I blinked and turned my gaze to her. “What’smmmmean?”
“It means… maybe you should track this guy down and talk to him.”
I shot her a look. “You don’t think I’ve thought of that? He’s a ghost, Cellie.”
She frowned. “Because of a measly human resources background check? You own one of the world’s most advanced satellite and navigation software companies. You have pretty much unlimited money and resources. You’d think you’d have access to a hacker at the very least.” She shook her head disapprovingly. “Like, what are you even doing with yourself, Johnny? Jeez.”
I snorted. Then I thought of my contact—the one who’d arranged for the blockade. Now it was my turn to say it. “Mmm.”
The edge of her lip curled up, and she nodded, clearly satisfied. “Uh-huh. There’s the Locke Maris I know and love. Focused and determined, not gonna let a tiny little detail like not knowing a guy’s name or location stop him. Let the hunt begin.”
Concetta had retreated out of hearing distance, so I waved her over and requested a glass of whiskey.
As soon as she was gone, I turned to Celeste. “You’re so fucking right. Iamgoing to find Jett.”
“Damn straight you are,” she agreed. “You’llmakehim tell you the truth.”
I looked out at the water and thought of Jett’s eyes.
“And I might tell him a few truths of my own.”
32
JETT
My phone batteryhad long died by the time I made my way to the palace and pled my case. Honestly, if the princeling hadn’t been coming back from a fucking polo match or some shit and recognized me, I would have been screwed.
“Jett?” Chris asked incredulously.
“I need help,” I said, suddenly feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Even though we weren’t exactly close, we were distantly related through our great-grandfathers and had spent several kick-ass family reunions and celebrations together over the years.
He took me in and treated me like a royal guest—which I guess went without saying—but once I was cleaned up and well rested, he and his fathers demanded answers.
“I need help getting home,” I said. “I lost my backpack that had my wallet and passport in it.”
King Lior nodded. “Of course. I’ll send you home on one of our planes with a diplomatic pass.”
Uncle Felix smiled, his face open and welcoming as usual. “You’ll stay for a visit first, though, right?”
I shook my head. “I really need to get back. I was in the middle of a case at work, and there’s some follow-up I need to do in the office.”
He looked disappointed, which made his husband frown. “You will stay for dinner, at least,” Lior said.
Chris elbowed me. “That’s his commanding voice, in case you didn’t realize it was supposed to be scary.”
His fathers both shot him a look, but Chris only grinned. He was known in our family as a showboat, which didn’t surprise anyone, considering the immense wealth and privilege he’d grown up with here in Liorland and Uncle Felix’s huge, irreverent Wilde family in America.
“I’m suitably terrified. But also hungry, so I accept. Thank you.”
The evening that followed was a nice break from reality, but as soon as I got back to my room, my now-charged phone was buzzing like an angry yellow jacket stuck between a window and the screen.
The first call I returned was to Rocky, who answered the phone with a “Jesus Christ, Jett! Where are you?”
“Liorland.”
She huffed out a breath. “Liorland? What the fuck are you doing there?”
“Well…” I blew out a breath.
