Page 44 of The Wanted Prince

I pulled out my phone and swiped it to life. The article popped up, right where I’d left it. Laura took it and read it, her lips moving slowly.

“It says here your brothers… You don’t know it’s real.”

“It sounds real. Feels real.” I took my phone back and read it again, a string of leaked emails between Carlo and Dom. Carlo was circumspect, not saying much, but Dom was venting. Ranting about me.

Father’s always so cautious when it comes to Sandro. Walking on eggshells. And he takes advantage. He knows Father’s afraid he’ll go off the rails again, and he’s been milking that for all it’s worth. You think he earned that treasury job? Bullshit. How could he have? It takes years for most people to rise through the ranks, but what ranks did he rise through? Where did he start? I’m just saying there’s no way he earned that, but you KNOW if he does well he’ll be the logical choice. He’ll have government experience which neither of us has. Ugh, can you picture it? King Alessandro.

Carlo’s response was brief. He did graduate top of his class. And he interned with the Treasury. Ramirez liked him. (Still, I’ll admit he’s risen quite fast.)

It went on like that for about a page, Dom picking mostly on my Treasury job, Carlo half-agreeing, half defending my honor.

“I never knew he felt that way.” My voice cracked, and I swallowed. “I always thought our relationship was rock-solid.”

“It still could be,” said Laura, and squeezed my hand. “You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve said about Hugo: he’s a fool. He’s pigheaded. He spends money like water. He frustrates me no end sometimes, but he’s my brother. I love him.”

“There’s nothing in here about Dom loving me.” I dropped my phone on its face on the bed.

“I don’t say I love Hugo when I’m angry and venting.”

“But Dom sounded… I don’t know. Didn’t he sound jealous?” I reached for my phone again and scrolled back to that line: ugh, can you picture it? King Alessandro. “The tabloids were saying that’s why I did this, in some desperate bid to secure my spot as king. But what if…”

“No way.”

“What if.”

“Don’t think it.” Laura pressed her finger fast to my lips. But I couldn’t help thinking it, what if Dom had? What if the tension between us was real, and I was the only fool who hadn’t seen it? Could Dom have done it? My stomach felt sour.

“Come with me,” said Laura, and tugged on my hand. I resisted at first, entrenched in my brooding, but when she tugged harder, I sat up, then stood. She led me to the bathroom and loosened my tie, then leaned up to kiss me.

“What—”

“We’ve been driving all day,” she said, without pulling back. I could feel her lips moving, her breath mingling with mine. “I doubt the hot water will last through two showers, so come on. Let’s share.”

She pulled my tie off and I closed my eyes and let her. We undressed each other in the dim light, and she got in the shower, then pulled me in with her. The steam curled around her and pinked up her skin. Beads of clear water stood on her breasts, then ran down, inviting me to follow their paths. Laura took my hand and drew it to her, and placed it softly on the curve of her hip.

“Yes,” I said, meaning yes to shower sex, but also yes, she was right to pull me away. The more I thought about Dom and what he had written, the more I’d give in to paranoia. What I needed to do was see him, confront him, but not now, today. Today, I had Laura, and she was beautiful and kind. And she knew me and wanted me, and I needed that.

“Come here,” I said, and pulled her to me.

CHAPTER 17

ALESSANDRO

I’d expected some drama returning to Santaviedo — roadblocks, maybe. Police in the street. But we cruised through without trouble, and our suite was fine too. Laura had found some website where people let out their homes and left the keys to be picked up from coded lockboxes. We let ourselves in without seeing anyone at all.

Laura dropped her bags and stretched out on the couch. “Mm. This is nice.”

“Don’t sleep there,” I said. “You’ll get a crick in your neck.”

“You always take care of me.” She covered a yawn. “I’ll get up in a minute. It’s just so comfy.”

I grabbed a blanket off the back of a chair and draped it over her in case she dozed off. More than anything else, I wanted to stay with her, to cuddle up close and watch the sun rise. But I’d come here on a mission, and it felt urgent. I needed to see Dom and look in his eyes, and hear it from his lips: did we have a problem? It hardly felt possible, my baby brother. I’d known him all his life, and loved him as long. And he’d loved me as fiercely… hadn’t he? If I’d learned one thing from my travels, it was that you couldn’t assume.

I texted Dom where to meet, but it was Carlo who answered.

We’ll be there flashed up, and I felt sick. A vision assailed me, vivid and real, Carlo setting his phone down and rolling his eyes.

“With the police,” he said, and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Honestly, what did he think I would do?”