Page 73 of A Girl and HER Prince
Venice’s mind was a dizzying blur as he thought over what had brought them to Scheria Island where that assassin had been waiting for them. Achilles had heard of a shipwreck here, but who had told him? He’d said an old girlfriend. The information could’ve been planted in his mind.
He’d never want to hurt Venice, let alone kill him.
Achilles says his tattoos are beetles… they looked almost exactly like the ants on this painting—same configuration, same dullness—almost like the ink they’d used in prison, same everything.
Venice gulped down the rest of his sandwich, avoiding Livvy’s questioning eyes. They stood at the counter in the kitchen, eating breakfast and packing food to get out of here. He hadn’t been able to explain exactly the horror he felt after seeing the portrait.
She nudged him. “You okay?”
“You know how you’re positive Deedee wasn’t behind all this trouble?” he asked her.
Her lips firmed before she said, “Yeah… because she’s not.”
“That’s how I know Achilles didn’t do this either.”
Livvy grew quiet, going back to cutting veggies. She failed to reassure him that things would eventually work themselves out like she’d done before.
Was Venice fooling himself?
Achilles had gone off the deep-end after high school—he’d gone abroad to travel the world,as he’d told it, getting into things they’d never thought he would. Venice had blamed himself for never noticing how lost his childhood friend had been after their shared traumas. Achilles had only returned when his sister begged him to come back… and he’d had those tattoos to show for it, plus a lot of bad habits.
And he’d been a mess. He’d spent years in rehab to regain any sort of semblance of a normal life. He’d refused to talk about that time when he’d left, but one thing was certain: Achilles came back hating Venice’s father.
Chises Mnon Tyndarian was a strict man, and still, the depth of the duke’s bitterness never made sense—Achilles chafed under his “rules,” and did everything he could to get his best friend to break free from under his father’s thumb; he’d encouraged every rebellion, exploited any resentment…
What if?
Venice didn’t want to believe that his best friend was behind his bruised, bleeding body. His injuries still ached and pulsated with pain every time he moved. They’d grown up together; they were practically brothers.
My uncle killed his brother too… and if he had his way, he would’ve wiped out our whole family.Venice swallowed down the nausea, pulling out the apples from the fridge.
Was it possible that Achilles had been dragged into this mess? Or did he truly harbor such hatred for Venice?
Whoever had punched him with that ring had gotten it from Deedee. Achilles had sure been inseparable with her on his boat…. the thought of Achilles as the one behind that mask, stabbing him without mercy, was too much.
His heart wrenched when his mind wandered to Bris. Achilles never put up with Venice’s spoiled little sister. If he was truly the culprit, their feud wouldn’t end there.
Venice dropped the apples into the pack, almost blindly now. They had to get to Bris and warn her. The plan was to pack as much as they could and leave, but go where?Where can we go?Scheria Island was only so big. There was no one else on the island, and no one to help them.
There had to be a boat somewhere. He’d spied some structures closer to the water below where they might find something. He’d even take a canoe at this point and row all day and night if it saved his sister.
“Come here, Steve!” Livvy beckoned the donkey closer, and the happy animal eagerly wandered over. She stuffed the fresh veggies into plastic sandwich bags and threw them into the pack they’d secured to Steve’s back.
The donkey had become a moving suitcase, albeit a mischievous one. They were using their new friends to help them smuggle out as many supplies from the mansion as possible. No way would they be stuck without blankets and other proper supplies again.
Livvy slipped Steve another slice of apple and then after the pet made short work of the treat, she covered the donkey’s nose with kisses. In return, Steve nibbled playfully at her shirt. She wriggled back with a laugh.
Suddenly Venice was filled with the need to also have Livvy in his arms, if only for comfort after his horrible musings. He tugged on her shirt from her other side.
Turning, she made a sound of surprise when she saw Venice. “I thought you were BamBam.” Snickering, she nudged him with her shoulder. “You’re just as bad as the animals!”
“You haven’t seen anything.” He caught her with one hand. They didn’t have much time, and still, he stole a kiss against her sweet lips. He felt them turn up underneath his. She was the only thing that could make him forget all the hardship and terror of the last two days—only his Luvvy.
She didn’t know she was “his” Luvvy, yet, of course. It would probably take a little longer for him to convince her of that, but kissing her was a good beginning.
Steve ran up against his side, not wanting to be left out of the excitement.
“Oh no, no.” Livvy caught the donkey by his soft neck to pull him away from Venice. “His stomach is still healing, my friend.”
