Chapter 14 #3
“For us,” he corrected. Galen kept washing, as if mulling it over.
The tightness in his shoulders gave lie to that assumption, though.
He knew what he wanted. He was just working around to voicing it.
Finally he handed over the last pot and turned to face her.
“You’d go back to New York, and we would, too.
Theo would keep playing the stock market because it entertains him, though eventually we’d have to find some kind of business to buy to focus his ambition.
” He leaned against the counter. “You’d go back to school, and we’d spend the next year or two going round and round while you yelled at us that you had your own life and yet somehow you’d end up in our bed again and again until we convinced you to stay.
Eventually, you’d get over the fact we have money, and when you got bored with the accounting shit, you’d figure out that dream of yours and we’d go chase it down together. ”
For a moment, she let herself picture it.
Being with them. Creating a life together.
It wouldn’t be easy. They were all strong personalities and there would be countless clashing in the future as they found a way to piece themselves together into a whole.
But It was a lovely dream. “I’d make you work for it. ”
“I know.” His lips twitched. “And without a doubt, you’d find ways to break the rules just so we’d punish you.”
She finished drying the last pan and set it aside. “It’s too bad it’s only a dream.”
“Yeah. Too bad.” He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her, both of them facing the window.
Galen rested his chin on her head. “That man right there is destined for great things. He’s not ours, no matter what any of us want.
He’s Thalania’s. If Theo had his way, he’d find a path forward where he gets us and he gets the throne.
It doesn’t exist. And it’s breaking his fucking heart. ”
Theodore had the birth certificate.
Phillip cursed. Read the report. Cursed again.
He should have known better than to let Dorian handle this mess.
The man was both inventive and cruel, but he had a soft spot for his son that prevented him from taking the necessary measures.
He still thought the boy would fall into line, and so he hesitated.
Phillip couldn’t afford to hesitate.
Theodore might not know what that birth certificate signified yet, but he was too smart for anyone’s good. He’d figure it out.
It was time to escalate matters.
He reached for the phone and paused. Doing this through unofficial methods hadn’t worked.
Calling for an official assassination of a former Crown Prince…
It would get out. He didn’t have full control of the various departments yet.
Theodore’s influence went too deep and though no one had stepped in when he was exiled, there was still a simmering resentment aimed directly at Phillip.
They blamed him for making the choice he did, and there were key administrators who actively worked to make his life more difficult than it needed to be.
If it got out that he had ordered Theodore killed…
No, that wasn’t an option.
There had to be another way.
Ah. Yes. That will work nicely.
He dialed his head of security—well, technically, Isaac Kozlov was Edward’s head of security—and waited. A few seconds later, a gruff voice came on the line. “What can I do for you, my lord?”
“I need to see you immediately.”
“I’m on my way.”
Exactly two minutes later, Kozlov walked into his office and shut the door.
He was a giant of a man, well over six feet tall and looked like he could lift the solid mahogany desk over his head without effort.
A particularly brutal scar wrapped around his neck, and in the years that Phillip had known him, Kozlov had never once even attempted to hide it. It was distasteful.
Kozlov sat across from him. “What can I do for you, my lord?”
“I have just received information that Theodore is in danger. I need him extracted and brought back to Thalania.”
Kozlov didn’t blink his eerie gray eyes. “I haven’t seen this information. What is your source?”
Damn it, why couldn’t the man just obey instead of asking questions?
Phillip fought down his ire. “My source is none of your concern. Someone targeted Theodore two weeks ago, and I have every reason to think the attacks will only escalate. We can protect him better than he can protect himself at this point. He doesn’t have the resources. ”
Still no expression on Kozlov’s face. “Theo has Galen. That’s resource enough.” He straightened in his seat. “It’s against the law for an exile to return. If he sets food on Thalanian land, he would be incarcerated. That doesn’t sound particularly safe, my lord.”
“I know the law,” Phillip gritted out. “I’m prepared to temporarily lift the exile ruling, at least until we can get to the source of these attacks.” When Kozlov didn’t blink, he forced a worried expression onto his face. “For god’s sake, Kozlov, he’s my nephew. I can’t let him die.”
“Huh.” Kozlov finally nodded. “I’ll get a team on it.” He pushed slowly to his feet. “And forgive me, my lord, but I’m not ordering him brought across the border until that exile is rescinded.”
“Don’t forget who you answer to.”
“I’m well aware of who’s in charge, my lord.
” Kozlov shook his head. “But I can’t guarantee my men would follow my orders if I gave that one.
They were Galen Mikos’s men before they were mine, and on top of that, they like Theo.
There’s only so much I can ask of them where those two men are concerned. ”
Phillip glared. “I’ll take care of it. Go.”
“My lord. I’ll see to this personally.” Kozlov dipped his head in a move that was barely a bow and walked out of the room.
His head of security couldn’t be trusted.
Oh, Kozlov never quite stepped out of line, but Phillip couldn’t guarantee his loyalty, and that made him a potential problem down the line.
Goddamn Theodore and Galen. Between the two of them, they inspired love and loyalty in a way Phillip couldn’t compete with.
People who didn’t like Theodore’s posh manners adored Galen’s grittier attitude, and vice-versa.
If he removed Theodore, he’d have to remove Galen as well.
The man wouldn’t stop until he found and punished the responsible parties, which would lead him right to Phillip’s door.
While he was at it, they might as well take care of the girl in the process.
Have the whole thing tied up in a neat little bow.
First, Phillip had to get them all back on Thalanian soil.
The sooner, the better.