and the low, crawling worms who harassed and tormented their subjects simply for being famous, for being royal.
But, he had no interest in causing anyone’s death. Additionally, he had a feeling that this woman could be infinitely more useful. His seclusion was coming to an end, and while he would happily stay in the darkness forever, it could not be so.
The agreement he had signed with the viceroy had very definitive terms. And if Adam didn’t step in, an election would take place in the fall. So would go his bloodline, which had ruled Olympios for hundreds of years.
And, lost in his grief and pain though he’d been, he was not so lost that he would abandon all that his family line had built over the centuries.
But he needed another headline. One that extended beyond his scars, and a beautiful woman coming into public view by his side would add another dimension, another story, to the mix.
It was exactly what he needed, though he had not known it.
He would simply need the proper venue in which to use her.
He curled his hand into a fist and looked down at his marred skin. Sometimes, he was tempted to ask himself if he was overreacting. But then he was reminded. It was easy to be reminded. The reminders were all over his body.
At that moment, his phone rang, and he cursed. Because it was his friend—if that was the appropriate word—Prince Felipe Carrión de la Viña Cortez.
He punched the answer button on the phone and lifted it to his ear. “What do you want, Felipe?”
“And hello to you too,” came his friend’s lazy response. “I have Rafe on the line, as well, just so you know.”
“A conference call?” Adam asked. “What sort of trouble are you in?”
His hot-blooded friend had a reputation for causing international incidents, and it wouldn’t surprise Adam if he was involved in yet another scandal.
Truly, he, Felipe and Rafe could not be more different. Were it not for their friendships formed at a particularly strict boarding school, he doubted they would have two words to say to each other now.
But, Felipe and Rafe had kept him from receding completely into darkness over the past few years. And for that, he owed them. Or, at least, for that he didn’t growl at them every time one of them made contact.
“No trouble,” Felipe said. “However, I am planning a party. You see, it is the fiftieth anniversary of my father’s rule. And, likely the last he will see. Of course, I should like to invite you both.”
For the first time since getting on the line, Rafe spoke. “And are you allowing service animals at your event?”
Felipe laughed. “Perhaps, Rafe, it is time you found yourself a lovely partner to help lead you around.”
“As appealing as that is, I have yet to find a woman keen on playing the part of guide dog.”
Five years earlier Rafe had been blinded in an accident, and though Adam didn’t know the details, he suspected that a woman had been involved somehow. But, Rafe wasn’t the type to share the details of his life. Unlike Felipe and himself, Rafe was not royalty. He had not been born with money. Instead, he had become the protégé of an Italian businessman at a very young age.
That man had paid for Rafe’s schooling, and had gotten him a position at his company. Until Rafe’s accident. But, it was that accident that had propelled Rafe to the next level of his success. Now he was unquestionably one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Europe—royal blood or not.
But, whatever had happened, his friend had been completely changed by it. Adam understood.
Growing up, he and Felipe had been hellions. Utterly unconcerned with the state of their education, where Rafe had taken everything seriously. He had been there on borrowed money, and he had been incredibly conscious of that.
Adam and Felipe had spent most of their time pursuing women; Rafe had studied.
Now here they were. All a bit battle worn, except perhaps Felipe. Though, Adam always wondered about his seemingly carefree friend. In his experience, few people were actually carefree, and those that seemed the most dedicated to such facades often had the most structural damage beneath the surface.
“Now,” Felipe said, “I’m sure that isn’t true. Once a woman gets a look at the size of your...bank account, certainly she’s more than willing to fulfill whatever duties you might require.”
“Your confidence in me is astounding,” Rafe said.
“Well,” he continued, “you certainly possess more charm than our friend Adam.”
Adam gritted his teeth. “Regretfully, I doubt I will be able to attend your ball.”
“That,” Felipe said, “is expected. But unacceptable. The fact of the matter is I’m going to be ascending the throne of my country soon. My father might have walled us off, made us insular, but I don’t intend to keep it that way. I want to align myself with you, Adam, with your country, and with you, Rafe, and the industry that you could bring to Santa Milagro.
“I know you have been in exile for the past few years, Adam, but with your viceroy’s tenure coming to an end, and the recent sale of those photographs of yours to the tabloids, I think it’s time you took matters into your own hands. Your visage—such as it is—is going to filter out into the public soon enough. You might as well make an appearance along with it, Adam. Prove that you are not a coward.”
“I’m not,” he said, quickly losing patience with Felipe. “However, exposing myself in the public arena holds no appeal.”
“Certainly understandable. I’m sure if Rafe could hide away, he would do so, as well.”
Rafe laughed, but the sound held no humor. “I’m not disfigured. Only blind.”
“Mostly blind,” Felipe countered. “And anyway, what better way to take back the control. I know you despise the paparazzi for what they did to you. For what they did to your family. Are you going to let them have control of the story? Publish photographs of the Beast of Olympios and whatever headlines they wish to accompany it? No, come now, Adam. The man I knew in school would not allow such a thing.”
“And the man you used to know had a soul. Not to mention a face.”
“If not for yourself, do it for Ianthe.”
Had his friend been standing in front of him, Adam would have hit him for bringing his wife’s name into this. But, at the same time, he couldn’t deny he had a point. A point he had come to for himself already, but Felipe didn’t know that.
“Take your control back,” Felipe said. “Make this unveiling of your own making. Make Olympios yours again.”
This was it, he realized. His moment. The power play.
The precise way and place to use his beautiful captive.
“When is this party?”
“In just over a month,” Felipe said. “We can only hope my father holds on until then.”
