Page 32 of Ruthless Prince

“Don’t worry. I’ve already leaked something to all the major outlets. I got a doctor who works at GWU to tell them he knows for an absolute fact that Willow is very ill at the moment. Some sort ofvirus.”

“Okay. That’s good.” I went to stand up, but my father gestured for me to staydown.

“We aren’tdone.”

I shrugged. “I thought that wasit.”

“Not by a long shot.” He scratched the back of his neck as he reclined in his seat. “As I was saying earlier, it’s up to you to treat Willow however you want once she arrives. I know you have no intention of bestowing any kindness upon her, given your feelings toward her, and I understand that. I also know that in order to ensure she never tells anyone about her sale and servitude to our family, we will have to be cruel at first. Frighten her. Hurt her. But only to a point. We need to think about our public image at the sametime.”

“You’re saying I can do whatever I want to her as long as no one ever findsout.”

His lips curved into a smile. “Exactly. Treat her poorly if you must, but always remember that in the end, she isproperty. We Thornes don’t destroy our property. We keep it in one piece and make sure it always sparkles inpublic.”

I nodded. “Don’t worry. I have a plan foreverything.”

“A plan I expect you to share.” He arched aneyebrow.

I nodded again. “It’s all coming together. I’ll let you know the detailssoon.”

He grunted. “Good. Her birthday is only six weeks away. Are you arranging thecapture?”

“Yes, I’ve got a plan for that too,” I replied. “You really don’t need to be so concerned. I’ve got it all undercontrol.”

He went silent for a moment. “Are you ever going to tell me why you hate her so much?” he finally asked. “Things would run so much smoother for us if you two could just getalong.”

“Even if Willow and I were best friends, I doubt things would go smoothly once she found out she was sold to our family and has to marryme.”

“You’d be surprised. A lot of elite Washington marriages are arranged likethis.”

“Yes, but notquitelike this. Our contract with Willow’s father is very…unique.”

“That’s true. Still, I’d like to know what your issue is with her.” He cocked his head to one side and narrowed his eyes. “You were friends once upon atime.”

I smirked. “Maybe I’m just a loyal Democrat like you, Dad. Maybe I don’t like the fact that she’s the daughter of a Republicanpresident.”

He snorted. “Veryfunny.”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “I just don’t like her, okay? Simple asthat.”

“Fine. Keep your secrets. It doesn’t matter, as long as our image isn’taffected.”

“It won’tbe.”

He had no need to worry. I knew what I was doing, and no one outside of our family would ever discover the true nature of my relationship withWillow.

In public, we would smile and kiss, playing the part of the perfect young couple in love, and our fawning admirers would never suspect a thing. In private, I would break her, and she would beg me for it in theend.

The thought made my chest ache with need. I couldn’t wait to see her on her knees, sobbing and begging for me to end it all so that she wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. I wouldn’t, of course. She was going to be my wife, and I happened to take that commitment very seriously. Whether she wanted it or not, she would always bemine.

Till death do uspart.

7

Willow

Astreakof lightning lit up the night sky like a firework as I turned off M Street and stepped onto a smaller side street. I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sudden flash, but I caught myself in time and pretended I was skipping a crack in thesidewalk.

My nerves were disintegrating, crumbling to dust, and my heart was zooming like a race car in my chest. Logically, I knew there was no reason to be afraid. One Secret Service agent was walking ahead of me, and two more were trailing a few yards behind. The street we were on was leafy and quiet, and it was in one of the city’s safestneighborhoods.