Page 52 of A Wise Prince

“Watermelon. Four, three, seven, six, nine. I need to speak with the hornet. Yes, I’ll hold.” She bites her nails while she waits.

“Who’s the hornet?” I ask.

She’s about to answer when I hear a voice on the other line. “Hey. Got a situation. Yep.” She launches into the story, and five minutes later, the hornet says he’s coming to see us tomorrow.

She hangs up and looks at me. “Princess Anna is well versed in intelligence, more so than I thought.”

“Wait? Anna’s the hornet?”

Jackie shakes her head. “No, but she’s already spoken with him.”

CHAPTERNINETEEN

August

As soon aswe are back at the house, I walk toward my room. If I don’t call Anna back, she’ll probably hop on a jet and come down here and kick my ass.

“Hold up,” Nico says.

I stop. I’m not used to my employees telling me what to do.

“Your Highness, I know something is going on. I would prefer to be looped in.”

“Nico, I will let you know if I require your assistance,” I say sternly, not bothering to look back at him.

“Auggie…” he says, lowering his voice. “Just...don’t do anything stupid, OK?” Nico seldom uses my given name. He’s worked with me long enough that I don’t expect him to always be so formal, but he’s irritating me tonight. Well, maybe everything is irritating me tonight.

I don’t say anything but nod as I walk to my balcony. Once I’m alone, I call Anna.

“You cocksucking, little motherfucking asshole!” She starts but I cut her off.

“Listen, I’m sorry. I needed to get Kate and me out of there. And what the fuck, Anna? You shouldn’t have sent Kate in there! What were you thinking!?” I half yell.

“It’s under control. Kate’s background lends her to be able to handle this. You, on the other hand, are green.”

I take a deep breath, and she’s quiet for a moment. I can sense the course of our conversation changing direction before she even speaks.

“It’s the diamond, isn’t it?” she says softly.

“Yes.”

Neither of us says anything as the realization begins to dawn on us.

“Do you think it’s been sold for parts?” I finally verbalize my thoughts.

“It doesn’t make sense. It’s worth so much more as a complete tiara,” Anna says. I hear her typing, and I know she must be online, scouring the dark web.

“When’s the next auction?” I ask.

“Two more weeks. It’s early next month.”

“Anna?”

“Uh-huh?”

“Why do I feel like this is more complicated than just a stolen crown?” I muse.

“Because it probably is.”

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