Page 98 of Exes Don't

I nod slowly. I may have underestimated the man standing in front of me. “And?”

“And all of the chatter, the little bread crumbs being dropped online that your people and the Penwick security force are scooping up and using as evidence about this threat to Anton, is coming from one source.”

“That makes sense. It’s likely one organization or person who wants to harm him.”

Duke shakes his head. “I know, but the organization that seems to have it out for Anton is the palace in Penwick.”

I squint at him. “That can’t be right.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Duke rubs the back of his neck. “Worse even—especially if you’re me—is that whoever is behind the threats is trying to make it seem like they’re coming from one person in particular. Me.”

“What?” I suck in a breath. “You’re being framed?”

“I think so. Nothing’s happened yet, obviously, but it’s like someone is planting seeds so that when somethingdoeshappen, they can go back and point to all these instances where I supposedly hinted at taking Anton out to secure my path to the crown.”

My mind is spinning, but I ask the first question that comes to mind. “Who’s framing you? Can you tell?”

He gives his head a rueful shake. “Not entirely. The IP address is one within the palace’s infrastructure, but there’s no way I can know who’s behind the screen.”

“Do you have a guess?”

He cuts me with a look. “If I tell you what I think, can I count on your help?”

I’m nodding immediately. “I hurt Anton, but all I want to do is protect him. If there’s anything I can do, say the word.”

He studies me for a long moment. I let my face show every emotion that’s pummeling my heart—determination, love, hurt, and, if I’m being honest, a little fear.

Eventually, Duke nods. “We need to figure out what’s going on with Charles.”

“Your assistant?” I frown.

Duke shakes his head. “He’s not my assistant. He was assigned to me before I traveled to the U.S., but I don’t trust him. I think he may be a pawn for whoever is trying to hurt Anton.”

Something tickles the back of my mind—a conversation I had with my father when I found out about Charles for the first time.He works for Queen Della directly.

“What’s with that face?” Duke points at me. “What do you know?”

I feel sick. “That the person who put Charles on you to ‘keep an eye on you’ is the queen. If you’re saying Charles is actually around to cause Anton harm, then I think it’s at Queen Della’s hand.”

Duke pulls himself up to his full height, and I’m terrified he’s going to call me out for accusing his queen of regicide.But instead, he gets a steely glint in his eyes.

“We need to protect him.”

I nod, familiar adrenaline coursing through my body with renewed intensity. Anton may not want me anymore, but I will do everything in my power to protect him. Or die trying.

37

Pre-Game Fit Check

Anton

Ibrush the front of my sport coat and flick the lint off my trousers before stepping out of the team bus. I’m in the first bus. We come to the stadium from the hotel in three waves ahead of home games. I like to get here early to pray, run through my visualizations, stretch, warm up, and not feel rushed.

The pre-game walk into the locker room is a media frenzy. They love to capture our game-day fits. Some of the guys, like TJ, go all out in wacky combinations and patterns. Earlier this year, he actually wore cargo shorts made solely from cerulean blue duct tape and a blue-and-white striped sweater vest. It was…something.

I keep it simple and classy. Today, I’m wearing a custom-tailored navy suit and a plain white shirt underneath.

I’m focused on the game, and I have my Bluetooth headphones on so I can’t hear anything as I walk the tunnel of reporters on my way to the locker room. I keep my eyes straight ahead and avoid meeting anyone’s gaze, not because I don’t want to be friendly but because I’m on a strict timeline. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot one of my new security guys. Good. See? I did my due diligence, and now I’m putting the threat on my life out of my mind. Erin is standing nearby. If all goes well, I’ll have another interview with her after a win this afternoon.

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