Page 171 of Vengeful Princess

“Landon Rothmore, your dick has its own fan page, so I already knew that.”

“Really? Cool!”

“Can we move on from dicks, please,” Cassian snapped. “My father is on the warpath and is on his way here. Unfortunately for me, he wasn’t far enough away when the story broke, so he decided it was a great idea to come and tear me a new asshole in person. He also has his team viewing the hotel security footage to see if he can find out who planted the camera.”

He turned to face me. “Thea, it would be better if you stayed out of the way. He thinks this is all your fault.”

“What the actual fuck?” Landon yelled.

“Keep your voice down, dickhead! We don’t need people recording our conversations and posting it on Twat Tok!” He scrubbed his jaw, his face taut with stress, but when he looked at me, his gaze softened.

“I know none of this is your fault,” he said.

I cringed. He had no idea. If what I suspected was true, then it was all my fault. My father had tasked me with planting drugs, but I’d not done as he asked. The cameras must have been hisPlan B, which he put into motion when the drugs raid failed to find anything incriminating.

“Where’s Milo?” Had he seen my sex tape?

“He’s gone back to our apartment to see if he can find a way to take the damn thing down, and also figure out who uploaded it. It’s a long shot, but he wanted to do something.”

Knowing how my father operated, there was zero chance of getting rid of this thing. He’d probably uploaded it all over the place as well as hidden the origin. I knew for a fact he had some dubious tech guys working for him. But I appreciated Milo’s willingness to help.

Another pang of sorrow ripped through me. I’d likely not see him again if he had locked himself away in his room. Tears burned my eyes, and I looked down at the horrible nylon carpet, not wanting anyone to see I was upset.

Eden took my hand and squeezed it to let me know I wasn’t alone.

She was someone else I’d miss. We hadn’t known each other that long, but I’d grown to love her zany ways and inability to keep her mouth shut. I just hoped that she forgave me when I left.

Silence fell over the room. I desperately wanted to go, but I had a feeling if I tried to leave, Landon would follow me like a cute but annoying puppy. There was no way I could risk him coming back to my room. I’d packed my bag already, and if he saw it, he’d guess something was up. Most people were leaving on Monday, and he would have assumed I was too.

In one of the many messages he’d sent over the last few days, he’d suggested I spend Christmas with him. In the family chalet somewhere in Switzerland.

I’d nearly caved and said yes, even though it was a ridiculous notion. For one thing, my father wouldn’t have let me go, and for another, I wanted to see Verity. But the thought of havinga proper Christmas with someone who cared warmed my cold, dead heart.

“This looks cozy,” Dario commented. I looked up in surprise, not having heard the door open. The guys glared at him.

“Get lost, Dario,” Cassian growled, displaying none of his usual tact. “I’m not in the mood for your bullshit.”

“You looking to get your ass kicked again,mudak?” Kyril’s shoulders tensed as he stepped forward.

“Calm your tits. I have something for you.” Something about the way Dar glanced at me and smirked made my blood run cold. He wasn’t only here to taunt me, I could sense there was something more going on.

“Unless it’s the identity of the despicable person who recorded a private moment, then fuck off.”

“Nope, it’s much better than that. Gather round, kids, you’re going to want to hear this.”

My head began to throb and I felt sick. Everyone else seemed oblivious to my discomfort, apart from Dar. He smirked again as he pulled out his phone.

I edged backward, but Landon’s hand around mine tightened. “It’ll be OK, wifey. I promise.”

“It won’t,” I whispered, but he wasn’t listening. All three guys and Eden leaned forward to listen. Dar pressed play and a disembodied voice floated out into the room.

90

Thea

“The plan’s simple, Thea. Even you can’t fuck it up this time.”There was a pause.“He’s staying in the Trafalgar Suite at the Ritz. My intel informs me he’s having dinner with his father and some business associates at the Ritz Club, so you’ll have a window of opportunity to get into the room and plant the drugs.”

“So what, you think if Cassian gets arrested with a substantial quantity of drugs, the press will look deeper at the family?”

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