Page 99 of Breathtaking

Maddox

“Are you sure this needs to happen today?” I ask Rhys, most likely breaking every fucking royal protocol there’s ever been, but this is my wife we’re talking about, and I don’t give a shit what protocol says if it means protecting Lennon. “I’m worried it’s too much for her.”

“It needs to be today,” he confirms and looks past me at my wife and son talking with my mother. “Give me a few minutes, then meet me upstairs. Atticus will show you the way.”

He moves swiftly to Lennon’s side and whispers something in her ear before she passes Brennan to my mom and follows behind him.

Fuck... This is going to piss her off, but it has to happen. My parents cross the room, stopping in front of me, and I press a kiss to Brennan’s head. “Have I said thank you?”

“More than you needed to,” Mom promises. “I was thinking about taking him back to Lilihill House and putting him down for a nap. He doesn’t need to be around this many people.”

“That’s a good idea. Make sure to take a protection officer with you,” I tell them, and Dad just shakes his head like I’m an idiot. If we were back home, I wouldn’t be concerned. But we’re not back home. “Just humor me.”

“I was just shaking my head because you act like we have a choice. Rhys’s men are so far up your son’s ass, this kid might not ever get to be alone.” He looks at me like he gets it, though, and wraps an arm around my mother as they walk away.

Good. Less people to be worried about.

I scan the room, filled with a massive amount of people, all wanting a piece of Lennon and her brothers, until I spot Atticus. It only takes a minute to get his attention and tip my chin toward the stairs.

He does the same before he excuses himself and meets me at the bottom of the staircase, clearly uncomfortable. “Does Rhys have Lennon?”

“Yeah,” I groan.

“Then let’s get this done.”

We climb the steps of Rosenhill Palace to the second floor, and I follow Atticus’s lead down a winding hallway to a closed door with a royal protection officer stationed outside. He dips his head to the prince and moves aside immediately.

“When he’s escorted up, hold him here and let us know,” Atticus instructs, and the guard tips his head again before we walk by.

“Are they not allowed to speak to you?” I ask, not following what the hell that was.

“Nah, they can speak. But I screwed that one’s sister a few months ago, and word got out. I’m pretty sure he’d shoot me if he could.”

Fuck... I look around the massive room with paintings lining the walls and stop when Rhys and Lennon come into view. My wife is clearly pissed.

“Were you part of this plan?” she demands, and Atticus takes a step back. “Oh no. You stay right there. Both of you.” Then she turns back to Rhys and points at him. “You too.”

Lennon angles herself so she’s in front of us all. “What were you thinking? If I wanted Monty dealt with, I would have done it myself. I was the one assaulted. I was the one who could have pressed charges and chose not to. What exactly do you have in mind with this little plan of yours and why do it today, of all days? Today is to celebrate Grandfather’s life.”

“Bullshit.” Rhys levels her with a cold stare. “You were going to let him get away with what he did, so you didn’t have to bring any more drama to the family. To the crown. Don’t act like it was because you didn’t want to see the prick strung up by his balls. And Grandfather hated most of the people here. Trust me. I was closer to him than anyone. He fucking hated them. What he would have liked most today was seeing the three of us together. He would have liked to see Brennan. I’d even go as far to say he’d liked to have met Maddox, if he could have without condoning your marriage. That one was going to take a little while. The three of us?—”

Atticus coughs a fake-as-fuck cough. “Ahem... Four.”

Rhys looks at me. His face set in hardened lines. “You’re right. The four of us are here, together. And Monty is downstairs. Today’s the day, princess.”

“You know... I’m starting to truly hate that title,” Lennon snaps. “It’s not the worst nickname in the world under the right circumstances, but as far as titles go, I don’t love it.”

“Fuck, man,” Atticus groans. “I hope you knew how high-maintenance she was when you married her.”

“I am worth maintaining, you shitty little wanker,” she snaps and looks between all of us with a fire flaming in her eyes. “Let’s get this over with.”

“I don’t know why you’re mad. You won’t even be here to deal with the fallout,” Atticus adds.

Lennon softens her stance, and I see the moment she gives in. “We’ll come back more often, if you promise to visit me too.” Rhys looks unamused and maybe frustrated. There’s definitely something else there, brewing behind his eyes. Something he’s not talking about. Not with us, at least.

Pretty sure a king popping over for a visit isn’t exactly an easy thing logistically.

“Fine... I guess I’ll raise a bicoastal baby,” she smiles softly.

---