“It’s all I’ve got with you. So…our breakup?”
I huff, tucking down the butterflies the man never fails to give me, along with my inane smile. “I didn’t break up with you because we were never together.”
“Oh, mia stella, we were definitely together. You’re my first girlfriend.”
I snort. “That’s present tense when you just told me I broke up with you. And at thirty-three, that’s sad. Especially since I wasn’t your girlfriend. Your delusions aren’t doing you any favors.”
“Either you broke up with me or you weren’t my girlfriend. Which is it because you just contradicted yourself.”
Crap! I totally did. Ugh. “The latter. I was never your girlfriend.”
“It was a trick question. You were my girlfriend, but I’ve decided that I don’t accept you breaking up with me.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t accept.”
I shift my stance and lean all my weight against the door. “It’s not up for negotiation.”
“Ah, so you admit we were together.”
I bump the back of my head against the wood. “No. That’s not what I meant?—”
“All the same, I thought about it, and I’m not allowing you to let the best thing to ever happen to you go. You said last nightthat you were doing it for me, but I’m doing this for you. You’re welcome.”
An incredulous laugh bursts from my chest. “Oh my god! You are so conceited!”
“Am I not the best thing to ever happen to you?”
He is and then some, but I’d rather die than tell him that.
“No. Your vibrator is.”
He laughs, and yep, my smile is back in full force along with those stupid butterflies.
“But you thought of me while you were using it,” he protests. “You told me that last night before you tried to break up with me. And because I’m such a great guy—a total catch, I mean, I am a prince—and you’re so crazy about me, I’m informing you that I don’t accept your breakup and we’re still together.”
I sigh. “I’m hanging up on you now, Rowan.”
“Sounds good, baby. I have to get to the hospital, and our GPS says we’re three hours away, which means it’s time for me to talk shop with my trusty driver. I’ll see you soon, though.”
Before I can argue further, he disconnects the call. I need to get to the playroom and help with the children. I need to come up with a solid plan that keeps everyone safe.
Except part of my tossing and turning last night, as he said I did, had me come to one brutal realization.
The only way to keep everyone safe is to eliminate the threat.
I wonder how fast the prince would change his mind if he knew the woman he’s calling his girlfriend is a lying murderer sent here to destroy his family.
35
ROWAN
The moment I hung up the phone with Marcella, I called Sebastian. He was a mess. They were working Bellamy up, trying to figure out what was going on with her and the twins. I didn’t keep him on the phone long. I simply told him I was on my way.
But I could hear it in his voice.
He was thinking one word over and over: curse.
