Need a phone for Antonella. Clothing too. Was that negotiated for at all? Can you investigate that or get Mom and the pack ladies to get her outfitted accordingly?
I put my cool,and proven useful, toys back on their shelf and answer him, one message at a time.
Royal:
Sean died. The arbiter was called in. D’Ms demanded you marry A. Funeral planning. Taught K how to play Texas Hold’em.
I wonderif he’ll comment on the fact that the only way I know how to play Texas Hold’em is by counting cards.
Royal:
Didn’t catch because her documents were tight. Now that I found the flaw, double-checking everything else. Won’t happen again.
Embarrassment flames my cheeks.I’m better at background checks than Valor. He didn’t catch it when he reviewed the school prior to Kerrianne’s enrollment, but I should have when I was looking into Kerrianne’s new teacher.
School has been in session for months, and that’s months that Kerrianne was in the same building as someone from a rival family. I’d be devastated if Kerrianne was hurt because of me. Granted, Antonella and Kerrianne have only been in the same classroom together for a little over a week, but he has every right to be taking the crappy, direct tone with me rather than asking.
We’ve already had this guilt. We looked at her documents again andagain. There is no way to know that the D’Medicis had papers this good.My wolf stops me from beating myself up.
And I know he’s right. Less than a week ago, I was already berating myself for this. But now that my older brother has caught up with my fuckup, I’m hating being seen as subpar.
Can’t stand seeing blood, guts, and death. Missed Antonella’s paperwork. Not to mention, we had access to their house through a subsidiary all this time and no one knew to look.
I plop down at my desk chair and send off one more text.
Royal:
10-4 phone, negotiations, and lady stuff.
I openmy chat with Mom.
Royal:
Antonella needs clothes and things appropriate for the future alpha’s wife. Valor asked for help. I’m working on his new bride’s phone, but could you handle the wardrobe?
Mom sends backa thumbs-up and an emoji of a shopping bag and then the smiley face with a money tongue before my phone stops vibrating, and I set it down on the desk.
You’re not bad.My wolf reassures me.We’re smarter in other things. Imagine Valor trying to get into the safe.My wolf thinks of Valor’s wolf trying to chew on the knob and ultimately peeing on it and walking away.
He has a point. But it doesn’t stop me from throwing myself into doing a better job and getting all the technology locked down.
3
LETICIA
THE PRINCESS IN THE TOWER
“I’m,for one, super excited to graduate.” Brittany sighs. She’s staring at the engagement ring on her hand like it’s bigger than a one-carat stone.
I know it’s not right to judge, but she likes to talk a big game about money, and I know the truth. Brittany’s family is in big debt to mine. I shouldn’t know that, women aren’t meant to know family business, but I overheard Dad talking too loudly to Berto. And two days later, Berto asked me why I was hanging around with ‘the undesirables.’
It’s three heiresses: Kiersten, Ashton, and Brittany. Berto was happy to see I was buddying up to Ashton, but not so much Brittany and Kiersten. When I asked for more information, all he said was that it was business and I shouldn’t worry about it beyond becoming friends with Ashton.
They’re nice to me. Probably only because they know I come from money.
“You’re excited to be married.” Kiersten corrects.
“Well, I did say ring by spring.” Brittany waggles her fingers back and forth, the small stone catching the light. “Finals, another boring semester, finals, graduation, and then a June wedding.”
