Page 1 of Stalking Rose

Chapter1

Lorenzo

“It sucks to suck.” Giant, my security consultant, doesn’t seem to care that I’m a goddamn king. “Now, put on the fucking clothes so I can get you to Angel’s place before someone recognizes you.” He points at the well-used outfit sitting on the bathroom counter. After my private jet landed in Silver Spoon Falls, Texas, Giant brought me straight to the small hangar’s bathroom and ordered me to wear the unappealing outfit. Not many people would argue with the guy.

“You can’t talk to the King of Belldonnia like that,” Forrest, my long-time adviser and bodyguard, attempts to step in, but I wave him off.

“Why must I wear that hideous costume?” That’s the best description I can come up with for the outfit. I wouldn’t normally be caught dead wearing such a getup, but these aren’t normal times. Cormac “Giant” Carmichael, my brother’s friend and motorcycle club brother, owns a security firm that contracts with some of the biggest celebrities in the world. When I needed a new firm to consult with my in-house security after a coup attempt, I readily hired the well-connected expert. While I trust Giant with my life, I have tons of reservations about his choice of clothing.

“So you can visit Angel and Milly without an onslaught of paparazzi descending on Silver Spoon Falls.” Fuck my life. I know the security expert is right, but the thought of walking around looking like an unemployed artist makes my skin crawl. I’ve always been known as an unconventional royal, but this is taking things too far.

The fierce look on the huge asshole’s face tells me this is a losing battle. “Fine.” I quickly strip and put on the repulsive clothes while Giant, Forrest, and Logan, my other bodyguard, discuss their plans to keep me hidden while I’m visiting my brother. I splash some cold water on my face, hoping to clear my thoughts.

The last year has been trying. My father, the former King of Belldonnia, had a massive heart attack several months ago, and the doctors urged him to step down. After intense discussions, I accepted my father’s wish to abdicate the throne to me. When my parents bought a small farm in Montana and moved across the ocean, I stepped into my new position expecting a smooth transition of power. Too bad, my father’s younger brother had other ideas.

Sensing a moment of weakness in our family, Uncle Leon attempted to claim the throne for himself, beginning a phase of insecurity within our government.

Our parents wanted us to have some normalcy in our lives. My brother and I both attended local schools in Belldonnia, then came to America for college. The experience helped shape me into the man I am today. Corny as shit but true. I’m determined to change the way things are done. I might be the king, but I’m also a human being. I want my people to see that I share their happiness as well as their disappointments. My bodyguards may hate that I’m approachable. I honestly don’t care.

While I hated the entire four years I lived in America, my brother embraced the American way of life. I returned to Belldonnia immediately after graduation to resume my duties as the crown prince, but my brother chose a completely different path. The fucker moved to Silver Spoon Falls, Texas, joined a motorcycle club, and became a video game designer. As a member of the Silver Spoon MC, he blends in quite well. Hardly anyone realizes he’s royalty.

During the coup attempt, Damien returned to Belldonnia to help me stabilize our country and was fucking miserable the entire time. Fortunately, the loyal residents of our small European country rejected Uncle Leon’s attempt to steal the throne. Our uncle’s small band of rebels realized the people wouldn’t betray our family and abandoned their efforts. Most are either in prison or on the run. Working day and night, we gained control of the situation and created a new cabinet to help me establish our new government. Our courts tried Uncle Leon for his crimes, and I sentenced him to exile for the rest of his life.

Once things started to level off, Lawrence Delacour, the US Ambassador to Belldonnia, and his wife were killed in a plane crash on their way back from a meeting in New York. At their funeral, I promised the ambassador’s brother, a popular Hollywood director, that the crown would assume responsibility for the Delacours’ twenty-one-year-old daughter, Camilla. I thought arranging a marriage contract between my younger brother and the diplomat’s daughter would be the perfect solution.

I believed that marrying Milly Delacour would convince Damien to return to Belldonnia to assist me in ruling, but my fucking brother pulled a fast one on me. He met Milly, fell in love, and convinced her to stay in Silver Spoon Falls permanently before I knew what was happening. They married shortly after meeting and have a baby on the way. Things haven’t worked out according to plan, but I’ve accepted the situation. While I don’t want to ruin my relationship with my younger brother by causing problems, I’m in town to check things out for myself and to talk them into returning to Belldonnia with me until the baby is born. I’d feel better knowing the princess and royal child are under my protection.

“Ouch,” Forrest mumbles under his breath as I pull on the scuffed boots. “You look… interesting.”

“Bite me,” slips out before I can stop it, shocking both of us. This might be too unconventional for my bodyguard to handle.

“Not right now. I haven’t had my rabies shots,” Forrest retorts while Logan chokes on a sip of water. Getting a glimpse of the carefree friend I knew before my ascension to the throne is worth letting him get away with the slight. I miss our young and carefree days, but my duty to the crown comes first.

“I should have you thrown in the dungeon for that comment.” We both know it’s an empty threat. I rely on Forrest to keep me safe, organized, and sane.

“Belldonnia got rid of the dungeon a century ago,” Forrest reminds me.

“I could always bring it back.” Not really. I answer to my people, and they would never allow me to act on my threat.

Giant’s ear-splitting whistle echoes around the small metal hangar. “Do I need to separate you two?” The gruff expression on his face reminds me of Uncle Leon’s favorite sour look. This asshole needs to get laid and relax a little. A black SUV with dark-tinted windows pulls up at the hangar door. “Your chariot is here.”

We load into the single vehicle, and I instantly feel apprehensive. I’m used to at least four cars in my convoy. Giant hops in the front seat and looks back at me. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty, you’re perfectly safe. We’ve been watching the last of your uncle’s rebel cell, and none are in the area. This is the best way to transport you to Angel’s place without drawing too much attention. Black SUVs are a dime a dozen in Silver Spoon Falls.” It makes total sense, but I won’t breathe easy until I return to my home in Belldonnia. My uncle’s past treasonous acts have made me paranoid. I never know when the next attack will come.

Chapter2

Lorenzo

Giant points out the turn-off for the Silver Spoon MC compound as we drive to Damien’s new home. Evidently, the MC brothers have been dropping like flies, and Giant is the only single one. He sounds a little bitter about this turn of events, but I keep my thoughts to myself. No use telling him I’m happy without the baggage love brings. “All the brothers live near our clubhouse,” Giant explains before muttering, “Assholes,” under his breath.

We stop in front of a large two-story home, and Forrest and Logan jump out. “Thank you for everything,” I tell Giant, meaning every word. Knowing my brother has good friends to watch out for him eases something in my soul.

Damien opens the door and steps back to let us in. I watch him glance around until recognition lights his gaze. Bloody hell. My own brother didn’t recognize me in this get-up.

“I know it’s ridiculous.” I glance down at the white band t-shirt and faded jeans Giant forced me to wear and grimace. “But Giant thought I needed to blend in.”

“It’s a good look for you,” Damien barely keeps a straight face while telling the lie.

“I bet.” For the first time, I notice the huge Rottweiler puppy dancing around my brother’s feet. “I didn’t know you have a dog.”

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