The Last in Line (The Royal Inheritance Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

were maddeningly few. A gas leak, that’s all anyone knew for sure.
    The Queen, the Queen’s Consort and their sons had been buried three days earlier in a somber ceremony of state. The monarch had been identified by her jewelry and the sons and husband by the military medals and buttons worn on their tunics. The body of Princess Althena could not be identified with certainty. Renee had felt indescribable grief as she watched the funeral procession wind its way through the streets of London to St. Paul’s cathedral for the ceremony, and then to Windsor where the family would be closed into a tomb. She watched the faces of the crowds as the funeral procession passed. They were waiting, pale and worried, about what would come next. Just like she was waiting. Without Ray, who was she? Just another working woman with a kid to support. At least with Ray, she was special to somebody. Or had been, anyway. He hadn’t been seen nor heard from in weeks, though she had heard rumors about his whereabouts.
    A key turned in the lock of the front door. She leapt out of the sofa and found herself face to face with Ray.
    “Hey, Sugar.”
    The stress of the last few weeks surged.
    “Don’t hey sugar me! What do you think you’re doing?” she said, looking at the duffel bag by his feet.
    “I need to take a shower. That all right by you?”
    He tried to edge past her, but Renee crossed her arms and planted herself in front of him. “Where’ve you been? Why didn’t you call?”
    “I’ve been clearing my head, figuring things out about our relationship.”
    “Well, while you’ve been figuring things out I’ve been working round the clock to make ends meet.”
    “I knew you’d be ok,” said Ray.
    “You took off with the rent money. What made you think we’d be ok? We needed that money. Where is it? Did you spend it at the pool hall?”
    “None of your business.” He looked satisfied with himself.
    “Yes it is my business. You’re my husband. Your money is my money. You left us without rent.”
    “You seem to be doing alright,” said Ray, “which means I probably give you too much.”
    Renee was about to retort, but a sense of wonder washed over her. It seemed that she could almost feel the shackles fall from her wrists. She had thought they were bonds of love, but she was beginning to realize they had been bonds of fear.
    “You know what—I am doing all right. I don’t need you. You can turn right around and get out.”
    Ray laughed. “Honey, you couldn’t keep a plant alive without my help. If it wasn’t for me, you’d still be recycling cans for nickels in San Antonio.”
    “That’s not true.”
    “Yeah, it is. And I’ll tell you what else is true. Ain’t nobody is going to want some old, washed up rodeo queen with a kid. I’m your best bet. Unlike you, I’ve got options.” Ray smirked.
    That was it! She’d had enough. Renee went into her bedroom and retrieved the baseball bat from under the bed where she kept it in easy reach in case anyone ever broke into the apartment.
    “You’re right, you do have options,” said Renee. “You have the option of leaving here with your head still attached to your shoulders, or you can keep talking while I practice my swing.”
    Ray’s eyes lost some of their mirth.
    “Try it,” he said.
    “Ray, I really think you should just go.”
    “You’re a mean old hag. Maybe that’s why I like hanging out at the bar with Cressi. She knows how to have a good time.”
    Renee swung the bat. Ray ducked out of the way and the bat knocked a framed photograph off the wall. It fell to the floor with a clatter and a shattering of glass. It was their wedding portrait.
    Ray’s eyes were round. “Crazy bitch.”
    Something snapped in Renee. She charged at him with the bat held high. Ray ran through the kitchen and threw a plate at her, which she swatted away with her bat.
    “Maybe you should go back to that big-bosomed bimbo,” she yelled.
    Ray jumped over the sofa and no