Page 72 of Heartless Sinner

His permission didn’t really matter. The King was an Elder Son, though, and I didn’t need him making this more complicated than necessary.

“The prime minister reports to you,” I pointed out. “He’ll get over it if he wants to stay in your good graces.”

The fact that he took too long to answer irritated me.

Again, I practiced that fake respect thing and kept my mouth shut.

“You and I both know I have more power and influence than Cory,” I added.

“Cory is from our country. His father means a great deal to me.”

“Your Highness. I think this arrangement would bring our families back together after the incident, don’t you?”

It was a lie. Nothing would repair the broken relationship between our countries. But lying usually got me what I wanted.

I gave him the smile I’d been trained to give donors, diplomats, and every other person I needed something from.

His fingers stopped fussing with his crown.

Then I saw it.

The interest.

The king wanted the scandal between our countries buried.

“It’s worth it,” I said, taking a step closer to his throne. “Trust me.”

He nodded. “She’s all yours.” He pointed his fat finger at me. “But if this doesn’t help my country, I won’t be happy.”

I bowed my head. “It will.”

“Do you want another drink, sir?” the flight attendant asked.

I looked down at my empty tumbler. “Please.”

She disappeared behind the partition. I rubbed two fingers against my temple as another Daphne-induced migraine started behind my eyes.

Soon, she’d be mine.

Maybe not forever.

But I’d steal every second I could get with her.

It was a tragedy that Daphne hadn’t come to the Devil’s Lair tonight.

None of the girls had come tonight. They were probably celebrating Enzo and Blair’s ridiculous engagement.

The coffee table was filled with empty glasses, an abandoned deck of cards, and whatever expensive-ass watch Cassian had taken off and forgotten about this time. He treated ten-thousand-dollar watches like loose change.

I stared at Enzo in disgust. “Who the fuck gets engaged before graduating from college? I’m disappointed, man.”

I took a hit of my joint, smoke drifting between my lips as I spoke. “You were the asshole who swore you weren’t choosing a Fawn. Now look at you.”

Cedric and Cassian, who seemed to still have working brains, nodded in agreement. Cassian lifted his glass toward me like I’d just delivered the toast at Enzo’s wedding.

Emeri sat in the corner, sharpening his knife, contributing absolutely nothing. I didn’t think the fucker had ever told a joke. But if we needed a body dismembered, Emeri was the first person we called.

Fawns weren’t as popular with Sons anymore. Why spend months training a woman you might not keep when finding someone to suck your dick took five minutes?