Page 23 of His Prince

I’ll tend to my fucking business, and when I get home, when I see my husband face to face, there will be hell to pay.

My shoes tap out an even rhythm as I walk through the shipyard, Dima right behind me. His looming presence isa small comfort in situations like this.

He’s one of the men I trust with my life, but I only use him when I travel. When I’m home, he’s with his family.

A family he loves who loves him back. I know how important that is, how easily it can be taken from you.

I refuse to be the reason he never sees them.

“What are you thinking, boss?” he asks quietly.

“That I’d rather not be here,” I reply, and he lets out a small laugh.

“Fair enough, but we have to approve the shipment and then we can go.”

He knows how much I hate this shit. And yet it’s my job, my legacy. I have no other choice.

My brother would be a much better fit. And even that’s pushing it a bit. He does run our businesses in many ways. I’m just the brawn behind it. I’m definitely not the brains.

“I know,” I growl and then come to a stop in front of a large shipping container. Two men stand before it, and I sigh. So ominous, so unnecessary. But then again, we’re in the mafia.

Fuck me.

I hate my job.

The doors are pulled open, and Dima and I walk in beside them,seeing the large crates filled with guns, ammunition, and explosives that will send a lot of people to their graves. Not that I care. I’m only in this for the money.

Money I currently have too much of.

“You’re late,” an elderly Chinese man says, his back stooped slightly, his hair thinning, but I wouldn’t underestimate him.

Tao is deadly and a real pain in my ass.

I bite back a sigh and force my face to remain neutral, thickening my accent more than usual and keeping a hand near the bulge of the gun I keep under my suit jacket.

We all play a part here.

“Traffic on the interstate.”

Tao eyes me and then several men move around Dima and me, working a crate open and holding a machine gun up to examine.

“We have everything you requested.”

I’m pissed I have to even be here, but Tao won’t accept a shipment unless I’m here. He likes to be in control. If I had a choice, I’d send someone in my stead.

But I have to do this every few months.

“You know I have to check,” he says, and I eye him in annoyance. Yes, he does. He always checks and I’ve never fucked him over. And in return, he pays me handsomely. The case of cash is handed to me, and I turn it over to Dima to count.

Tao eyes me and I stare back at him, neither of us breaking eye contact until one of his men nods at him and Dima does the same.

The transaction is good, the weapons in working order, and the money accounted for.

“Next time?” Tao says, and I incline my chin, walking out of the shipping container with Dima by my side.

“Thank fuck it’s over,” I whisper, and Dima nods, the two of us walking faster. The sooner we’re in my bulletproof car the better off we both are. I don’t trust Tao. Or anyone really.

As soon as the car starts up and Dima is pulling out of the dockyard, I pull out my phone and call my brother.