Page 85 of Mercenary Princess

If Viktor had to bet, he’d say the Englishman’s shout of laughter was genuine.

“You poor bastard. I get that you want her safe. I approve of your protecting her.” The way the man’s eyes went to the ongoing news report made it clear he suspected Viktor had killed Jean Luc.

Viktor only raised a brow until the man continued. If Beckett had been expecting a confession, he would be waiting a very long time.

“She won’t give it up. What we do is too important to her.” The Englishman seemed to debate with himself before continuing. “When she abdicated, her brother had guards lock her in her room. She found a way out because she’s intelligent. Don’t try to do what her brother did. Don’t lock her in a room and force her to be who you want her to be.”

Viktor’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Her brother locked her up? Like a fucking animal?”

Beckett nodded. “So he could marry her to Jean Luc and keep her away from you.”

Viktor was tempted to kill the king of Porenza.

“Where were you?” Viktor demanded to know.

Beckett’s eyes grew glacial. “I can ask you the same question. You love her. So where were you when she needed you?”

Viktor grew dangerously silent until the Englishman’s eyes glittered. Beckett had made his point.

Viktor swirled his drink before glaring back at the other man. “I’m surprised you haven’t asked about the vault contents.”

Forde tilted his head. “I assume you cleaned out the contents.” Sophia had confirmed they’d hacked the system when he’d given her the copies. He knew Cruz was so good, it likely looked as if the contents were still there to whoever had hacked the video surveillance through her group. The contents would have been dummied, of course, so that evidence of the bank breach would never be detected. It wouldn’t pay for a thief to advertise their skills and risk the bank altering their security features.

“And you’re not worried I have the originals?” It bothered Viktor how unconcerned the other man was to have that information beyond his control.

Viktor narrowed his eyes at the calculated grin Beckett gave him as he spoke. “Why would I worry? You will destroy it if you haven’t already.”

“So sure…” Viktor challenged.

“Very sure. As sure as I know you love her. Maybe even as sure as I am that dank Paris industrial buildings can be particularly hazardous to one’s health this time of year.”

Viktor stilled as he and Forde stared at one another for long moments. A thread of respect filled him while looking at the other man.

The Englishman stood. “I regretfully have to leave. She loves you, but hurt her, and I will not think twice but to bury you. I don’t envy you your grovel.” Beckett calmly set his drink on the glass coffee table before adding, “And check your mail.” He gave Viktor a pointed look before stating, “I’ve been protecting them all for far longer than you have.”

After Beckett left, Viktor instructed Ivan to get the mail. He needed to see exactly what the Englishman thought he had.

He couldn’t help the dangerous curve that lifted his lips. He very much doubted it was as incriminating as Beckett wished him to believe.

He hadn’t really thought Beckett would get Sophia to stop her actions. This meeting had been to assess the man. Jean Luc had had little on the ties Sophia’s group had to Beckett or that the girls had planned to see the aristocrat back when planning a damned Saudi prince’s death. The records had ended shortly after. So they must have changed locations to discuss their plans.

Jean Luc might not have had a lot of details on the Englishman, but he’d had enough.

Beckett had been right; Sophia wouldn’t stop. Viktor had replayed those videos in his mind far too many times to believe that she would. She’d been so sweet, so very idealistic and young, filled with compassion and the fire to do what she felt was right. That hadn’t changed. It had been in her eyes the last time he’d seen her. It had been written in with all the betrayal and hurt he’d seen.

Even if he were capable of forcing her to end this, she would never forgive him. That meant Viktor found himself in the unique situation of contemplating a position as champion to his princess… his queen. Because she ruled him without even knowing how much he would bend to have her and to keep her safe. No one had ever held that kind of power over him. Only Sophia.

He still wanted her nowhere near danger, but if she wouldn’t give this up, then she would be far safer with him watching over her.

*****

Sophia’s arms were shaking after pulling her body up the climbing wall in Riot’s home, all three stories, with challenging ledges that burned her muscles.

“Not fair,” Irina sniped from at least a floor below. Even with her long legs, Irina was still slower than Sophia and Riot.

Sophia winked at Riot. “Riot’s almost to the top already.”

“Don’t make me cut your safety cable when I get up there,” the heiress threatened as they watched her push her body to another foothold.

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