36. Die Trying
36
Die Trying
Rose
M y heart lurches because, at first, I think Anton is standing outside, waving at me. But that’s wishful thinking at its finest. Upon further inspection, I clearly see it’s Duke.
He points to the door, beckoning me to let him in.
I hesitate, weighing my options. He appears to be alone. I could take him if I had to, though I don’t know if he’s armed. I could keep the door locked and not let him in, but that would give away that I’m wary of him and could potentially bring more danger to Anton’s door. That’s the last thing I want.
I decide to play it cool and see why Duke is here—if for no other reason than to satisfy my own curiosity. I’m anxious for any update from Anton’s world. It’s been a whole week, and other than catching part of his away game on Sunday, I haven’t heard anything from my father or my former team about where the threat level is at.
I flip the lock on the door and pull it open. “Duke. What are you doing here?”
He peers beyond me into the empty bookstore. “Can I come in? I need to talk to you. Alone,” he adds.
I hold the door wider in response, and he walks in, stomping his shoes on our entry rug.
“What’s going on?” I swing the door shut and lock it again. If anything goes sideways with Duke, I have definite homefield advantage.
“Anton told me you were hired to protect him from a security threat.” He watches me closely .
I swallow and nod. “That’s right.”
“What kind of security threat?”
Your kind . I stop myself from saying as much…but barely. Instead, I choose my words carefully. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I’m worried about my cousin.”
I stare him down. The stress lines bracketing his mouth make him look incredibly genuine. Still, I keep my guard up.
“I’m sorry, I can’t help you. I was released from the security firm where I used to work, and we were informed that Penwick Palace didn’t have need of our services anymore.” Queen Della made that very clear over the video call on the night I was fired.
Duke starts pacing.
“None of this makes sense,” he mutters.
“What are you talking about?”
“The threat against Anton. I’ve done some digging this week, after Anton told me about it.”
I arch an eyebrow.
“I have a background in cyber tech.”
“What kind of background?”
He just stares at me.
I connect the dots. “You’re a hacker?”
“On the record, absolutely not.” Duke tips his head side to side. “Off the record, I could shock you with the information I’m able to find.”
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 something does happen, 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.