Page 63 of Broken Crown

“Jesus,” I exhale, pinching the bridge of my nose.“What can you tell me about him?What’s his background?”

“I’ll send you his information in an encrypted file, but long story short, he was discharged from the military after two years of service.According to his records, he was an incredible sniper, but a little too…excitable.And off balance.”

“Off balance?”

“They tried to work with him.Get him counseling, since he was such a great shot and the powers that be hated losing someone like that.But in the end, he became too much of a liability, especially when he decided to do target practice on a small village.Killed dozens of men, women, and children.”

“Fuck.”

“It was covered up, blamed on a local extremist group.But officials knew they couldn’t risk a repeat, so he was discharged.The last known record of him is his discharge papers.After that, he essentially disappeared.Became a ghost.Someone who only remained alive in legends… Until you gave me this damn sketch.Where did you get it?”

I chew on my bottom lip, unsure what to tell him.It’s not that I don’t trust him.Lucas was on special teams with me.He was essentially my mentor.We faced death together.Saved each other’s lives more times than I can count.If there’s anyone in the world Icantrust, it’s Lucas.

“It was a friend,” I tell him finally.“She asked if I knew someone who might be able to figure out who it is.”

I hope that’s enough to satisfy him.He’s not the type of person to pry.He knows me well enough to realize if that’s all I tell him, that’s all I will.I have no desire to go into the details about how the Princess Royal has been having night terrors where she sees this man try to kill her.How at least two people claimed to have seen him in the days leading up to their deaths.

How I’m bloody petrified it’s only a matter of time until Esme joins them.

“A word of advice, if I might…” Lucas breaks through the silence.

“Yes?”

“Keep an eye on this…friend.If she’s gotten close enough to be able to sketch his likeness, you can guarantee she won’t live to talk about it.Not for much longer, anyway.He’s not referred to as theAngel of Deathfor fun.It’s because once you see him, you can safely assume that your number’s up.”

I push down my mounting anxiety, telling myself he’s probably exaggerating.He said himself that the stories about this man are just that — stories.

But I also know Lucas.He’s not one to get worked up about much.He’s even headed.Practical.Methodical.For him to warn me like this, he must know there’s something to these stories and rumors.

There must be some basis in fact.

Based on what little I’ve learned from Hayes and Esme, I fear these ghost stories are more real than any of us want to believe.

A motion out of the corner of my eye pulls me out of my thoughts, and I snap my gaze up as Esme moves toward me, concern etched in the lines of her face.No doubt she noticed the worry covering my expression.

I quickly straighten and clear my throat.“I have to go.Thanks for the update.”

“You bet.We’ll talk soon.”

“Thanks, mate.”I end the call and set my phone onto the surface, my mind reeling with dozens of thoughts about what could be going on, each scenario worse than the one before.

“Is everything all right?”Esme saunters toward me and sits on the table in front of me.

“Everything’s fine,” I assure her, smoothing my hands up her bare legs, pushing the silky material of her robe to the side.

“Your face a few seconds ago said otherwise.Was that your private security friend?Did he get a hit on the sketch?”

“Not yet,” I tell her with a straight face, praying she can’t see through the lies.

I hate keeping the truth from her, but I know Esme.If I share what I know, she’ll look into him, which could put her life in danger.

When I joined the guard, I swore an oath I’d do whatever was necessary to protect the royal family above all else.

I can’t knowingly put her in harm’s way without breaking that oath.

And telling her about this notorious assassin who appears to be after her would do just that.For now, I need to put my oath above any promise I made her.

“He just wanted to let me know they’re still working on it.But these things can take time, especially since they need to turn your sketch into a three-dimensional rendering in order to run it through facial recognition.Just be patient.”I squeeze her thighs.“If anyone can get answers, it’s Lucas.”

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