Page 53 of Tarnished Reign

Alexis enters the room. “Is all okay?”

I wave him over. “Come look at this.”

All my worries about Hana are forgotten for now.

He strides to me and glances down at my phone.

“Who does that remind you of?”

He stares at it then looks at me. “Adriana.”

“She has a buyer. A man who goes by the name of The Prince has stated he will pay two million dollars right now, so he can have her—no bidding. This guy, this fucking Prince freak, also asked Damen and the Greeks to source this painting for him a few years ago.”

“So this guy wants a particular woman. He wants the woman in that painting.”

“Yes, he wants Adriana because she looks like the sick image in his head of a living, breathing version of a work of art he’s obsessed with, maybe. Or, did he see Adriana first and then buy the art?”

He blows out a long breath. “Either way, we need to find this man.”

“You were telling me only a few days ago to be cautious because this could start a war on a new front. Jinx has said the same. Yuri too.”

“I know, man, but I've seen the way you look at her. This is personal now.”

“It's not personal,” I reply with a knee-jerk instinct to deny.

“Whatever you say, boss. Either way, we said that we'd keep her safe, and we have to honor that, right?”

“Yes, we do. I'm going to have to go and pay my father a visit sooner rather than later. Jacob needs to know what's going on.”

“Do you want me to keep an eye on her while you're gone?”

“No, I'm going to take her with me. She can spend time with my mother and Nataliya while I speak to Jacob.”

“Right, but it's nothing personal, of course.” He smirks, all cocky and arrogant.

“You know, that expensive dentistry you invested in would be a real waste of money if it all got smashed out of your mouth.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “They say there’s only one thing worse than a fool in love.” He strolls out of the room, pausing by the door to throw over his shoulder, “And that's a fool who doesn't know he's in love.”

“I'm not in love.” The words fall on deaf ears as the door closes behind him.

Alexis is about the only person in this world I would let speak to me in such a way, and he might be joking, but there's a truth behind his words. I know that I'm not in love with this woman. I also know I could be. So very easily. It's what the hell I do about that which has me so churned up.

I stalk out of the gym and go hunt down Adriana. I find her in her room, and thankfully she's changed. She's now wearing a pair of loose jeans and a navy T-shirt. Her hair hangs down around her shoulders in soft waves, and she's wearing a slick of gloss on her lips and what looks like a coat of mascara on her already thick lashes.

I want to lick that lip gloss right off of her. I don't, of course. The beast is caged for now.

“I need to go and speak to my stepfather, and I would like for you to come with me. I don't want to leave you here on the boat alone.”

“Will your family be okay with me coming to their house?” she asks.

“Yes, of course. I'll need to speak with Jacob alone, but you can hang out with my mother and Nataliya. They should both be around at this time of day.”

She turns behind her as if to reach for something and then sighs. “I keep forgetting that I'm not a fully fledged human any longer, and I don't have a phone, a wallet, or a purse.”

She rolls her eyes dramatically and walks by. She keeps grousing about this phone and wallet situation, and I can't help with that. For the moment, having a phone would be far too dangerous for her and for me. I can get her a purse, though. Her new clothes and accessories should be delivered today.

I pick three men to come with us on the tender and phone ahead to request my driver be waiting at the docks. Then we take the launch boat and head across the bay. I don't see the appeal of living on a yacht personally. I would rather have the comforts of a brick-and-mortar home around me. Perhaps it's different if one were living in the South of France, or maybe the South Pacific. Here, however, I prefer being in the city.

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