny nodded reassuringly. 

My eyes narrowed. "Who called?" 

Ms. Sunny blinked in confusion. That shouldn't be important right now, but I have a good idea of who could be behind this and it's important to know who the hell called. "Pardon?" 

"Who called to inform you?" I repeated. 

"Nico did. Why?" 

I sighed, shrugging my suit off and ripping the tie off with it. "No reason." I grabbed Delilah's hand and pulled her upstairs with me. She tripped over a few steps at the beginning but caught up to me, wiping her cheeks quickly with the back of her hand. "Don't worry, okay? Everything's going to be fine, your uncle's safe." We got to our room and I sat her down at the foot of the bed, kneeling in front of her on the floor. "Are you okay?" 

She stared at me before shaking her head softly. "No." She scoffed, "What is wrong with them? Seriously, are they insane? Who does that? Who just runs somebody over for revenge? I can't believe they really did that!" She shot up to her feet. "I will kill them!" 

I grabbed her hips, pulling her back down to sit. "Breathe." 

She let out a long breath before taking a shaky one. Her chin trembled and her eyes glassed over again. 

I sighed, standing up and holding her face, tilting her chin up so she was looking right at me. "He's okay. Don't panic, right? That's the worst thing to do at a time like this." 

"I want to go see him," she mumbled, sniffling a little. 

I thought about it before nodding, "I'll take you." I grabbed the keys but she shot up, stopping me. 

"Wait." 

I turned to her in anticipation. 

"Is it safe?" 

I don't know the answer to that. But I know I won't let anything happen to her. "I'll keep you protected, Delilah." 

"No, I..." She rolled her eyes, sighing. "I meant for you." She stared at me, worry etched onto her face. "Is it safe for you? Be honest." 

"I..." I leaned against my desk. "I don't know." 

She let out an exhausted and frustrated huff before walking to the nightstand and grabbing the telephone. She dialed the hospital's number, holding it to her ear while looping the cord around her finger tightly. 

How did everything go south so fast? We just came home after dinner, feeling happy to be married. 

I walked over and sat on the bed in front of her and began unwrapping the cord from her finger. 

"Yes, hello?" She perked up. "Can I please have a word with Rosy Celeste?" Her eyes searched mine while she gnawed at her bottom lip. "Yes, he was just brought in." She fell silent, probably waiting for her aunt to come to the phone. The first thing she asked was, "Is he okay?" She seemed at ease with the answer that her aunt gave because her shoulders dropped and relaxed as she closed her eyes and threw her head back, mumbling, "Thank god... Aunt Rosy, I'll drop by tomorrow... Well, I don't care that you don't think I'm needed there, I'm coming to see my uncle, not you." She slammed the phone down, covering her face with her hands. "Thank god," she repeated before looking at me. "He's okay. He didn't get hurt that badly. Just a fracture in his arm. It could have been worse." 

I nodded. "I'll take you tomorrow to see him, okay?" 

"Thank you," she mumbled. She swallowed, zoning out momentarily. "I'll go change," she breathed out before walking to the closet, grabbing her clothes, and locking herself in the bathroom. 

I changed in the room while thinking to myself. I wasn't just thinking, I was planning, and scheming. Delilah came out once I was in bed with her hair down, her face bare, all the makeup wiped away, and tear-stained cheeks. I can't imagine how scared she must have been. 

This was most definitely my father's sick and twisted way of giving us a warning. Of course, he had it all figured out. My vows made it clear as day that I knew. He figured out that Delilah had confessed the truth to me and he hurt her uncle as a warning. Bastard. I really will kill him. That's the plan, the new plan. To kill that fucking monster. 

She slipped in beside me, sitting against the headboard, her body mirroring mine. 

"Delilah," I said, intending to speak my thoughts out loud. 

"Hmm?" Her voice came out hoarse. I reached for my water bottle and handed it to her first. "Thanks," she whispered, as I opened it before giving it to her. She drank a few sips and then let out an exhausted exhale, tilting her head back. 

"Delilah," I said again. 

"Yeah?" She turned to look at me as I did the same. 

"Should we kill him?" 

She straightened up. "Who?" 

"My father." 

Her eyebrows shot up as she stared at me in surprise and shock. "Are you serious?" 

"Mm-hmm," I nodded. 

A look of disbelief washed over her face before she shook her head softly. "Spencer, we can't just kill people." 

"Why not? If he can, why can't we?" 

"He's a monster," she said coldly. 

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Then I'll be a monster with morals." 

She gawked at me. 

"It's not fair." My fists clenched. "The things I've seen him get away with, the person we both know he is... He doesn't deserve to live." 

"Not that I disagree," she laughed humorlessly. "But who are we to decide that?" 

"I'm the Prince of Everton, and you're now my high lady. You're a princess now, Delilah." 

"You're my husband before you're the prince, okay? I don't want you getting hurt." 

"I don't want you getting hurt," I retorted. "Or anybody you care about." 

"That includes you," she argued. 

"Put that aside," I pleaded. 

"No. You're just as important." 

"I can take care of myself. Your uncle can't. And my father is more of a criminal than you can ever imagine." 

She watched me silently for a moment, thinking, dwelling, processing, and comprehending. Contemplating. "It's murder," she stated. 

"It's justice. A life for a life." 

"My uncle's alive." 

"My mother isn't," I blurted out. 

Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she looked away from me. I know she's smart enough and she knows me well enough that she won't ask any questions. She didn't know, now she does. 

Giovanni Romano killed my mother. 

She asked softly, "He killed your mother?" 

"He did," I sighed, staring ahead of me blankly. 

"How do you know?" 

We looked at each other. "It happened right in front of me, Delilah." She pulled her lips into a thin line, thinking. "Should we murder him?" I asked again. "Think about it." 

"I don't want to think about it," she groaned. I resisted an eye roll and looked away from her. She's too perfect, too kind, too generous, too forgiving. Too pure, too innocent. How could she ever— "I just want to do it." 

My head whipped and I stared at her, stunned. 

"I want to kill him, Spencer. For hurting my uncle, for hurting you for all these years, and... for killing who would have been my mother-in-law. Let's plan it. And let's just fucking do it." She sighed, lying down and scooting closer to me. She put her head in my lap and stared up at me. "Are you convinced I'm a psychopath?" 

I shook my head, lifting my hand and running my fingers through her hair, hoping to soothe her and help her sleep. 

Tonight turned completely upside down from when we left the church and came here. I know there are people in Everton who think I'm a psychopath. That I'm some sinister devil who likes to see people miserable and hurting. The people who think that try convincing everybody around them to think the same. They're all people working in favor of my father. And then there are others. Genuine people, who know what really happened. People talk, people think, people know. They always know. 

"I think I met my match and found the perfect wife," I chuckled softly. 

She rolled her eyes while smiling softly, grabbing my free hand and draping my arm across her torso, hugging it. "I'm sleeping like this tonight." 

"Hmm," I nodded. 

She opened her eyes again, looking at me. "Uncle Felix will be okay, right?" 

"Of course. He'll be home in no time, don't worry." I brought her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles. 

She closed her eyes and focused on falling asleep while I... Well, I thought of how I'll murder Giovanni Romano.

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Chapter 24

Sorry, y'all but I'm kind of rushing this story now. I'm losing interest in writing it... I just reallyyyy want to start writing the Princess-Bodyguard story ASAP, I'm really excited about it. 

I'LL FINISH IT THO DW

I just can't promise it'll be very good... :(

next chapter: cautious