Chapter 2
Chapter Two
CALDWELL
There is a chance I might not kill my brother.
I was annoyed when I got the last-second call that he was getting married.
It wasn’t a year from now or even a few months out.
It was scheduled to happen in a few days.
That is why I’m now at the airport waiting for my commercial flight.
I want to throttle him, and I will, but I’m not missing his wedding.
My brother has always been a wild one, ending up in different articles for his antics.
He has his freedom, where I do not. Our parents are refusing to go.
In their minds, there is a rule book you live by.
A way that you carry yourself. Getting hitched on short notice definitely doesn’t fit into those guidelines.
We’re of noble blood. Planning a wedding takes time with all the different events and traditions. Things are expected from us. My brother didn’t sign up for that, and I’m not forcing it on him. Because it will be nice to get out of the country for a few days.
I don’t need my mother hovering over me. She might not be happy about my brother’s wedding, but if it was me getting married, even if at the last second, she’d be overjoyed. The woman has been trying to marry me off before I take over the crown.
Had she presented me with this little gem sitting in front of me, I would have married long ago.
“Do you not want to tell me about yourself?” I need a last name. Once I have that, I’ll know everything, but I’d rather hear it from her than have to find out for myself.
I spotted her at the same time the rowdy men at the bar did. Her shocked and dazed reaction to them was endearing, but it also had me wanting to lay out all of their drunk asses. It was clear she didn’t care for the attention.
She pushes her glasses up and into her hair; her dark green eyes appear larger now with her round cheeks and slightly upturned nose. She’s a tiny thing. A strong wind might knock her over.
“Well, after I—” Mable licks her plump lips, making them shiny and all the more tempting.
They’re full and fucking kissable. I never gave much thought to anyone’s lips before.
I know that women often enhance them, trying to make them appear fuller.
I don’t get it, but I’m noticing hers, and I’d bet my life they’re real.
“Okay, you really don’t need a lot of time.
I just graduated college, I’m not sure where my mom is currently, and my father is dead,” she finally rambles out.
I’m trying to gauge if she’s shy or if she knows who I am. My country isn’t massive. We have a little under a million people. When I leave the country, most don’t recognize me, and I often go without security.
“Let’s start with college.” I might have to pull the words out of her. I watch her take another sip of her drink. That too might make her relax. “What did you study?”
“Urban studies.” Interesting. She might know who I am after all. It doesn’t matter, I suppose, but it would have been nice to not have that between us. It often changes how people respond to me. Actually, it might be good that she doesn’t know.
“You go to college?”
“Yes, Cambridge. Where did you go?”
“Imperial Supérieure.” She takes another drink.
“Imperial Supérieure,” I repeat. Of course I know of it.
Everyone does. It’s one of the most elite in the world, but it’s small and tight.
It also only accepts girls. “Smart and beautiful.” Mable’s cheeks flush, and she becomes flustered by my remark.
I love the effect I have on her. I plan on having it a whole lot more.
I would imagine people tell her that daily because she is. When I’d spotted her, I stopped dead in my tracks, all my attention zoning in on her.
“I need to use the restroom.” She polishes off her drink and starts to get up. I stand, pulling the chair out for her. “Thanks.” I watch her speed-walk away from me into the bathroom that is in eyesight.
I order another round and pull out my phone and text Tomas. I give him her first name. I want to make sure our seats are next to each other. He’ll handle it even if we’re boarding shortly.
Mable returns a few minutes later, just as the waitress is setting down her new drink in front of her. “Thanks.” I get a soft smile from her. “Are you local here?” she asks me, relaxing a little.
Is she fucking with me? I don’t get that from her. In fact, I’m getting the opposite.
“I’m from Solaria,” I tell her and watch her expressive face.
“I’ve heard it’s pretty there.”
“Breathtaking.” It is, but so is she, and I’d rather watch her.
“Wait, don’t they have some of the best beaches in the world?”
“We do.”
“Then why are you going to another island?”
“My brother is getting married.”
“Oh.” She sits up straight, tilting her head to the side. “That’s sweet.” Is Mable a romantic?
“What about you?” I pray she’s not about to tell me she’s going out there to party and is meeting up with a bunch of classmates. I’m already getting pissed off thinking about her in a bikini, taking shots with a bunch of fuckboys. It’s irrational of me, but it’s the truth.
“A random pick.” She does a small wiggle in her seat as she sips on her drink. Mable is feeling the effects already. “I’m being spontaneous!” Her eyes widen, and she glances around, dropping down into her seat. “Did I scream that?”
“No, sweetheart.” Spontaneous. Does that mean what I think it does? “You’re traveling alone.”
“No.” The response comes too fast.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“I know,” she huffs.
I grit my teeth so that I hold my tongue. I want to give her a scolding, but that’s not going to win me any favors if I want to spend more time with her, and that’s exactly what I’m planning on doing.
“Why alone?” I ask.
“Who else is going to come with me? My best friend went and fell in love with her husband, which I knew would happen. I told her. Then we got a missing mom and a dead dad.” She’s feeling the drinks. “Ope! That’s us.” She points to our gate that is starting to board. “It’s been nice talking to you.”
“Who says we’re done?” I toss a few bills down to cover our drinks.
“I can pay.”
I wave it off. “I got to enjoy your company with my drink. I’d say I’ve vastly underpaid.”
“You’re charming. Which means it’s a good thing we won’t be speaking anymore. My fingers already itch to touch you.” Little does she know plans are already in motion to make sure we will be spending a lot more time speaking and hopefully doing much more than that.
“Touch away,” I instigate, helping her out of her seat.
“Really?” She scrunches that button nose of hers. Even that is adorable.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
“Okay.” She pokes my chest. “Yep, harder than I thought.” A bark of laughter leaves me. “What? I was curious, I mean—” Mable motions up and down my body. I put my hand on the small of her back to lead her to the gate. “How many abs do you have?”
“Haven’t counted lately.”
She snorts a laugh. “What seat are you?”
I show her.
“Oh, first class. It was all sold out.”
“Shall I trade with another? I’m sure I can give the person next to you my ticket, and I can have theirs.”
“No, don’t do that.” She glances around. It takes me a moment to realize she doesn’t want the attention that would bring. It’s a good thing I had Tomas handle it, and he just did that.
“Mable Kittrick,” the woman scanning tickets asks.
“That’s me!” she chirps.
“Hold on, there is an issue.” She clicks away at the pad in her hand.
“Did I do something wrong?” She whispers the question, but it’s still fairly loud. I step more behind her, to shield her, because people are watching, and I don’t want her to know.
“No, only a change.” She gives Mable a warm smile.
“Change?”
“Yes, to your seat. You’re now B2.”
“Right next to me.” I scan my ticket.
“Wait, why would—”
“Thank you,” I tell the woman and keep guiding Mable onto the plane.
I’ve got her just where I want her… for now.