Page 116 of His Prince

Because the truth is, I was weak—I have been in the past and I may even be so now. But not caring about the money isn’t weakness.

I’m just so done with all of it. I’m tired.

If only there were a way out.

I don’t even let myself go there, knowing that this is my life whether I like it or not. Eventually I’ll succumb to it. We never live that long in this line of work. No matter the precautions we take, there’s always someone out there who wants me dead.

“Make plans, brother, or it will all burn to the ground,” he says.

I sigh and turn on my heel, knowing I need to address it. I have my brother to think about, my men, my husband.

“Oh wait, I forgot to give this to you,” Ivan calls me back. I lean over and retrieve the paper from his outstretched hand. I unfold it and it’s a hand-written note that looks like red crayon. It reads,I’m watching you.

My stomach sinks and my face drains. “Ivan, where did you get this?”

Who is watching me? I think back to Katarina and her ghost, and whoever knocked me out and dropped me down a hole in the ground. They wanted me to die there, I can feel it.

“I found it a few days ago, maybe a week. But I am busy and forgot. It is for you, yes?”

Fuck, I feel like I’m losing my mind all over again, and the only person to keep me grounded isn’t here right now. No, he’s in thegarden, working with Jake, Casey, and several other bodyguards. They’re putting up the chicken coop. He’s trying to make a sliver of my dreams come true.

I don’t deserve him, and yet here I am, clutching on to his goodness. I need to find a way to keep him safe.

“Call Dima and have him arrange the trip.”

“Should I have him plan on Angel going with you?”

“Yes. Angel will come with me.”

I’m never leaving him alone again.

“The chickens arrive next week. I ordered them from a cute little farm up north. Did you know that the post office ships live animals? We just need to go into town and grab them.”

Fuck, he’s beautiful, standing in the garden, a sheen of sweat on his skin, his eyes bright and happy, his lips still swollen and pink from me kissing him so thoroughly. I shove my hands in my pockets to keep myself from reaching out to him, but he has no such qualms. He moves up to me and nuzzles into my neck, his arms wrapping around my waist.

“You excited?” he asks me sweetly.

“Yes,” I grumble before adding, “We’re leaving.”

“Like, to the bedroom?” he asks, blushing deeply.

My cock perks up at that. “Yes, to the bedroom, and then we will be packing for a trip.”

“Oh, what kind of trip?”

“It’s business related.”

“And I’m invited?”

The way he bats his lashes at me makes my heart thunder in my ears.

“You don’t want to be apart from me, huh?” he teases with a small smile, and I swoop down and cradle his head in my hands, kissing him roughly.

“I do not. Now come with me.”

I grab his hand and tug him forward. He stumbles but then jogs up next to me, giggling softly.

He has no idea the way I’m going to take him apart. It’s been hours since I last had him and I want more.