Chapter 2 #2
Sure, my familia understands.
They’ve proven that ten times over.
They’re in the house right now, entering additional examples into evidence.
It’s not them that is the concern.
It’s the public.
Society.
High society at that.
And those are – unfortunately – hard to dispute facts.
Whether I introduce statics or firsthand testimony, it won’t land in my favor in the court of wealthy public reception.
That’s the main shit I have to constantly consider.
Image is so much in my world.
Even when I wish it weren’t.
And my image wouldn’t allow myself to be openly seen dating a man let alone a man as well as a woman at the same time in the same relationship.
“Or it’s nice ‘til I realize I wasn’t even invited to have my balls included in the algorithm,” he bitterly remarks, once more reminding me that sharing someone isn’t out of the question for him at all.
That I’m the obstacle.
That I’ve always been the obstacle.
“Look,” Zero quickly states with a shake of the head, “that shit’s not why I’m here.”
“Sounds like that’s why you’re here.”
“Okay, my guy, fair-”
“More than fair.”
“Fine, but it’s not.”
“Then why?” Folding my arms across my button up dress shirt occurs between sentences. “Why are you on my parents’ porch begging-”
“I didn’t beg.”
“You begged.”
“I asked.”
“You forcefully asked linking it to the definition of begging.”
“You know the def off the top of your head?”
“It’d be borderline malpractice not to.”
Frustration flares in his brown gaze alongside a dramatic bounce. “I need your help, Garcia.”
“Of course, you do.” My eyes roll on their accord. “Which law did you think was ‘optional’ now?”
“Yeah, it’s…a littttleeeeee more complicated than that this sesh.”
“Meaning?”
“Once upon a time-”
“Never a good start.”
“-long, long ago-”
“Getting worse.”
“-I might’ve…accidently…on purpose…did some hacking that the prince of a country now may or may not be labeling as foreign terrorism.”
“What?!” booms throughout the night sky.
“Or may or may not be threatening to get me extradited to his country where they will try me for foreign espionage.”
“Espionage?!”
“They can tie me to the front of a fucking ship, sail me out to international waters, and leave me there to get eaten by Jaws.”
There’s no stopping my head from sardonically tilting to the side.
“I shit you not, my guy. I actually looked it up.”
“How is that possible?! We have worldwide laws against inhumane actions such as that.”
“Take it up with The Hague on your own time. There isn’t room on mine.”
Worry immediately resumes its place in my expression.
“I’m pretty sure I’m royally fucked unless…I…help him find something.”
“Because you can find just about anyone or anything.”
Pride pulls the corners of his lips upwards. “Exactly.”
Godhelpme.
That grin alone is gonna get me thrown in a jail cell one of these days.
Or at the very least scheduled for a full-scale psych eval.
“What exactly is it he wants you to find?” I slip my hands into the front pockets of my light suit pants. “Don’t be ambiguous. Be blunt. This conversation is privileged.”
“He wants me to find écume de mer éternité,” Zero announces in impeccable French.
Huh.
When did he learn French?
And why’s his accent so damn immaculate?
Is that what he’s been doing in his spare time when he should’ve been at poker with me?
“écume de mer éternité…” It takes a moment for the title to fully register. “Wait. The old shipwreck?”
“Yeah.”
“The old, legendary shipwreck?”
“Yeah.”
“The old, legendary, impossible to find shipwreck?”
“Copy therefore not in direct line unless something were to happen to his sibling.”
“Prince Thaddeus Weslington of Hoalkey?” Furrowing of my brow thoughtlessly occurs. “Isn’t he a twin?”
“The second twin meaning his sister will become queen if he doesn’t find that ship and fast.”
“The ship that most historians would argue – in open court, under oath – that they don’t believe actually fucking exists?”
“That’d be the one.”
I slowly shake my head in continuous disbelief. “And you need me to find you a legal loophole out of this shit?”
“If you can.”
“And if I can’t?”
“Then I’m gonna need you to help me find that fucking ship.”