Page 120 of His Prince
I know that I, too, have kept him pent up in that mansion with suspicious murder tunnels under the floors and in the walls, but he seemed content. He never asked to go off-site.
“I’m not implying anything by that, by the way,” Angel clarifies. “I didn’t mean it to sound like I want to get out more. I’m perfectly happy to be at home.”
I smirk at Casey, and he rolls his eyes.
“I’m just excited to see more of the world. With you.”
He leans into me, and I wrap him up in my arms, pressing my nose to the top of his head and inhaling. He smells like honey, like flowers and sunlight.
I don’t know how he manages it, but I fucking crave it. He’s too good for someone like me, and yet I don’t let go. Just drag him closer, into the hell I’ve created, and hope like fuck it all ends well.
It takes us two hours to get to the strip mall that Daniil works at. I stare up at the blinking neon lights, most of the letters not lit up.What a piece of shit place, I think, and then run a hand over my mouth.
We did plan on this being inconspicuous. But this is taking it a little too far.
We should have a little pride in our businesses. They do rake in quite a lot of money for us.
“Here, boss,” Dima says, parking the car and then handing me my gun from the glove box. I grab on to it and shake my head.
“I really don’t think I’ll need this.”
“Bring it, please,” Angel says, and I sigh, tucking it into my holster.
“Fine. Let’s go. You can stay here,” I tell Angel, but he shakes his head.
“No. I’ll go with you. It’s just a laundromat, right? And we have Casey and Gael and Dima.”
Dima eyes me, watching me grow weak before him, and I puff up my chest.
“Fine, but you stay by my side the entire time.”
“I wouldn’t sneak off. Unless it was absolutely necessary.”
I purse my lips and he grins at me, nuzzling into my neck and nipping at my skin. Makes my cock stiffen, and I huff in frustration.
“Enough, little devil. Let’s go.”
We all step out of the car, and Casey and Gael move up beside Angel, almost jostling me out of the way.
“Am I of no concern now?” I grumble, even though I’m secretly pleased they’re protecting him first. I can take care of myself.
When we reach the door, we walk through and several pairs of eyes are peering over at us. I’m sure we make an ominous sight, although Angel just waves and smiles, reassuring the customers with his presence. They go about their business, letting us make our way to the offices in the back.
He should be here.
I have it on good authority this is where he spends his Tuesday evenings.
My hand hits the doorknob, and I see all the guards tense, their hands on their guns as I push it open.
Inside is Daniil, behind a computer, his earbuds in as he eats from a takeout container. His eyes flash up to meet mine and something moves across his face before he schools it and grins.
“Mikhail. What are you doing here?”
He stands up and moves around the desk, pulling me into a hug. I can smell the scent of cinnamon on him and I hold my breath. It reminds me of something else, a harken back to the old days when we were friends in college.
He knew my parents and was friends with Katarina. And more importantly, he was with me through the fall of my family. He wept beside me when I laid them to rest. He held my hand and spent days with me afterward, letting me weep.
He loves me like a brother. I know he does.