Page 145 of My Five Daddies

I hesitate for a second. We’ve barely been here a few minutes, but I think I know what’s happening here. Andrew is doing just enough to make it look like he’s actually trying to follow orders, but not enough to actually prosecute anything. He’s going to drag this fake investigation on as long as humanly possible, hopefully giving me the time Ineed.

I stand and nod to him. I hope he understands that I know what he’s doing. He nods back. Hazel heads toward the door and I follow her. The guards step back and allow us to leave. As soon as we’re outside, the guards leave and head in two differentdirection.

We stand outside of Andrew’s office for a second, watching the guards leave. Hazel takes my hand and squeezes. “You were right,” shesays.

“About what?” Iask.

“It’s dangeroushere.”

I nod slowly. “I hoped it might blow over. But still, we can’t afford to be anywhereelse.”

We start walking back toward our apartment, and my heart is beating fast. I don’t know what I’m going to do to keep her safe, especially now that Julian has his own littleguards.

“Come on,” Hazel says, pulling at my hand. “Let’s go back to our room. We need to startplanning.”

“You’re right,” I say, sighing. “I need to get some guards for us first,though.”

She hesitates but nods. “You’re probablyright.”

“We can’t be caught off guard again. This might be over soon, but we should be smart aboutit.”

“Okay,” she says, looking at me. “If that’s what you think’sbest.”

“I know it’s messed up,” I say softly. “But your safety is my priority. You know that,right?”

“I know,” she says. I grab her hand and pull her against me. I press her up against the wall, dipping into the shadows near the corner of thehall.

“I’m not going to let them hurt you,” I whisper into her ear. “You’re myprincess.”

Her lips graze mine. “I know,” she says. “I’m in this, no matterwhat.”

“Good.” I kiss her softly. “Now come on. Let’s get some workdone.”

She pouts and I laugh. I’ll give her what she wants soon enough. But for now, we have to do someplanning.

I take her hand and pull her along behindme.

26

Hazel

“Come here, traitor.”His eyes are mocking as he motions for me to followhim.

“You like that they hate me, don’t you?” I ask him, a smile on my lips. We’ve been watching the news almost obsessively ever since we left Andrew’s office. All the reporters can talk about is the investigation into mytreason.

Julian must have leaked it to the press, and even though it’s just a symbolic investigation and nothing will come of it, people are really angry. They’re letting citizens call in all the time, and although I can’t understand it all, I can hear the tone of theirvoices.

Polovia hates me, and I can’t blame them. They’re being told that a foreigner just married into their royal family, and she’s atraitor.

I’m afraid they’ll never forget this. Even when they find out that I’m not a traitor, they’re always going to have this in their minds. I almost think that Nolan is better off without me at thispoint.

But I still can’t resist him. I follow him back into the bedroom where he motions for me to sit down on thebed.

“I have a surprise for my princess,” he says tome.

I cock my head at him, a smile on my lips. “Now what did I do to deserve apresent?”

He smirks at me. “You know what you did, traitor.” He presses me back, flat against the bed. I think he’s going to kiss me, but hedoesn’t.

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