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I frown. “Logan—”

He holds up a hand to stop me. “I know you are capable of protecting yourself. You proved that to me last night. And we all know how damn smart you are, but for once in your freaking royal life, can you just listen to a commoner? Stay at your uncle’s and don’t leave,” he commands. I’m a little taken aback by the authoritarian nature of his voice. I cock my head and study him. I grin.

“Why are you grinning at me like a fool?” he asks.

“Because you’re more royal than you know,” I say as I walk back toward the salon.

“I’m what?” he asks.

“You’ll see,” I say with a wink and disappear below deck, leaving him gaping at me.

Chapter 17

Iadmit, the thought of Logan not being in my sight, is making me nervous. I had Lucas and Auggie’s guard, Patrick, drive him to his apartment after everything was squared away with the sailboat. My brothers were antsy to get out of there, but I made them wait.

Now, I’m waiting and pacing the living room of my Uncle Hans’s home. Auggie has opted for one last swim in the pool. Mia, Shannon, and Paolo are all on their phones and tablets, clearly making our travel plans.

“Why don’t you go relax?” Shannon asks me as she glances over to see me walk the same path for the hundredth time in the past thirty minutes.

“I’m good,” I say. Shannon mutters something under her breath and sighs. I hate keeping things from her. She’s one of the few people outside my family that I trust completely, but this secret…well, I don’t want her involved.

My phone pings and I jump, looking down to see a text message from Sonya. I click on it.

Sonya: Soooo? How’s the trip? Radio silence?

I laugh. Leave it to Sonya to make me feel better.

Me: The sailboat was amazing! It was the best week I’ve had in forever!

Sonya: Do tell?

Me: Shut it.

Sonya: So there is a man?

Me: No, not like you think.

Sonya: Oh, well, I’m not a virgin, so I think.

Me: Touché, beotch.

Sonya: (Kissy face emoji)

Me: (middle finger emoji)

Me: I’ll fill you in when I get back.

Sonya: Obviously

I roll my eyes and resume my pacing. My mind races through images of Logan’s apartment, which I may have just found the blueprints for online while I’ve been waiting, and every security issue there. It’s a death trap! I’m about to make Pete take me over there when I hear a car pull up into the compound. I run toward the door and look through the peephole. It’s Lucas and Patrick.

I run outside.

“Where’s Logan?” I ask, suddenly feeling very unsettled.

“He had to run some errands. He insisted we let him go on his own,” Patrick says.

“No! That’s not the plan!” I yell.