Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(51)

They all go back to their stations, which range from gaming chairs with monitors in front of them, to cubicles that look like they belong in Versailles. That’s what happens when you recruit former thieves, some of whom are also gamers. My personal office has a cool black chandelier, a sleek desk, and all kinds of retro gaming posters. I look around, wondering if I should re-decorate. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to play Call of Duty again without thinking of the man who’s so horrible at it. The outer “public” office looks like a giant game room, or man cave. There are old game machines, new game machines, pinball, foosball, skee ball, and pretty much all the other things a grown up gamer would love to have in their house. My apartment’s pretty much the same. I hate to ask Chloe to do it, but I think it’s time for a change.

* * *

Brayden

I’ve gone on dates with seven princesses in seven days. My coronation is in two days, and I haven’t made a choice yet. My mother’s been pressuring me to choose, while Jen and my uncle tell me what an idiot I am. I am an idiot, but I also know that I do have to choose. Not the woman with bright orange hair, hypnotizing green eyes, milky white skin, and enough attitude to keep me on my toes. No, I have to choose a proper woman with perfect highlights, designer clothes, and no mind of her own. Or at least not one she’ll use to challenge me.

I hang my head and run my fingers through my hair as I try to pick my date for the ball. One of them should be at my side for the coronation, telling the world that I’ve chosen my path. I just can’t stomach the thought of any of them. They’re all very nice—well, okay, most of them are nice—and would make a great trophy wife for a king. But I’ve had love, and it’s hard to ignore that when looking for a wife.

“It’s time for you visit with the children,” my press secretary says, entering the room.

“Yes, of course,” I tell him.

Today is my day to go to the biggest of our parks and meet with the future generation of my country. They’ve been told that they can ask me anything. It’s something new—it was actually Noah’s idea—but we all agreed that it’s a good idea to make everyone feel like they have a voice. Tomorrow I’ll be visiting the elderly at a local center.

I smile and wave at the children when I arrive at the park, sitting on the grass in front of them. There are about 200, and I’m ready for a tiring day of repeated questions about how many rooms are in the castle, and whether I have a dragon or not. I’m not expecting the questions I actually get.

“When is Darcy coming back?”

“I-uh, I don’t know,” I answer cautiously.

“My mommy says you’re taking someone else to the coronation ball. You can’t do that.”

“Wouldn’t you like me to take a princess to the ball?” I ask. Please say yes, please say yes.

“I want you to take Darcy. Can’t she be your princess?”

Oh, holy hell. This is not going to end well. At all.

“We want Princess Darcy.”

“I’m going to be so mad if you take another princess.”

“I’ll give you my toy truck if you bring Darcy back. I miss her.”

I miss her too, little guy.

“Daddy says Darcy’s a firecracker and that’s what we need. I like firecrackers, I like Darcy.”

It goes on like that all afternoon. I do the best I can to give them all vague answers, but I’m exhausted by the time I leave. And more than a little scared. I can just imagine a mob of angry children attacking me for bringing someone else to the ball. Or they might attack my date. That might actually be fun.

The next day goes pretty much the same. I knew my people liked Darcy, but this is way more than I ever expected. The old people are actually worse than the children.

“Where’s the redhead? I want to dance with her.”

“She’s not on the island right now.”

“Well bring her back. We wanted to see her, not you.”

“I’m going to be king,” I say, shocked by the hostility I’m facing.

“So? We’ve seen you all your life. Darcy’s a breath of fresh air.”

“I’m so sorry, Your Highness,” the director of the center tells me as I’m leaving. “Darcy used to come visit them, and they all fell in love with her. I thought they’d behave.”

“She came here?” I ask. I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s something I can easily see her doing.

“Almost every day.”

Well shit. I get into the backseat of my car and run my hands over my face. “What’s next?” I ask the press secretary.

“A meeting with the adults of the village in the central park.”

“Is it going to go the same way?”

“Quite possibly, yes. Darcy walked into the village almost daily. She sat with anyone who wanted to talk to her.”

“Of course she did.”

“We all love her.”

“You too?” I ask, looking at him in surprise.

“Are you really surprised? You’re in love with her.”

“I-I’m…f*ck. I can’t take anyone else to the ball. They’ll burn me at the stake.”

“It’s a distinct possibility. Maybe you should call her and ask her to attend.”