Rise: Populations Crumble, Book 2 Read online

  Rise

  Populations Crumble, Book 2

  K. A. Gandy

  Copyright © 2021 K. A. Gandy

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN-13: 9798715784247

  Cover design by: K. A. Gandy

  Edited By: Lia Huntington

  Printed in the United States of America

  For Dustin, who has grown with me, changed with me, and loved me through all of our ups and downs. When we succeed, we do it together.

  Always my love.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Buyer’s Remorse

  New Arrivals

  Cold Shower

  Couple’s Massage

  Fertile Week

  The Principal’s Office

  Unrest

  Run for Cover

  Intensive

  The Hunt

  Friends in Low Places

  Monarch

  Butterflies

  Aftermath

  Royally Screwed

  Eye Candy

  The Girl Out of the Country

  Hit The Fan

  Taking Flight

  Before You Go . . .

  Books By This Author

  About The Author

  Buyer’s Remorse

  “What do you mean, your name isn’t Patrick O’Roarke? I just married you, and now you want to tell me your name isn’t your name?” I say, my voice tight with incredulity, hurt, and fury.

  “It’s not as bad as it sounds, I promise!” He raises both hands in a calming gesture, but I’m having none of it.

  “I have had it up to here with this nonsense of keeping me in the dark! What is your name, if it’s not Patrick O’Roarke? Are we even legally married? Who the heck are you?” I demand, fury winning the emotional battle for the moment.

  “I’m Patrick, yes. But my last name isn’t O’Roarke. It’s Royce. Patrick Royce. The marriage license has my correct legal name.” He gestures cautiously toward the desk, as if I might bite him.

  “Care to tell me why you felt the need to hide your real name from me? From everyone, for that matter? It’s O’Roarke in the Bachelor Book, so I don’t know how you pulled that off.” I stand up and start pacing the length of the director’s office in agitation. I can’t even look at him. Oh, crap on a cracker—I married this man not two hours ago and I already caught him in a lie.

  What else has been a lie? What if he lied about his feelings for me, too? Hurt surges to the forefront, but I try not to show it. Keep it together, Sadie. You have to find out what’s going on.

  “It wasn’t just you, it was everyone. Even Glitch doesn’t know my real name. The director didn’t either until today, when I had to have my legal name put on the marriage license, or else the marriage wouldn’t have been valid. And I didn’t want that; I want to be married to you!” His voice goes up slightly at the end, and it’s clear he’s trying very hard to convince me. It’s not working, you lying S-O-B.

  “Is that supposed to make it all better? To know that you lied to everyone, and not only me? You still haven’t answered me. Why are you lying to us all?” I snap, not giving him an inch—despite my heart fracturing in my chest.

  “Does the name Royce really not ring any bells? You don’t recognize it at all? You’re a smart girl, Sadie. I wouldn’t lie to you if I had an option. This all moved so fast, I didn’t know how to spring it on you when you went from five matches to ‘I do’ in a matter of days! I couldn’t risk telling you until it was certain, and then it went from certain to here so quickly I didn’t know when was the right time to break the news.” Now he’s standing too, and he rakes his hand through his hair in frustration.

  “Tell. Me. Why.” I stop pacing, and face him head on. Chin up, arms folded. “Tell me the truth, right freaking now, or I’m going to walk out of here and tell everyone what a two-faced liar you are!” My voice has gone cold, and I don’t care. There’s nothing I hate worse than a liar. How are we supposed to build a real marriage if I can’t trust him? The thought makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry, but that’s not an option right now.

  He lets out a frustrated groan. “My father is the prime minister!” he half shouts.

  I’m dumbstruck by the revelation. That is not what I was expecting him to say. Not that I know what I expected, but still. “Prime minister? As in, prime minister of the entire NAA? Prime minister that’s been in office for so long, they want to name him as monarch of the North American Alliance? That’s your father?”

  “Yes, that prime minister. He was voted in when I was ten, and he’s been unanimously re-elected every year since. The name Royce is recognized across the entire NAA, and I had no chance of ever being known on my own merit as long as I was using it. So, I asked his security team to make me an identity packet with a different name. O’Roarke is my mom’s family name. I just wanted to be judged for myself, not who my father is. Please, Sadie. Please tell me you can understand that, and forgive me for not telling you sooner?”

  My mind is reeling. He told me he spent so much time with his friend growing up because his parents traveled for his dad’s job. He told me that his father was always working, and his parents were rarely there for holidays to visit due to his demanding job. Somehow he managed to never mention what that job was exactly, even though he had ample opportunities.

  My anxious pacing resumes, as my mind grapples with the implications of the fact that I've just married this man who has a very political family. Part of the reason I'd chosen him over the six other options was because I thought he was a normal guy. Someone who could appreciate my family and my home, without being endlessly pulled away. It wasn’t the only reason, though. I’ve fallen for him, hook, line, and sinker. Those hopes are dashed upon the rocks of reality, and the sun hasn’t risen on the second day of our marriage yet. How could I not know he was lying to me?

  “Oh, God. If the lawmakers succeed in changing our government to a monarchy, everyone says your father would be made king.” I grab the end of my veil and worry the bottom hem nervously. “That would make you a prince, right? Next in line to rule the entire freaking continent? Oh, God, Patrick! I’m not cut out to be a queen, you know that, right? Surely you knew that when you let me choose you. Why would you do that?” I meet his gaze anxiously, only to find him infuriatingly silent. “Would you say something? You can’t drop this all on me and let me drown in it!”

  “I’m sorry, it seemed like you needed a minute to process. The monarchy situation has come up many times over the years and been shot down each time. There are plenty of people who have encouraged me to follow in my father’s footsteps, but I have no political inclinations. I wouldn’t have gotten a new name and hired on to be an NLC guard if I wanted to go into politics.” His expression is intense, and regret is plain in the way he’s staring at me, eyebrows down and lips pursed.

  Well, when you put it like that, it does sound absurd. I let out a shaky breath. Maybe it isn’t quite that level of catastrophe. More of a normal, lying-son-of-a-gun level catastrophe. Okay, I can handle that.

  “What happens if I refuse to sign?” I force my voice to stay flat, controlled. The roller coaster of emotions in my chest will have to wait until later. “I don’t exactly appreciate marrying someone who’s lied to
me from the moment we met.”

  His face clouds, but he answers, “I don’t know. I’m not sure it makes a difference at this point. We’ve already had the ceremony, and there are quite a few witnesses that you willingly married me. Refusal to sign the document now probably wouldn’t go over well with the director . . . and frankly, we still haven’t figured out what they did with Josephine. I don’t want to know what they’d do to you.”

  I feel like I’m picking up on an undercurrent of something in his words, whether pain or anger I can’t quite tell. Regardless, he brought this on himself. I trusted him, and he was lying to me. He’s not wrong about Josephine, though. She caused a scene in a gathering, and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. We’d chosen our honeymoon location primarily to check up on a lead we’d gotten that she’d been moved there. I angrily stalk over to the desk, pick up a pen, and sign my name. The letters are shorter and more jagged than usual, but I don’t think anyone cares.

  Slapping the pen back to the desk, I level him with an angry look, to cover the pain. “Don’t think you’re off the hook for this. I understand why you want to be your own person and live a normal life; that doesn’t mean I forgive you for choosing to marry me under false pretenses.” I pause, looking down at the floor, and notice that the tulle of my gorgeous wedding gown looks less magical in the harsh office lighting than when I put it on a few hours ago, and was still full of hope and butterflies. “I don’t believe in divorce, Patrick. I really meant to make it work with you, and I don’t know how to feel about you right this minute. But, I also have an obligation to see this through, whether I like it or not. And my brother and Faith are out there on that shuttle, waiting for a pair of happy newlyweds to accompany them on our honeymoon. We are going to tell them about this, but I don’t think now is the time.” The irony of that is not lost on me, but no harm will come to them if I sleep on this news for a night, rather than ruin their wedding night.

  He gives me a single, sharp nod. “Are you ready to go? Or do you have more questions?”

  To his credit, he has taken my anger well. Not that he shouldn’t—it’s justified. But that doesn’t matter to all men.

  “Yes, we shouldn’t keep them waiting; it’s a long drive to Mairmont.”

  “Okay then, let’s get going.” He walks to the door and holds it open for me, still a gentleman. As we walk down the hallway, there is no sign of the director or anyone else other than the sounds of merriment still coming from the dining hall. What I wouldn’t give to go back to the blissful ignorance I’d had barely an hour ago, sitting and enjoying my wedding dinner. Turns out the deal I made was with a devil, and unknowingly or not—there’s no going back.

  ✽✽✽

  Turns out, the shuttle was only to take us to the local airport. Todd the ever-pleasant shuttle driver handed us over to Deon, the pilot, and then turned right around, presumably to await more brides at the NLC.

  The four of us were quickly guided aboard by a smiling male flight attendant after the quick meet and greet with Deon. He offered us all drinks before urging us to strap in. The flat screen at the front of the plane informed us that we were on a 1670 super-jet, and our arrival time in Mairmont was estimated to be an hour and a half.

  “I’ve never been on an airplane before,” I say to no one in particular, nerves starting to hit.

  Faith spins from her position in the row ahead of me, and gives me a reassuring smile. “It’s very safe, and so much faster than the shuttle! Takeoff can be a bit unsettling, but after that it is really easy to pretend you’re on a super-fast shuttle.” She settles back in, and through the seat crack I see her grab Teddy’s hand. My stomach clenches, and I glance out the corner of my eye at Patrick, who’s just staring straight ahead. His hand is lying there, but I’m far too stubborn to reach out and take it. Instead, I opt to check my seatbelt for the third time, as Deon’s voice comes over the sound system.

  “All right, newlyweds! We’re taking off for Mairmont, and the skies are clear. We should be arriving in roughly ninety minutes. Please remain seated and buckled in until Martin comes around with your refreshments.” There is a ding indicating the end of the announcement, and then the plane lurches into motion. Trying not to appear startled, I fix my attention out the window. Our speed picks up rapidly, and the feeling of the earth being sucked away from the bottom of the plane makes my stomach do an angry flip. However, it only lasts a moment before we are airborne.

  “Whooo!” Teddy raises his and Faith’s clasped hands in the air. “That’ll make you feel alive, am I right?” He turns with a huge grin on his face, which I return the best I can. “What’s wrong, baby sister—getting queasy? You’re not pregnant already, are you?” He gives Patrick a fake scowl before laughing and settling back down.

  Definitely not. I mentally grumble.

  The flight passes uneventfully except for heavenly cinnamon cookies that Martin brought us once it was safe to be up and about. I may have had thirds, but that’s nobody’s business. Patrick and I are mostly silent, but Faith and Teddy are too wrapped in their bubble of infatuation to notice.

  The landing leaves much to be desired, but I’m thankful we are safely back on solid ground. If only I could say the same about my marriage.

  New Arrivals

  The weather is cold but clear when we embark from the plane, and the wind bites through the thin lacy top of my gown. I rub my arms fruitlessly while we wait for a shuttle to pick us up, and then tuck my hands under my armpits. Despite keeping my complaints to myself, I feel a warm jacket settle around my shoulders.

  Startled, I look up and see Patrick in just his white button up shirt. He must have ditched the vest during dinner. “Thank you. Aren’t you going to get cold?” I ask, already tugging the jacket onto my arms.

  “No, I’m pretty warm blooded, I’ll be fine. You don’t have much coverage in that dress, beautiful though it is,” he says, voice reserved. The gap between us is yawning wide open, and my heart tugs painfully that I put it there. But I didn’t, he did when he lied to me.

  “Hey, you save that for later. I know you two are married now but it weirds me out watching somebody romance my baby sister.” Teddy has his arms wrapped around Faith’s shoulders in a loving embrace, and her head is tucked tightly into his chest to ward off the chill.

  She elbows him in the ribs, and he pretends he’s mortally wounded. “My knees are freezing! This shuttle needs to hurry it up,” she says, voicing all of our discomfort.

  As if summoned by her words, it pulls into view and stops in front of us. The doors whoosh open, and down comes a smiling driver. “Hello everyone! My name is Todd, and I’ll be your driver today. Is this all of the luggage?”

  We all stare blankly at him, but my brain catches up faster than the rest of the group. “Todd, really?”

  Now he looks confused. “Yes, is there a problem?”

  “No, it’s just our driver back in Georada was also Todd. It’s a small world, I guess.” I explain our puzzled reaction.

  “Oh, yeah, I’ve met that Todd. Good guy. All right, feel free to find a cozy seat, and we’ll be on our way shortly.” His smile is friendly as he turns to load up our bags.

  Shuffling aboard with the giant gowns still weighing us down, we see that this shuttle is fitted with love seats, instead of individual chairs like the NLC shuttles. “Gotta push us together at every opportunity.” I mumble to myself.

  “What’d you say, sis?” Teddy asks.

  “Nothing, just noting the new seating arrangements,” I say.

  Faith takes the front row, so we settle in behind them. My puffy dress takes up about two thirds of the bench seat, despite my efforts to keep it to my side. I’m making yet another futile attempt to snatch it back to my side of the loveseat when Patrick reaches over and stops my hand gently with his.

  “It’s fine, Sadie. Leave it,” he says gently.

  It may be petty, but part of me wants as much space between us as possible. I let it go reluctantly and lean
back against the seat. The dress springs over and encompasses Patrick’s shins the instant I do. Traitor. I mentally chastise the sparkly tulle.

  Mairmont Todd climbs back aboard, and in his chipper tone tells us the bathrooms are in the back, and we should arrive in about forty five minutes. He quickly settles into the driver’s seat, and then we’re on our way.

  Faith pops up to visit the ladies’ room, and Patrick excuses himself as well. Teddy turns around and levels me with a knowing look.

  “What’s wrong? You’re acting weird,” he asks.

  “Nothing, just tired.” I feel guilty for lying to him, but I don’t want to ruin his wedding night. This isn’t his problem, it’s mine. I’m the idiot who fell for the liar. I give him a smile, but I can tell it’s weak.

  “Uh-huh. Yeah, tired. Are you nervous? Scared? Need the talk? Wait, please don’t say you need the talk.” He pauses for a second, mulling it over. “Oh, actually it’s fine. I’m married now, Faith can give you the talk—she’s done this before.” He seems pleased with this revelation.

  I just shake my head at him. “No, I’m fine. Really, just tired. Also should you be foisting stuff off on your wife already? Isn’t it a little early in the game to start bad habits?” I rib, hoping to distract him from my issues.

  He scoffs. “Bad habits? Best habits, you mean.”

  Patrick makes his way back to our seat, and scooches in past my voluminous gown. Faith is back a minute later, and to my utter mortification Teddy does not let the conversation drop.

  “Hey, babe, Sadie here has wedding night nerves. Think you can give her a pep talk?” He waggles his eyebrows at her, and she smacks his chest. Patrick stiffens beside me.

  “Teddy! Leave your sister alone.” She turns to face me. “If you actually want to talk, you know I’m always here. We sisters have to be there for each other, right?” The smile she gives me is warm, and I can tell she really means it.