Page 36 of Palace of Betrayal

“I will, boss.”

“Check in tomorrow and I’ll have more information for you.”

“Will do.”

Bebe hung up and looked at her phone. She didn’t know what would’ve become of her if it hadn’t been for Roz and her girls. They were her family and she loved them fiercely.

“Just Leo?”

Bebe turned her gaze to the man sitting quietly beside her on the couch. “Just Leo.”

“You know, in some circles, the rumour is I’m a Crown Prince.”

She loved that he could make her smile. “Oh yeah? Who are these poor, delusional people?”

“Hey!” He grabbed her around the waist and hauled her across his lap as his fingers dug into her ribs, making her squeal with laughter.

“No. God, no. Please.”

“What?” He cupped his ear as if he couldn’t hear her.

“Please, Prince León.”

Leo stopped and ran his hand down her back. “Nah, I like being just Leo to you.”

Bebe snuggled closer, allowing her natural softness to show instead of hiding from the world like she so often had to. She trusted this man, which might make her a fool, but she did. He made her feel safe. She didn’t need it, but it was nice to have it.

“How’s your father?”

His hands twisted in her hair as he twirled the strands around his fingers. “Confused, shocked, worried. He’s concerned it might be a threat from another government trying to destabilise our nation. I wish I could tell him the truth.”

“I do too. He’s a good man and he adores you.”

“He is and I’d forgotten that for a while. Thank you for helping me remember.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You did. You forced me to spend time with him today and reminded me of the man he is.”

“Maybe we should read him in on this. I’m just worried the more he knows the more at risk he’ll be.”

“I know, me too.”

“Let’s sleep on that one. He won’t do anything without your knowledge will he?”

“No. He’s grooming me to take over, so we make all these decisions together.”

“And your uncle?”

“He’s at his home in the country until the funeral.”

“Well, that’s good at least.” Her body was becoming languid from him playing with her hair, a weakness of hers, but she needed to tell him about her call with Roz and what she’d learned. “So, I have an update.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“Brody James is CIA. Seems they weren’t sure I could get the job done so sent one of their own in too.”

“And Wojcik?”