Page 33 of Their Property
In Four Corners, it would be frowned upon too. Maybe my father wouldn’t treat them like criminals, but anything closer than a platonic friendship would be highly frowned upon. I didn’t want to test how overprotective Dad would be if three bikers showed any sign of interest in me. All because we were born into completely different lives.
“I need a drink,” I groaned, slouching further in my chair.
“Miss Ambassador!” Anita squeaked. “That’s illegal.”
“I know, I haven’t forgotten.” I really missed winding down with a glass of champagne in the evenings. Even the smell of a cigar would do right about now. I always found a reason to hang around when Dad had cigar nights on the back patio.
But I couldn’t have that either. The best I could get was a walk down the street, and this office felt far too cramped now.
“Go ahead and take the rest of the day off, ‘Nita.” I stood from my chair and stretched, then reached for my coat on a nearby hook.
“…Off? Again?” Okay, the incident by the fountain was three days ago, but she didn’t have to put it likethat. “Miss Vance, is everything alright?”
“Yes, perfectly.” I smiled at her. “I just need to stretch my legs. If I come back today, I’ll take care of everything.”
“Ifyou come back?”
“I’m going down the street, I’ll probably check out some shops and see what’s going on. Would you like to come? Just as a companion, not my assistant.”
“You meanleavethe capitol?! Alone?”
“Not alone, the Sons will be with us.” I angled my head toward Dyno, who was no longer leaning against the door but standing upright and alert.
Anita looked out the window nervously before shaking her head. “It’s getting dark, and it’s dangerous to leave the capitol at night, Ambassador. I think you should reconsider.”
“The ambassador will be perfectly safe.” T-Bone swung his legs down from the chaise and jumped to his feet. “I think a night out on the town sounds fucking great.”
“I have been wanting to explore the territory,” I mused. “And I mean theactualterritory, where the people are and not all the construction sites they showed me.”
“Well, if you insist.” Anita wrung her hands. “But please don’t stay out too late, Ambassador.”
“Yes,Mom.” I grinned at her but a pang clutched my chest. My mother died when I was an infant. The only mothering I ever got was from nannies and tutors.
Dad hardly ever talked about her, and it was clearly a painful subject whenever he did. I refused to believe she wasjusta wife to him. He wouldn’t be so choked up all these years later, never remarrying, if their marriage had only been a political move. So I couldn’t understand why he would want me to settle for that, instead of holding out for someone I was deeply in love with.
“I’ll let Grudge know what we’re doing.” Dyno stepped outside the office while Anita finished gathering her things.
“Anywhere in particular you’d like to go?” T-Bone asked me, idly petting Munin who was now cradled against his chest.
“Not really. I’d just like to see what the locals are up to.” Excitement ran through me. It felt like I was doing something bad, like when I used to sneak out my window back home, but I couldn’t figure out why.
“It’ll be dinnertime soon. Have you ever had dive-y restaurant food?” T-Bone grinned like he was divulging a secret.
“No!” I gasped. My food had always been prepared for me by chefs. While convenient, it was predictable and boring. “Do you think I could get a burger somewhere? With fries?”
“Sure. Or fish and chips if you want. Maybe even chicken and waffles.”
“Chicken and…excuse me? That’s a thing?”
T-Bone laughed, a low rough sound that was pleasing to my ears. I wanted to listen to it again with my ear against his chest. “Get ready for a bit of culture shock, little lady.”
“These are beautiful!”I said to the shop owner who kept staring at me, wide-eyed. “Can I buy two pairs? Oh, no, wait, I love this design too…”
I was in a jewelry shop no bigger than my closet, but the earrings on display drew me in like a magnet. At first, it was the delicate hoops made of silver, but then I saw another pair with textured, hammered details in bronze. There were no precious stones here, but the jewelry was beautifully crafted metal, and I had to stop myself from touching everything.
“These three, please,” I said, laying my selections down on the counter. “And then I’ll be out of your hair for the night.”
“You honor me, Ambassador,” said the flustered shop owner as he wrapped up my order. “No one from the capitol comes here.”
