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“Don’t give up on him, please. There’s a lot more to him than you think, and…” His voice trickles off into silence, for a moment, before he continues, “Please, give him time.” It’s a strange request, especially coming from Valen. It makes me wonder just how much of Judah’s personality is hiding under the cold exterior. And also, why Valen is so adamant that I give his best friend a chance. “He is a good person. And once you’re allowed into his world, there’s no leaving. Loving him isn’t easy, but it’s worth the hard work to get there. And there is a lot more to this than meets the eye.”
My brows furrow as I regard him with confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s go,” he says, instead of answering my question.
I follow close behind Valen, wanting to know what he meant, but the moment we reach the aircraft, we’re met by the cabin staff, guards, and the pilot who offers Valen a greeting that indicates respect, but I can tell from how he looks at Val, there is knowing behind it. He is aware of justwhoValen is.
The Princes will soon become Kings. They’ll rule, and anyone who isn’t on board or doesn’t offer them loyalty and respect will be ruthlessly dealt with. The mafia don’t mess around when it comes to the laws they live by. I know how this life works.
When we’re seated, a hostess brings me an orange juice, while Valen has a beer set in front of him.
“Are you going to answer me?” I question the moment we have privacy.
“You’ll find out everything in good time, sweetheart,” he tells me as the corner of his mouth tilts upward. “Are you looking forward to doing some shopping today?”
His change of subject sets me on edge, but I don’t push it. I won’t, not until I have to. For now, I’m going to spend the day far from Judah, which is exactly what I need.
“I am.”
Even though it’s for a wedding I don’t want, I know that at least I’ll be safe under Judah’s protection. If only for a short while.
A PRINCESS’S HEART
VALEN
I should be annoyedI’ve been put on babysitting duty, but I can’t deny that watching Brie in her element is nothing short of amazing. She’s alluring as she smiles and laughs with the shop assistants. And each person who comes face to face with her seems to be enamoured by her beauty.
She’s long since loosened her hair that now hangs in soft waves down the middle of her back. Her cheeks are rosy, blushed by the sunlight as we walk down a very busy Regent’s Street. Each boutique we enter makes her glimmer with excitement. She’s like a fucking star in the night sky. One that I didn’t know I wanted to see, but now I’m blinded by her beauty.
As she disappears into another changing room, I pull out my phone and type out a message to Judah. We’re going to have to sit her down and talk to her. Even though he doesn’t trust her, we have no choice but to keep her in our lives now. There are things we need to learn about her, and she about us, and the sooner we explain our dynamic to her, the easier things will be.
She has to marry Judah, there’s no doubt about it, which means she’s going to have to come to terms with how we live our lives. I’ve a feeling that could go either way.
Brielle is going to need to learn to be shared. She’ll have to come to terms with having three men who want her, desire her, and will have her. She has no choice in her husband, but she will also have two other men who are about to become part of her life. The dynamic we have is strong, and I am sure adding her to it will only strengthen us. As long as Judah can ease his worry about her intentions and reasons for being here.
My phone buzzes as she exits the changing room. The dress she’s wearing won’t go down well with Judah, but I’m not going to deny the chance to see her in it again. The long flowing material hugs every curve of her body. She’s got the perfect hourglass shape, and the deep cut in the front offers up a glimpse of her cleavage. This is why women make better spies than men do—they’re able to distract with a sway of their hips or a pout of their lips. And I would go down without a fight if there was a beautiful woman capturing my attention. Maybe it’s a weakness, but I’ll die happy if I have to.
“Is this okay?” She looks down at herself as she speaks, then glances into the mirror, taking in her reflection.
There’s a shyness to Brielle, an uncertainty that she’s up to standard. Perhaps she wasn’t when she lived in England, but on Black Hollow, she’s going to be the belle of the ball.
“I would say so,” I manage to utter as she looks over to me, waiting on my answer. “I think perhaps you need a higher heel with that one, but the colour looks perfect on you.”
It’s not a lie. The deep navy blue against her tanned skin makes her look like the princess she is. Her long, dark hair hangs in waves, and when she turns around again, I realise the dress will cause an uproar in the house. There’s no back at all. At least not very much of one.
The thought of Judah losing his shit makes me chuckle. Brielle glances at me from over her shoulder. The siren within our midst, the one who’ll send us all to our death with a mere glimmer in those pretty eyes.
“What?” she asks as she stares at me.
I can read the uncertainty in her stance. It’s something Judah would enjoy. He has a commanding presence, and he loves making girls squirm under his intense scrutiny. But also, this is his future wife, so it may be more of a game to him than any of the other females he’s had in his bed.
“Nothing,” I tell her with a shake of my head. “It’s perfect.”
She disappears from sight, and I open the message from Judah. He’s calling a meeting this evening. All five of us will need to be in attendance, which means he has a plan he’d like to pursue. Or he’s found out more about our little princess.
“I’m done. We can go home now. I’m tired of playing dress up.” Her voice catches my attention, and she’s once more dressed in her jeans and sweater.
Her curves are now hidden from prying eyes. Mine. But for a moment, I can’t help but recall how she looked in the dresses she’s tried on today, especially the last one—the meagre material barely hiding her luscious body. It was a dress made for a trained killer. One that could have you rock hard, just before she slits your throat. And I’d be lying if I said it didn’t turn me the fuck on. I’d love to watch her do just that, see her in her element. Because soon she’s going to realise who she is—the future Queen of the Venier family.
