Page 85 of Prince of Control

I replay the conversation with my dad in my apartment. Brash’s words, “you had interest from another party.”

There are still parts of this story that don’t add up. Like–why my marriage was arranged to Baron in the first place. What was so important to tie our families together when his dad and mine have worked together for years?

And if it was so important, why didn’t he tell me about it from the time I was young? Why wait until I had interest from another party?

Well, I can demand answers to those questions when I get back to Paris. I was giving my dad the silent treatment, but now I wish I’d pushed him more for answers.

Then again, he wasn’t very forthright about any of it.

Was that because he was tricking me? Removing me from the supposed temptation of Brash Rostov? He never stopped me from dating men in the past.

He could’ve just told me if he didn’t approve of Brash.

None of this makes sense.

I jerk back to the present when Brash pulls down the road to the airstrip I flew into just over a week ago.

“What are we doing here?” I don’t know where I thought he was taking me, but this comes as a surprise.

“I need to get you away from the thugs who are trying to control you,” Brash says, parking and getting out.

I don’t get out. I may have wanted to get away from Baron, but Brash is being equally presumptuous with me and my life right now.

He opens my door and reaches out a hand. “Come. You want to get back to your life, no? I can protect you.”

It feels wrong.

I wipe my eyes. “I don’t have my things. I need to pack.”

Am I really leaving Whisper? I’m pissed at Baron, but…my time with him was the best–and worst–in my life. I was furious and scared when I came here, but there was Baron. I guess I fell in love. I made friends. I became a part of something–willingly. I don’t hate my classes, either.

Paris feels far away. Like the woman who lived that life is already gone. Changed into someone else. The internship and career possibilities for me there seem far less exciting than what goes on at Thornecroft.

I remember the thrill of breaking into Melinda’s attacker’s apartment yesterday. Watching my badass husband in motion.

But no. He’s not a bad ass. He’s a controlling bastard who basically kidnapped me and then seduced me. He manipulated me just like my dad. I can’t allow men to treat me like that.

“I will buy you new things, milaya.”

I hesitate. That sounds like a nice offer, especially because I don’t want to go back to Baranov House and pack my things. But something feels wrong.

Brash said he would return me to my life in Paris, but now he’s going to buy me all new things? Is that a friendly offer because he’s rich or is there something proprietary to it– like…I’m going to be with him?

Because I don’t want to be with him.

Now that I’ve felt what it’s like to have my heart set on fire, it’s clear I feel absolutely nothing for this man.

“I don’t even have my passport.”

“You won’t need it. Come, the jet is on the runway.”

The jet is on the runway. Like…he had it waiting there for us? He knew he was going to whisk me away? Why don’t I need my passport? Because he’s paid someone off? This is getting weird.

My brain is slow to compute everything, probably because my heart is still hemorrhaging over Baron’s betrayal.

But okay. Yes. Getting away from Whisper is the best thing. Once I’m back in Paris, I can take time to grieve the heartbreak and get some clarity. Maybe I’ll give Baron a chance to explain.

I definitely will call my dad and have it out with him.