Page 19 of Prince of Control

Tori takes the card and tucks it into her pocket then opens her her mouth but hesitates to speak.

What now? I raise my brows.

“Um, does this invite get me into the dungeon?”

I give her a completely blank look. “What dungeon?” Perpetuating mystery and exclusivity is what drives rumors in Whisper.

She flushes. “Nevermind. I just heard…right. Nevermind.” She waves her hands in the air. “I know nothing.”

“There’s nothing to know. Tori, this is my wife, Lara. She just transferred here from a school in Paris. I want you to take good care of her anytime she comes in here, okay?”

Tori bobbing her head. “Of course. Nice to meet you, Lara. Welcome to Thornecroft.”

“Thanks.” Lara turns her electric blue eyes on me and stares as Tori moves away to make our coffee.

I pull a fat wad of cash out of my pocket and tuck it in her pocket. “You probably don’t have any U.S. dollars. This should get you by.”

“You are just like my dad,” she says. There’s condemnation in her tone.

“I’m guessing that’s a bad thing?” I usher her to a two-person table by the big picture window and hold her chair for her to sit.

“You act like everyone is under your command.”

I sit across from her, keeping my expression neutral. She’s right. I do believe everyone’s under my command. I believe everyone has a leverage point that can be toggled. Tori’s was a simple invite to a party. Some people’s is feeling included. Some people’s is fear.

I’m willing to push all the levers to get my desired outcome.

“I don’t do it for shits and giggles,” I say mildly.

“Shits and giggles?” she repeats. It’s obviously an English phrase she hasn’t heard before. Her English is perfect without a trace of an accent, but she hasn’t lived in America since she was a tot.

“For fun. For my entertainment.”

The way her brows drop tells me she doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. “Why do you do it, then?” she demands.

“I do what’s necessary to protect what’s mine.”

She chuffs. I want to kiss her pouty lips. Show her how well I’m going to take care of her. “And I’m yours?”

I hold her gaze steadily. “Yes.”

Chapter Five

Lara

Starting classes at a school I didn’t know I’d be attending a week ago is an out-of-body experience. I don’t have the energy to return Brash’s texts or calls.

He no longer matters. He’s not part of this life.

Benjamin–or Baron, as others call him–asked me questions about myself over breakfast. He wanted to know what made me want to study modern languages. How many languages I speak. What I hope to do as a career.

I found him easy enough to talk to. As easy as it was to ride behind him on the back of a motorcycle hanging onto his rock-hard abs. He’s appealing–there’s no denying it.

But I’m not falling for any of it. I’m some pawn in a game they’re playing, and I don’t have a choice. I won’t forgive him for that, no matter how charming he might be.

I go through the day, just focusing on finding my way around and getting oriented.

I don’t have any headspace to think about Benjamin–or “Baron,” as the girl at the cafe called him–and his declaration that I’m his. Like a piece of property.