Page 3 of The Prince's Green Card Scheme

“Well, that depends what you’ve got in mind,” I say, my voice low. “I have a double king bed back at my hotel room.”

Blondie tucks her hair behind her ear again and slides the tip of her finger between her teeth. Her brilliant blue eyes glitter, even in the low light. She leans in a little closer to me and I mirror her. When I glance down at her body from this angle, very little is left to the imagination underneath her close-fitting dress.

Sparkles places her hand on my shoulder, and I reach up to place my own over it, brushing my fingers over hers. I look back at her with a smile. “There’s plenty of room for two.”

She grins at me with half-lidded eyes, her plush pink lips pursing with desire. They’re both hot. I have scored so lucky today.

It’s going to be a good night.

My phone buzzes on the bar and I glance down at it. It’s a notification from Bellamare’s national news website. I might not live there anymore, but I still have an interest in what’s going on. Despite what my family might want, I’m never going to cut all ties with my country completely.

Bellamare is still my home.

My eyes dart over the headline:King has Died at Ninety-Two.I blink and read it again to make sure that I’m not seeing things.King has Died at Ninety-Two.

My breath catches in my throat. “Excuse me a second, ladies,” I say, blowing them both a kiss despite the cold shiver spreading down my spine. “I’ll be right back.”

I snatch up my phone and hurry for the bathroom with as much dignity as I can muster. I don’t want the girls to leave me, but I need a moment to myself.

I lock myself into a bathroom stall. The music from the bar is still thumping outside, and with shaking hands I grab my phone from my pocket and unlock it to stare at the article, willing it to be untrue.

An official notice from the palace today came with devastating news for the country — King Francesco III was a beloved ruler to the people of Bellamare for forty-five years, and has seen the country through times of change, turbulence, and great joy. The palace have confirmed that he passed away peacefully, after suffering with illness for several years.

A faint nausea rises in my throat as I read the rest of the article. It’s a clinical report of all the major events of his life. It’s like talking about someone distant, unknown.

I knew my grandfather wasn’t in the best of health, so his death isn’t exactly a surprise to me. It’s just the way I’m learning it that’s caught me off guard.

My grandfather has passed away — and not one single person in my family thought to tell me.

My father is now the king — and not one single member of my family thought to tell me.

The words swim before my eyes, and the punishment of my exile stings all over again. Most days I can hide the ache, but this has brought it back with a vengeance. This feels like being kicked in the chest.

I get that I’m exiled, but to not tell me that my own grandfather is dead…

I haven’t wanted to go home this badly since I got kicked out of the country.

I stand in the bathroom for as long as I can before I think it’s probably starting to look weird. Suddenly, I don’t think I’m really in the mood for anything except going back to my room and sleeping off this revelation, but I don’t want to leave the girls hanging.

Maybe if I throw myself into their arms, it might make everything better. At the least, it might help me to forget everything for a while.

I take a few deep breaths, trying to ground myself, and shove my phone back in my pocket. Why did I have to get the news this way? Why couldn’t anyone have just called me? I wouldn’t have expected Miguel or Luca to do it — I’m not exactly close to my brothers. But my father, my mother, or even Maria, one of my attendants…

Anything except finding out this way.

I give myself another minute in the stall, then shake my head and steel myself to face the world.

Tomorrow. I’ll deal with all of this tomorrow. Tonight, I’m going to have fun.

I head back out to the bar where the girls are waiting for me, and I ask them if they want to come back to my room. They both act like they’re surprised by the offer, but they both agree. Sparkles wraps her arms around my waist and I lean in to kiss her, but although her body feels incredible and her lips are soft and inviting, it feels hollow.

Even when we get back, I can barely turn off my mind. It’s good to feel like they want me, but I can’t lose myself.

All I can think about is home.

CHAPTER 2

PAOLO

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