"It's not real, mate. None of it is real. Jean Claude has just been with my family for a long time. He's one of those true-believer types. He thinks it's absolutely going to happen. And that when it does, my mother needs to be ready."

"I mean, though, what if he's right? What if you could become a prince?"

That would be a nightmare. "I prefer to believe in reality and what's in front of me. Not what could be. Besides, I don't even know if my mother wants to be queen. It's just kind of this thing that a certain group of people expects from her. I don't think anyone has ever asked her if that's what she wants."

He frowned. "If she doesn't, who takes over?"

"I don't know. If something did happen to my cousin, uncle, whatever he is, she's next in line. And if she steps down, it could be Xander, or they could skip from that all together and head for my Uncle Timothy’s line. He lives in the Caribbean, the Winston Isles."

"Oh right, the billionaire."

I laughed. "That man has got more money than God."

Nick grinned. "That man is my fucking idol."

"I mean, Nick, how much more do you want? You go where you want. Vacation when you want. The women are all around us all the time. What more could you actually desire?"

Nick grinned. "I don't fucking know, but I know that if I was a billionaire, I'd have it."

I laughed. Unlike me, Nick wasn't the least bit bored. Yeah, he wanted freedom and vengeance for his mother in a way, which is why he was doing what we were doing. But beyond that, he couldn't see the bigger picture. He didn't want anything else. He just wanted his lifestyle without the strings. I worried about him a little. Because if you don't have a goal or any purpose, what was the fucking point?

We crossed over toward Vauxhaul Station. One of Nick's dad’s offices was around the corner. He was supposed to pick something up for him, so we’d parked over at Max’s before we’d come to run the errand. As Nick went in, I couldn't help but glance back toward where I'd seen that girl.

There was so much more to life. So much more to do and see. And I wanted it all. But to get it, I was going to need to break free first.

Abbie…

"Would you hold still?"

I never listened to Sophie. I squirmed in her arms. "I don't need lashes."

"Everyone needs lashes, Abbie."

I shook my head. "No, I don't. I don't care if you dress me up like a clown."

Sophie pretended to be shocked by gasping and placing a hand on her chest. "Oh, my God, are you insulting how I dressed you?"