Page 52 of Some Like It Deadly
“I don’t want to sit. They need someone who can make decisions for Kate.” He was repeating himself.
“I know. Peterson is taking care of it. Come sit down.” Armand didn’t take no for an answer—he walked Richard over to the seat. No one came into the room. Anna had apparently taken her phone outside.
“Is Anna okay? She shouldn’t be alone.”
“She has her detail with her, she’ll be fine. Richard, I need you to focus.”
Of course she did. Armand protected the woman in his life. She didn’t take bullets for him, he wouldn’t allow it. He didn’t allow anyone close to him to get hurt, not if he could…
“Miranda quit. Just up and quit. I’m supposed to be back in the office tomorrow and she called me on the way here to tell me she came into an inheritance and she’s off to do the world cruise and traveling she’s always wanted to do. What the hell am I supposed to do now?” He was sick to death of being stuck in his house and he’d finally gotten the all clear from the doctor. He’d agreed to wait until Monday only because he wanted Armand’s babysitters off of him.
“Anna’s assistant might be a good fit, you met her once—Kate Braddock?” Armand grinned. “Anna doesn’t need her as much with the scholarship off the ground, I can talk to her see if she’d be interested.”
“If she is, it would save my life.”
He turned slowly and stared at his best friend. A man he’d known since college—the prince who wanted to be like everyone else, but he’d never been ordinary. Powerful and intelligent, he’d grown only more so after his father died and he’d inherited the role of grand duke and head of his family.
Someone has to make decisions for Kate.
I know. Peterson is taking care of it.
Peterson. The royal family’s security chief and Armand’s left-hand man in the United States. Armand was ruthless, cunning, and possessed enough deviousness to get his way when he wanted it. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to protect the people he loved.
Paying off an assistant and installing a bodyguard right under Richard’s nose so that he’d be protected whether he liked it or not? Not even a stretch.
“You son of a bitch.”
“Yes.” Armand nodded once. “I did what I had to do, to keep you safe. You didn’t want a security detail, wouldn’t hear of it until after Kate got hurt. She was part of Anna’s?—”
Richard bounded to his feet and paced away. Of course Kate was a bodyguard. She had the requisite skillset. She’d been military and she joked about how she kicked that Kuwaiti prince’s ass. She was always watching, observing, and tracking the movements of people around them. When she walked into a room, she assessed it. She anticipated his needs and she made changes. They’d been subtle at first, but little by little she’d brought him to heel.
He’d joked about her managing him, but that’sexactlywhat she’d done. Managed him and the situation because Armand hired her to be his bodyguard. And his “sneaking” out and shedding his security—it had infuriated her.
“Richard.” An olive branch wrapped in an order tied to an obligation.
“Go to hell.” He did not want to hear the excuses or his bullshit about having to protect the people around him. As if his title gave him the right to make decisions about people, to put Kate into harm’s way.
“I’ve been there. I was there just a few months ago when they pulled you out of your car. They had to peel back the metal, Richard. I saw the car afterward. It’s a miracle you survived. I sat in this hospital and I prayed for hours that you would come through that surgery and once you were out, it was still touch and go. You lost a spleen and a kidney. Yes, I’m a bastard. I hired that woman and I told her that her only job was to keep you alive. I didn’t care how she did it, or what she had to do?—”
Richard spun and slammed his fist right into Armand’s big, damn mouth. The prince staggered. Two of the security men started forward, but Armand waved them back.
“You told the woman I love that her only job was to take a bullet for me becauseyoudecided that. You didn’t have the right,Your Highness.”
“I hadeveryright.” Armand’s eyes blazed and he got right in Richard’s face. “You are mybestfriend, mybrother.You can be pissed at me all you like, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. You’realivebecause of that woman in there and I pray she survives so I can kiss her hand and thank her for saving you.”
“Saving me? Youdamnedme, Armand. I fell in love with a lie! A lie you hired and paid because you have to be in control of everything. I’m yourbest friend?No—I’m your ex-friend and in the morning, I won’t be your attorney anymore.” He pivoted to walk away.
Armand grabbed his arm. “You don’t want to do this right now. You’re upset and you’re not thinking clearly.”
That was a joke and it was on him. Richard laughed. “You know, I think I’m seeing clearly for the first time in a long time. Everybody lies to get what they want. My father, you—Kate. Everybody lies. I am sick to death of the lies. Now get your hand off me or you will need your security put your face back together.” He cut a cold look at him. Needed the cold. Needed to shut it all out. “Because I’m done.”
Armand released him and Richard strode away. He was at the door when Armand called, “Stay long enough to see her.”
“Why?” He turned and spread his arms wide. “Her job is done. Be sure you give her a bonus. That’s three bullets she took for our friendship, Your Highness. This…” He swept his hand over himself. “This is her blood. My consolation prize for being the idiot who fell in love with her. Congratulations. I’m alive.”
Turning around he stared into Anna’s tear-filled eyes. “Richard, don’t do this. Don’t walk away.”
“Your prince is that way. Good luck. You’re going to need it.” He ignored the flash of hurt in her eyes and cut around her. Hehad to get the hell out of that hospital and away from them and the lies.
