Page 98 of Corrupt Princess

“What’s going on?” Emmie demands, placing her hands on her hips and staring her husband down like he doesn’t possess the power to snap her neck without so much as breaking a sweat.

“We’ve booked you into one of the fanciest spa hotels in the city for the night.”

“Why?” Emmie demands, refusing to back down.

“Oh no. We’re not buying that shit. Tell us the truth,” Stella demands.

Alex leans closer, his breath tickling my neck, before he whispers, “Is it wrong that they’re making me hard?”

“Fucking hell, man.”

“What? You can’t tell me all that fierce hotness doesn’t affect you.”

My eyes float to Brianna, who remains on the periphery of this situation.

“I can honestly say that those four do nothing for me, no matter how fierce they get.”

“Fuck me, man. She really has whipped you right up, hasn’t she?”

My lips part to argue with that statement, despite the fact it’s quite obviously true, when Stella’s shrill voice cuts through the air.

“You can’t just hide us away like some weak, incapable little women. Let us help. Let us fight for what’s ours just as much as it is yours.”

“Yeah, no. That’s not fucking happening,” Seb growls.

“Unbelievable. You know just as well as everyone here that I’m good for it.”

“Don’t I fucking know it,” Seb mutters to himself.

“We need you to stick together. All of you. We need to know that you’re all safe so that we can do our jobs, otherwise—”

“He’s right, Stella,” Jodie says, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. “They need you to protect us. Is Mum safe?” she adds.

“Yes,” Toby assures her. “She’s with a friend. Nothing to worry about.”

“But—” Stella starts again.

“Baby, please,” Seb all but begs.

Stella glances back at Emmie. She might not be joining in on this argument, but her need to shines bright in her eyes.

She wants it too, to stand beside us and fight. I fucking love it as much as I hate it.

The guys might be right in refusing to let them. It doesn’t matter how skilled they are, the thought of putting them in the direct line of fire like that sends a cold chill racing down my spine.

“We need to know that we can come back to you when it’s all over,” I say, hoping to squash the argument once and for all.

Brianna’s head immediately snaps in my direction, her eyes holding mine captive for a few minutes as something familiar crackles between us.

I need to know that I can come back to you.

I silently beg for her to be on our side, to help convince Stella that this is the right thing to do.

After a few seconds, she nods, and I just about manage to keep my sigh of relief locked inside.

“Let’s go pack a bag. The longer we’re standing here arguing, the more time we’re wasting. The guys have a job to do, and so do we.”

Finally, Stella stands down, but Seb doesn’t let her move back as she takes a step away from him. Instead, he wraps his arm around her waist and hauls her back into his body, slamming his lips down on hers.

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