In fact, I’ve been loving a lot of things lately that I used to hate. The living proof is lying on top of me, her breathing growing more even.
Her presence calms me, and soon my eyes grow heavier, until I finally fall asleep.
The next morningarrives far too quickly, and even though I enjoy the ride with her clinging to my back like a backpack, I wish we had a few more days alone together. But we have to deal with all this crap involving Richardson, and I need to talk to Damien.
Because Amelia wants to see Lizzy and I need to grab my laptop from the safe, we go to the palace first.
We’re walking past the royal study when we spot someone.
“Henry’s here.”
I follow Amelia’s gaze, and sure enough, her asshole brother is just stepping into my father’s office.
I can’t stand the guy, especially because he always treats Goldilocks so condescendingly. But that’s going to change.
“I’d really like to know what he’s always doing here,” I murmur, and Amelia nods.
“Me too, but if he’s here now, I’ll quickly head to Perlington House and grab a few things that are important to me, including the paperwork for my trust fund.”
We’d agreed at the cottage that she’d gather her things and leave her finances and all that to me, so she’d have as little contact with Henry as possible. Looks like she intends to put that plan into action right away.
“Alright, I’ll see you later at my apartment. Call me when you’re ready and I’ll send you the address.”
By now, we’ve arrived, and she tosses her backpack onto the bed without a second thought, making me grin. She’s so relaxed, completely forgetting her usual manners—normally she’d unpack and tidy everything.
Instead, she grabs her car keys and steps close to me. Smiling, I look down at her and gently tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Don’t take too long, okay? And call me when you’re done.” I lean in to kiss her, and by God, I’d love nothing more than tothrow her over my shoulder, drag her into a cave, and not come out for a year.
“Admit it, you already miss me a little,” she whispers with a smile against my lips, and I give her a quick, soft bite.
“Don’t get cocky, Goldilocks. Now get going, before I change my mind and neither of us leaves this room today,” I murmur, giving her one last hard kiss before pushing her toward the door. She walks off with a wide grin.
“Hurry up,” I call after her, earning a laugh that sets my hormones into overdrive again.
Shaking my head but feeling satisfied, I go to grab my laptop and head out as well.
Just as I reach my bike, my phone rings. I pull it from my pocket and see it’s my head of security. My pulse quickens.
“Nic? Where are you?” Colt asks without any pleasantries, and I know he’s got something.
“At the palace. Why?”
“Because you need to see this. It’s… man, it’s heavy and you’re not going to like it. Hurry, I’m sending it through our secure file system.”
He sounds dead serious, and I need to know what he’s found.
“Alright, I’m on my way. Thanks, man.”
“Don’t thank me yet. It’s bad. See you.” He hangs up and my stomach twists.
Does it have to do with Amelia?
My thoughts spin wildly as I head back to my city apartment, and when I arrive in the lobby, Cedric is already there—grim-faced, with a totally wasted Damien beside him.
“Nic, have you seen the news?” he asks straight away, and I shake my head. Cedric clenches his jaw and scans the area behind me.
“Where’s Amelia?” He looks at me, alarmed, and my stomach sinks.
