Page 9 of Broken Prince

Maybe that’s why he can stand this house. I thought, taking in the room once again. Everything was dark there—dark wood, dark furniture. Everything was expensive and old but so…lifeless.

Stuck-up Jim ignored my comment, already exiting the room. “Come to the first floor, please.”

We walked up the massive staircase, and I couldn’t help but look up when we reached the first floor, curiosity sinking its talons in my brain.

The staircase up to the second floor looked completely identical to the one I just took. I wasn’t sure what I expected after such an ominous interdiction. Dragons? Rabid dogs maybe?

Jim cleared his throat, bringing my attention back to him.

He was standing in front of a door where my suitcases were resting, looking at the staircase. “I advise you against it; this is what cost some of your predecessors their jobs.”

“I was not going to.”

“Uh-huh.” He gestured to the door. “This is your room. I must leave now. You are not expected to work until dinnertime. Please ensure you follow the rules, be aware of the HCS, and there shouldn’t be any issue.” He bowed his head. “Good day.”

He turned around and left me there, in front of the closed door. He seemed to be eager to leave, again not something I could blame him for.

When I opened the door to my bedroom, I was surprised by what I found. It was like stepping into another house.

I expected dark furniture, dark walls…basically a nun’s cell.

But this room was bright. Two big windows looked out to the gardens. The walls and furniture were cream, and there were peach curtains and a bedspread as well as a comfy-looking peach armchair on the side of the room, facing a fireplace.

The room was not overly big but fresh, clean, and joined to a small walk-in closet and a matching bathroom made of white marble and peach tiles.

I let my hand trail over the clawfoot bathtub in the middle of the room and then to the giant walk-in shower big enough for two.

I pulled my suitcases into the room before sitting on the soft mattress, looking out the window.

I decided that it wouldn’t be so bad if I kept to the rules and that in a few short months, I’d be able to get Jude back.

But the question I couldn’t let go of was, who the hell was the master of this house?

Chapter Four

LUCA

I ignored the rasping on my door, looking out the window at the run-down gazebo in the garden. It was strange how things could run down fast for lack of care.

I let out a humorless laugh, stroking the scars on my left cheek with my forefinger. It was not only true for objects; I was run-down too.

The door opened and I sighed. Only Dom would dare come in uninvited.

“Please make yourself at home,” I said with heavy sarcasm, not bothering to turn around.

“Did you send her a message to thank her?”

“Did you ask for my opinion when you gave her the best guest room?”

Dom sighed and I heard the sound of leather as he took a seat across my desk. He was here to stay.Fuck it. I took a sip of my Macallan Millennium 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. I had not been a big drinker before but things changed. At least now I was a drunk with taste.

“This house has fourteen bedrooms, Luca. Only you and I are living here. How many guests did we get in twenty-seven months? Oh, that’s right. Zero. So, excuse me for trying to make it better for her. We don’t want this one to run.”

“Why not? Having you around is already too much, and now you want me to chitchat with the girl?”

“She seems nice.”

Yes, she did, young and fresh but also haunted. I knew who she was, the Riverside monsters’ daughter, and maybe that would make her desperate enough to stick around for a while. My uncle was fed up with having to hire people.

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