Prince's Addiction (The Exiled Royals Series Book 2) (9 page)

“Am I old?” Lily asked.

Kate hugged her tight and slid over as best she could on the sofa. It wasn’t easy at almost six months pregnant. The last year had been an amazing whirlwind. Even if Alex wasn’t sure yet if he’d be reinstated as heir, he’d thrown his enthusiasm hard into life in America. He helped co-run the hotel with his cousin Raymond, and he’d married Kate and moved into the same house that she and Lily had grown up in. She was so glad that, even if it was modest, the house had been acceptable to him. It was a great memory of their parents and, even if it wasn’t luxurious, she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

She glanced down at her rings. The engagement ring was cut like a butterfly to match the bracelet Lily had made—the one she never took off. It reminded her of all she’d almost lost. Now, reaching down to cup her stomach, she was reminded of all she’d gained.

Her sister was healthy, she had a loving husband, and a son soon on the way.

It was as if after the dark struggles of almost a decade, the world was finally smiling on her again. God, if hope was always like this, then it was the most addictive thing in the world.

She chuckled at her sister. “You’re in fourth grade. You’re hardly old. Definitely not ready for a walker, although maybe there’s a gray hair there,” she said, reaching for her sister’s bangs.

Lily squealed and dove to the other end of the couch. “I do not!

“But you asked if you were old,” Kate countered.

“I asked because I’m going to be Alexi’s aunt soon, and I always thought aunts were old, like twenty, at least!”

Kate groaned. She needed to talk seriously with Lily about what it meant to actually be old. At twenty-four, Kate wasn’t a grandmother either. “No, you’re fine.
Neither
of us is old.”

“I’m not sure,” Lily said, biting her lower lip. “You are having a baby so that must mean you’re pretty grown up, you know?”

“That’s true but no, honey, you’re not old. You’re going to be an amazing aunt, though. Maybe you can make something nice for the baby.”

“I make bracelets.”

“Maybe you can learn to make something different with beads. I bet Alexi would like that a lot.”

“I’ll say,” her husband said, stepping through the door with a large bouquet of roses.

She tried to stand but failed. “Ugh, I can’t wait to be normal again. My sense of balance is shot all to hell.”

“You’re beautiful.
Both
of you are beautiful,” he said, leaning down and kissing her bump. He set the roses on the table. “I’ll get water for these in a minute.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “Hello! Aren’t I beautiful too?”

He opened up his arms wide and her sister hopped up. Alex spun her around the room as she squealed. “You, kiddo, are the best sight for sore eyes, especially after a long day of work. I’ll tell you what. You run out to the patio and I’ll grab the burgers.”

Kate rolled her eyes again. “Cooking out, I see. I’ve created a monster.”

“Barbeque is the best thing Americans invented,” he said, kneeling down before her even as Lily rushed outside. “I think I’m going to love it here.”

She nodded and rubbed her stomach. “I think we all are, and, you know what?”

“What?”

“Checkmate, Alex, I think I found my prince.”

End of Book Two

Book Three Out Mid September 2015

Thank You!

Thank you so much for purchasing, downloading and reading my book. It’s hard for me to put into words how much I appreciate my readers. If you enjoyed it, please remember to leave a review for it. I love hearing from my readers! I want to keep you guys happy :).

Sign up to my mailing list to receive free advance copies of my next books!

Join The Mailing List

Book 1: The Russian’s Resistant Lover
(FREE Excerpt Below!)

Book 2: The Russian’s Assertive Lover

Book 3: The Russian’s Secret Baby

All books available through Kindle Unlimited.

Excerpt From The Russian’s Resistant Lover (Book 1 of the Tonov Triplets Series)

“Go fuck yourself,” Valov Tonov shouted over his shoulder.

“Excuse me!” She said, matching pace with him. “All I want to do is ask you a few questions.”

He sighed. He already knew what would happen. As the big, bad mafia boss, anything he said would immediately be used to turn him into a villain and defame him in the press. It didn't matter that he was most likely more honest than most politicians were.

“I do not talk to the media,” he said.
Not even ones as sexy as you.
The reporter following him was sexy; there was no doubt about that. Her coffee-colored skin looked as smooth as silk and her big, brown eyes and full lips were just as alluring as her generous breasts and hips, which seemed to be bursting out of her expensive designer clothes. She was definitely a vision, even though she was two heads shorter than he was and carried around the biggest purse that he had ever seen. He had to admit she was damn fast, even under the weight of that bag.

“Look,” she said breathlessly as she struggled to keep up with him. “This is Bangor, Maine. No foreigners go unnoticed here, especially the rich ones with thick, Russian accents. There are already rumors and reports about you being part of the Russian mafia.”
He raised an eyebrow at her and she quickly held up her hands in defense. “I'm not saying you're evil,” she quickly said, as if being part of the mafia and being evil was the same thing. “But your silence, refusal to cooperate with the press and the authorities, and the coincidental drop in crime since your arrival here has rumors flying.”

“What’s your name, again?”

“Rae St. Germaine. Listen, I’m giving you a chance to tell your side of the story, give yourself a human aspect for the people. This will help end the discrimination against you and your family, and it will help everyone in Maine better understand your culture.”

“It will also help sell newspapers,” Valov said. “Last time I checked, the
Bangor Daily News
was in trouble. If it doesn't get a lot of sales fast, then there will be a huge drop in sponsorship deals and there will be no funding to keep your office in repair, let alone your salary paid.”

“You're right,” the woman said, suddenly moving in front of him and blocking his path. “And that's the exact argument I used to convince my boss to let me pursue this story. You honestly think I wouldn't want to clear your name?”

He smirked at her, looking her up and down. “How do you know you have the correct person?” he asked. “Maybe you've confused me with one of my brothers. In case you haven't heard, we look a lot alike.” They were identical, actually but neither of his brothers would talk to the press either. They knew better than that if they wanted to stay alive.

“Everyone knows who you are, Valov,” she said. “You're the one who has a constant scowl and wears the designer suits. Also, you're the one with tattoos on your wrists,” she said, looking pointedly at the edges of his shirt cuffs where the tattoos were plainly visible.

Valov nodded.
She’s done her homework.

“Although all three of you are never seen in anything other than suits. Even in summer, you wear long-sleeved shirts. Why is that?”

Too many questions
. That was something he would never tell her, let alone let her print. Not if he had something to say about it. But he was careful to keep his anger in check. With seventy-degree weather in October, there were more people than usual on the sidewalks of downtown Bangor and the last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself. Negative attention especially.

“I still haven't agreed to an interview,” he said after taking a couple deep breaths. “But if it will get you to leave me alone, then I will answer questions for thirty minutes and thirty minutes only. Meet me at
The Hyde
. Eleven PM. Tonight. I'll have a limo pick you up at the Bangor Daily News office.”

She raised an eyebrow, her face so indignant it was almost cute. “A nightclub?” she asked. “I'm not one of your girls and I'm not conducting this interview at night in a club in the sketchy part of town.” That wasn't why she was objecting though, and Valov knew it. She was objecting because the interview would be in his territory, not hers. He would have the power, and if he were going to talk to the press at all, then he would need that power.

“Take it or leave it,” he said.

She glared at him. “I'll take it.”

Excerpt From The Russian’s Resistant Lover (Book 1 of the Tonov Triplets Series)