Twisted Games (Twisted, #2)(108)

“I don’t know if I can go through with it, though.” A touch of vulnerability entered her eyes. “It’s not exactly aboveboard.”

“What is it?”

Pink tinged Bridget’s cheeks before she straightened and said, “Blackmail the ministers into opening the motion and voting for a repeal.”

Wait one fucking second. “Repeat that.”

She did. “Like I said, it’s not the most aboveboard strategy, but—”

A strangled noise emerged from my throat, cutting her off.

Her brow knit into a frown. “What?”

“Have you been talking to Andreas?” If she hadn’t, it was too ironic for words.

Her frown deepened. “No. Why would I talk to Andreas about this? He wants to steal the crown.”

Not exactly. Andreas and I had spent a fair amount of time together hashing out the plan, and while I still trusted him only as far as I could throw him, I knew he didn’t want the crown. He enjoyed his carefree lifestyle as a prince without responsibilities too much.

“Because he has a similar idea, though his only applies to Erhall, not all of Parliament.” My mouth tipped up. “You always were an overachiever.”

“Why are you talking to…” Bridget’s eyes widened. “You know.”

My surprise mirrored hers. How did she…then it hit me. Her blackmail on Erhall. It must’ve included information about me and Andreas.

But before I said anything, I wanted to make sure we were on the same page. I’d been working up to the reveal about my parentage; I didn’t want to just drop the bombshell on her in case I assumed wrong. “I know about Andreas.” I watched her carefully. “That he’s…”

A tense silence vibrated between us.

“Your brother.”

“My brother.”

We spoke at the same time, and there it was. My secret, out in the open.

After thirty-four years of no family except my mother, who’d barely counted as family, it was strange to think I had a brother.

“So, it’s true.” Bridget released a long breath, the vestiges of shock lingering on her face. “How did you find out?”

“Christian did some digging and told me. I confronted Andreas.” I filled her in on what happened at his townhouse, as well as Andreas’s plan to blackmail Erhall with the information about me being his son. Erhall couldn’t afford a scandal ahead of elections, and a long-lost love child fell squarely under “scandal.”

“I’m a little terrified I came up with the same idea as my cousin.” I could see the gears spinning in Bridget’s mind as she digested the information. “How do you know we can trust him?”

“I don’t, but we have leverage. He doesn’t want anyone to find out Erhall is his father, or…”

“…he could lose his royal status,” Bridget finished. “A fate worse than death in his eyes.”

“Yeah.”

The whole situation was so fucked. I hated playing mind games, and we were trapped in the most twisted web of games and one-upmanship possible. I also didn’t love the idea of blackmail, but if that’s what I had to do, I’d do it.

Bridget examined me, those beautiful blue eyes sympathetic. “It must’ve been a shock, learning about Erhall and Andreas. I know you have mixed feelings about your father.”

That was one way to put it. Another way was I despised him even more now that I knew his identity.

“He’s not my father.” Erhall was, at best, a sperm donor. “But I don’t want to talk about him right now. Let’s focus on your plan.”

I had a lot of shit to sort out when it came to Erhall, but I could do that later.

Bridget picked up on my cue and changed the subject.

“Okay. So.” She lifted her chin. “We’re really doing this. Blackmailing the Speaker of Parliament.”

Despite her bravado, a note of nervousness ran beneath her words, and the fierce need to protect her—from the world, from her own doubts and insecurities—consumed me.

I wished she could see herself as I saw her. Fucking perfect.

I framed her face with my hands. “If we do it, we do it together. You and me against the world, princess.”

Her smile sent warmth crashing against my ribcage. “I wouldn’t have anyone else by my side, Mr. Larsen.” She took a deep breath. “We might need the information to push Erhall, but I want to try something before we resort to doing the same with Parliament. All this time, I’ve been treating the tabloids as my enemy, but maybe they can be an ally.”

She explained her plan. It was easier than blackmailing one hundred eighty of Eldorra’s most powerful, but it was also a major gamble.

“You sure?” I asked after she finished. “It’s a big risk.”

Bridget had the most to lose if it didn’t pan out.

“Yes. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier.” She paused. “Actually, I can. I was scared of what people would say and that it would lessen my legitimacy as a ruler. But I’m tired of being afraid. With great risk comes great reward, right?”

A small smile touched my lips. “Absolutely.”

Bridget was, after all, my greatest risk and my greatest reward.