Page 46 of Exes Don't

“I can follow them back to Anton’s place if need be,” I say into the phone.

“No, no. Stand down. It’s not your job to be Bates’s bodyguard.”

“It’s my job to keep him safe. What’s the point of what I’m doing if not that?”

“You’re the eyes and ears on the ground, not the last line of defense.”

I frown. I don’t like the sound of therebeinga last line of defense. If someone gets to the last line, then it means they’ve slipped through the cracks.

Is that what Duke has done?

Instead of arguing, I say, “Run me through what you know.”

“Duke was in Washington D.C. He’s been the liaison between the U.S. government and the palace in Penwick. We knew that. We just didn’t know he’d arrived in Green Bay.”

“Do you have any reason to believe he’ll try to harm Anton? Could he be the insider that our sources are picking up on?” I ask.

“That was my immediate thought. One hypothesis is that Duke is trying to stage a coup. He’s the spare heir, so if Anton is out of the picture, then he inherits the crown when it passes out of Queen Della’s hands. Penwick policy states that when the heir turns thirty, the crown turns over. It’s their country’s way of keeping fresh blood in a position of power and not letting leadership grow stagnant.”

I know all that from Anton. I also know about his relationship with his cousin.

“Duke and Anton were always close,” I muse aloud. “I can’t imagine he’d try to harm his own cousin.”

My dad scoffs on the other end of the line. “Don’t be naïve, Rose. You know as well as I do that people have killed for less.”

I grit my teeth. “So, what? Do we have eyes on Duke and Anton? Or should I go after them?”

“I patched a message through to our contacts at the palace in Penwick. They have a direct line to Duke’s personal assistant, who’s also a member of the Penwick Security Force. He’ll be on guard. Duke will have no idea, but he’ll be under constant surveillance.”

“We’re sure that security agent can be trusted?”

Where was he tonight?

“He works for the queen herself, one of her most trusted men, so yes. He’s already been watching from a distance.” My dad types something on the other end of the line. I hear the clicking of the keys on his laptop.

“Where?” I instinctively check my rearview mirror.

“He dropped Duke in the lot at the stadium, according to the palace. He’s in constant communication with them.”

“Duke really has no idea?”

“I’ve been assured this agent is the best of the best.”

I exhale. “Where does that leave me?”

“Your role hasn’t changed. We still need you around Anton and the River Foxes organization, listening in and keeping track of anything out of place. It isn’t out of the question that Duke would connect with someone who has access to Anton at work in order to get the job done.”

“Understood. Any other updates?”

“None except to say good work. You were on the ball tonight. Continue to prove yourself like that and show me that you’re the right person for the foreign affairs job, and it’s all but yours. I’ll be in touch.”

Lennox ends the call, and I drop my phone into my lap.

I spend the twenty-five-minute drive back to Cashmere Cove turning over the events of the day. It takes the entire drive for me to get my heart rate settled. Instead of going straight to The Downer, I pull onto Main Street. I let the sights of the quaint small town soothe me. The road is lit with a romantic glow emanating from old-fashioned streetlights. Christmas decorations were put up, so now, on the upper end of every streetlight pole, there’s a wreath of fresh greens. All the businesses lining Main Street are done up too, with lights tacked along rooflines and window frames.

I pull into the small alley parking space near Mood Reader and make the quick walk around the back of the bookstore, letting myself in through the rear door. The scent of paper and books immediately soothes me. I keep the lights off inside, enjoying the twinkling from the outside Christmas lights. I drop into one of the comfy chairs at the front of the store. I tap my foot on the ground and stare around the darkened bookshop. Eventually, I stand and start wandering through the rows of shelves, running my fingers over the spines of our books and pausing to straighten tipped copies and line up the titles on the nearest endcap.

I don’t know what’s the matter with me or why I’m so fidgety after the call with my dad. It’s good the team hasa lead. It’s good they’re onto Duke. I should be grateful we’re two steps ahead of the person who’s likely at the root of Anton’s issues. Iamgrateful. It makes my job easier if we’re up against a known enemy. And that’s good because I want the position abroad. At least, I think I do.

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