Page 98 of A Girl and HER Prince
Venice heard Livvy screaming for his sister and Deedee.
His helplessness tore at him as he listened to his world falling apart with no way to put it back together.
Achilles stood outside of the cramped altar between him and a squadron of Atreus Mnon’s men, as Venice waited to see if his friend had any more tricks up his sleeve.
“Time for you to cause an ‘accident’…” Turner’s cruel voice came through the men’s radio.
Turner? It was really Turner?
A chill ran through Venice’s blood when the man he’d considered a friend ordered the death of his sister.
Everything was Backwards Town on this island. First Achilles was bad then he was good, but it was his bodyguard who’d tried to assassinate him. Even through the haze of pain, one thing felt very clear: that coldblooded traitor had caught Livvy. There was nothing Achilles could do to stop any of this anymore.
It was time for Venice to give himself up.
He grasped the stone the duke had carelessly tossed in front of the altar, as if that could keep him from trying to save Livvy and his sister… even Deedee.
Venice groaned when orders to go after his ex-girlfriend came through the radio next. Obviously, Livvy wasn’t cooperating and Turner was trying to use her best friend to force her to give away where Venice was hiding.
He’d save her the trouble.
“Stop!” Achilles shouted. His foot landed in front of the stone, keeping Venice from barreling through. “Atreus! Tell your men to pull back or they’ll ruin everything. No one’s going to let the next heir rule after Venice and Bris’s mysterious deaths. You’ve messed up everything!”
Atreus Mnon’s mocking chuckle followed his stepson’s calculated speech. Apparently, he’d joined the Myrdons in the middle of all this mayhem.
That wasn’t good—he’d see right through the duke’s veiled attempts to save them all.
Venice peered through the cracks around the stone, seeing the edge of his uncle’s sharp jaw and the crookedness of his smug grin. “Well, of course, we must listen toyou… because you don’t care about your friends at all.” His sarcasm made Venice groan.
He knew his stepson’s rebellious ways after all.
“Well played, Achilles. You might have your mother fooled that you’re the good and doting son, but I’ve been keeping a closer eye on you. I know where your real loyalties lie. They’re with those selfish brats you party with, who fill your mind with meaningless drivel and post gossip about you on their social media sites. They’ll ruin Tirreoy if they have the chance. That’s why it will beyouwho will pull the trigger on that sniveling prince—yes, I know exactly how close you are, but how else will I know you are mine?”
Silence met his words.
“I’m sure you understand,” Atreus Mnon said. “I have to know I can trust you if you are to rule Tirreoy.”
“I thought you were positioning your son Aggie to do the honors?” Achilles grumbled.
Venice winced. That psycho? No one would let Atreus Mnon’s son near a scepter without fearing he’d knock everyone bloody with it. He’d gone after the missing princess Helena of Tirreoy and had been beaten back by her new family and sent promptly to prison. He’d rot there if the American government had anything to do with it.
“Nice try,” his uncle murmured, so softly Venice almost didn’t catch it. “You know he’s your guardian’s new political prisoner; not even I can spring him out.”
“Then maybe you can trade hostages,” Achilles said. “If you kill your brother’s heirs, then you’ll have no bargaining power.”
“Or I get everything I want by puttingyouon the throne. No one will see it coming.”
Venice was chilled at the proposition. Atreus Mnon only cared for his bid for power. And now he’d use everyone around him as his puppets.
“And what if I refuse to rule?” Achilles’s voice was harder now. “If you killanyof my friends, any of them, I’ll abdicate my crown.”
“To who?” Atreus Mnon asked bluntly. “Your sister?”
Achilles took a moment to respond. “Good luck trying to control her—she’s harder to deal with than me. She’s the smart one in the family.”
“Is that possib—?”
Achilles cut him off, “Those are my conditions. Tell your men to back off from Deedee and Bris, and if they have Livvy, they’re to leave her alone too.”
