Page 36 of Wicked Prince

"Man, your life really is complicated."

"Tell me about it."

His eyes widen suddenly, like something just occurred to him. "Wait, does Lorenzo know?"

"Of course not," I snort. "You're the first person I've told, and the number of other people who know is limited to immediate family and Dad's ‘associates.’”

"That's got to do a number on your self-esteem."

"You're not wrong," I grumble. "Anyway, I didn't exactly have a choice about coming here, but I'm expected to keep the family secret all the same."

"Well, I'm not going to tell anyone," he assures me.

"Thanks," I say quietly. "Honestly, it feels good to just be able to say that out loud. To be able to tell at least one person the truth."

Anthony reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze. The gesture means more than I would like to admit. I'm already in a fragile state, as much as I hate to acknowledge it, even to myself. "It's his loss, you know. If he's not proud of you, that says more about him than it does you."

His words take me by surprise, and I can't help but admit I'm touched. I smile a little. "That's sweet of you to say."

"It's the truth," he says, shrugging. "But I can see why you wouldn't be eager to take the dinner invitation. Especially since the guy's been pretending you're his fucking niece."

"Well, for whatever reason, he wants his new allies to know the truth. I guess he thinks it'll help cement the bond between the two families or whatever."

"It does seem like a pretty strategic move," Anthony concedes. "The way the old families work is that trust is hard to earn and easy to break. Kind of like the discovery phase of the lawsuit. Something like that is bound to come out eventually, no matter how good he is at hiding it, and the fallout of that would be way worse than admitting your dad had an affair. You can't trust someone to have your back in a life-and-death situation if they keep personal details out of the equation, you know?"

"I guess," I say. "I don't even know why it bothers me so much."

"Oh, I'm not saying it shouldn't," he adds quickly. "It's total bullshit that he only wants to acknowledge you now that it's convenient for him." He pauses. "So, what did you tell him when he asked you to come to dinner?"

"I told him to fuck off," I answer, slightly amused by the look of shock on Anthony's face.

"I guess you're probably one of three people who could get away with that and live," he says with a chuckle. "Bet that felt nice."

"You have no idea," I say flatly. "But now that the adrenaline rush has worn off, I'm really not sure what I'm going to do. I guess that's part of why I came clean. Any advice?"

"I'm pretty good at handling social situations, but this is out of even my wheelhouse," he admits, hesitating a moment before he continues, "But if you want my advice, I'd go."

"Really?" I ask, not expected that answer after his earlier reaction.

"Not for him," he answers. "I guess it depends on what your ultimate goal is."

I cock my head. "What do you mean?"

"Well, if it were me, I'd want revenge," he says with a shrug. "But I am a petty bitch, so there's that."

I smile. "Trust me, it has crossed my mind. I don't know. I guess I've just been in survival mode since I got here. The plan is to leave as soon as I get the chance. Or at least, it was."

"And now?"

It takes me a second to answer, mostly because I'm not sure. "I don't know," I finally admit. "I guess things have changed a little."

"Yeah," he says in a knowing tone. "Lorenzo has a way of doing that to people."

My face turns red, and I look away, but it's too late. I think of denying it, but what would the point be?

"Maybe," I concede. "I hate to be that girl, but…"

"But he was your first," he offers.

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