Page 65 of Royal Agenda

Sean pointed to his chest. “Me? You want to know what I think?” He stood taller. “I feel so important right now. Hang on. I want to savor this moment.”

Liam sauntered in, a canary perched on his shoulder. The yellow and green bird did not make a peep but groomed the loose, curly hair at the base of his neck. “There’s another hit on you. We intercepted the message.”

He put his laptop on the desk and backed off.

Ryker and Sean crowded around to read the information.

“...1.5 million dollars dead or alive…” Ryker mumbled as he read.

Sean let out a low whistle.

Ryker ran his hand over his face. He wore facial hair but insisted on sculpting it. The look was supposed to help him blend in and not look like the prince of Islodia de la Famiglia who was clean shaven with chin-length hair that he’d cut short. “How do they know I am alive?”

“They don’t. At least I don’t think they do.” Liam fell back on the chair. “The hit is for Ryker Rockefeller in Diamond Cove.”

“How the heck did you manage to tick off someone 1.5 million-dollars worth since getting to Diamond Cove?” Mack asked in awe. It might be the most respectful look he’d ever given Ryker.

“Did you give some guy a bad haircut?” Sean asked.

Ryker drew himself up. “Never!”

“We shouldn’t have let him wander around on his own,” Liam threw up his hands in an over-dramatic fashion.

Ryker ignored him because he was teasing.

“How’s that American accent coming along?” Sean asked.

“Why?” Ryker asked right back.

Sean lifted his palms. “It might come in handy. Especially if we have to relocate.”

Ryker was not leaving Diamond Cove–not when Grace was here. He cleared his throat and lowered his chin. “Perdy well, pardner.”

Sean, Mack, and Liam exchanged a look and burst out laughing. “Who’s your teacher?” Sean asked through gasps.

He rolled his eyes. “Gray gave me John Wayne videos to study. He said having an unusual accent would help cover my real accent.”

They laughed all the harder. Liam’s canary twittered and ran around the back of his neck to the other side of his head to work there.

Sean pulled himself together. “I guess this means we have to cancel your date.” He kicked the coffee table. “Shucks.”

“No!” Ryker stood tall, pinning each of them with a look in turn.

“But—” Sean began to argue.

“I will be chum.” Ryker pointed to the sky. “We will draw out the sharks and you will take him down.”

“Without Grace noticing?” Liam asked, dubiously.

“Si. You are SEALs—the third most elite military group in the US—act like it.” He would have stormed out to accentuate his point, but he would have to ask one of them to go with him and that would have ruined the effect.

Sean’s brows shot up. “Third? What do you mean third?”

Ryker grinned. “Exactly what I said.”

“He’s so in love he can’t see reason,” Mack whispered to Liam out of the side of his mouth.

“Si! I am in love. I do not care if you tease me or mock me, or call me a love-sick puppy. I love Grace, and I cannot live without her.” His chest heaved with the emotion Grace stirred inside of him.

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