Page 51 of Corrupt Princess

“The Italians are getting ready to strike.”

“Oh fuck, seriously?” Seb asks almost in disbelief as he drops onto Theo’s sofa as if he hasn’t just announced we’re about to go to war.

I guess it is almost an everyday occurrence at this point.

“Enzo just fed back the intel,” Theo says, nodding at Ant.

“So what’s the plan? Ambush at the warehouse?” Daemon asks.

“Warehouse?” I ask, realising that they’ve been working on this while I’ve been out of action.

“I believe so. Boss is working on a plan.”

“Are we one hundred percent sure they’ve actually fallen for it this time?” I ask, hating that I need to vocalise the question at all. But after our last shit show of a plan, I think we should all be seriously sceptical of anything we’re sent into.

“Yes,” Theo states confidently. I want to believe him, I really fucking do, but I lost the most important person in the world the last time we walked confidently into a what we believed was a well thought out plan.

My eyes fall on Daemon. He was the only one who was suspicious of the night of my mother’s birthday party.

If only we’d listened to him.

“D?” I ask.

Theo’s back instantly straightens at my simple question. But fuck him. I’m not willingly putting anyone else I love at risk. It is not happening.

Daemon nods.

“Okay.”

“Unbelievable,” Theo hisses.

“I’m sorry. Did you want to run into another ambush that we might not walk away from?”

“We get it, man,” Alex says, trying to defuse the situation before I poke the bear too hard. “But this is solid. Enzo has our backs.”

“Fucking hope you’re right.”

“So what’s the plan?” Toby asks, trying to steer the conversation back instead of my insecurities.

I guess there’s something else I can talk to my new shrink about.

Fuck me, what is my life coming to?

12

BRIANNA

Despite my arguments that I was fine, Jodie insisted on having the week off work so that she could look after me.

Totally unnecessary. I’m more than capable of looking after myself. And it’s not exactly like I’ve been good company. I’ve spent most of the past few days locked in her guest room.

The guys have been here to hang out. The guys minus Nico. It’s been nice, I guess. But I can’t help feeling like an outsider.

It’s not their fault. They’ve all fully embraced me as a part of their little family. But I hate that he feels like he can’t hang out with his friends because of me. I mean, I’m assuming that I’m the issue.

I’ve almost asked about him a million times, but for some reason, the words get stuck on my tongue. So now, he’s turned into an even bigger elephant in the room than he was before.

My final image of him in my hospital room still refuses to leave me. Calli was right. He looked wrecked as I turned my back and walked away from him. But what was he really expecting? He’d almost killed me.

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