Page 37 of Idaho

"I don't know Idaho, or any of these men. Is it smart to trust them?"

Jo sat down next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "It's hard for me to be objective," she admitted, "because I do know them. Well, not Idaho, but I know that none of those guys will let anything bad happen to you." Her eyes were shining earnestly as she spoke. "If I didn't know them, I might tell you this was nuts, but if they think someone is after you, then this is for the best. I promise."

Brittney sat down on my other side. "I agree with her. You're safer there than you are here." She shrugged. "And at least you get to spend Christmas with a hot biker."

I couldn't help but laugh at her logic. Leave it to Brittney to find the positive in the situation.

"You'll have fun," Jo said. "The women are throwing a party tonight and you can meet everyone."

I heard about the party from Jenny earlier, and I was glad Jo and Brittney were going to be there. "What are you two planning to do? Are you staying here?"

"I'll probably sleep over at Paul's for a few nights," Brittney admitted.

"And Brad is going to stay here for a bit," Jo added.

"I'll still pay my portion of the rent," I told them. "That way I'll have somewhere to come back to once this is all over."

"It's just so weird," Jo said with a sigh. "Why would those men be after you?"

The guilt was too thick to not tell them. "I need to tell you the truth."

"Truth?" Brittney asked.

"I'm the daughter of a duke."

The silence stretched out for a solid minute before they started laughing. I didn't hold it against them. Even to my ears it sounded crazy, and I was used to having royals rule over countries. The laughter died down and Jo shook her head, wiping at her eyes.

"I know it sounds unbelievable," I told them, "but I'm serious." I grabbed my laptop from the other side of the bed and pulled up a recent photograph of my family. "This is my father, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg."

They both stared at the picture for a long time. I was standing by Father's side, smiling at the camera. I frowned at the photograph, studying my face. The smile was bright, but my eyes were dull. Was that what Thomas had been talking about? I knew I was miserable back home, but I didn't realize it was so obvious to others.

"That's your dad?" Brittney asked.

I nodded and looked at the picture again. My mother stood on his other side, her arm looped through his. She was beautiful in her floor length gown. She was always dressed to perfection. Never a hair out of place. Her makeup done to hide the flaws on her skin. Her hair styled to make sure it covered any gray strands that dared show up.

"Wow," Jo breathed. "You're royalty?"

"Unfortunately," I told her with a grim smile. "My father is the king of the Netherland's nephew."

"How did we not know this?" Jo asked, looking at me like she'd never seen me before.

I shrugged again. "It's not something I wanted to advertise, for obvious reasons."

"We won't tell anyone," Brittney promised. Jo nodded in agreement.

"Thank you." I already loved these girls like they were my own sisters.

"So, does this mean you're going to have an arranged marriage to some other royal?" Jo asked.

"No," I replied, with a laugh. "Thankfully. That duty will fall to my brother. My two older sisters are already married and have children. It eases the burden for me and my younger sister."

Brittney frowned at the photograph on my laptop. "Your brother looks like he's...what? Six?"

"He just turned seven last month," I corrected.

"That's so weird," Brittney huffed. "Living your whole life knowing your spouse will be chosen for you."

"He'll have a say in it," I replied, "but yes, he's going to have to marry someone befitting a duke."

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