Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
West barked something low and gruff at the security team standing by, and they encircled them while West turned Jin, placing his arm around his shoulders. Jin closed his eyes and allowed his West to escort him away from the building and into his car.
If they were lucky, no one at the press conference knew about the assassination attempts on the crown prince’s life.
Of course, now the news agencies and social media platforms were blowing up with even juicier dirt. The crown prince had broken down in public about the worsening health of his father and the unknown man—who was most definitely his new boyfriend—sweetly comforted him.
For now, he didn’t care what they were saying about him or West.
He needed to get West alone somewhere and reassure himself that his beautiful man was unharmed and safe.
And then maybe he’d lose his temper.
17
WESTIN ST. JAMES
“Cancel it!” Jin snapped as he marched down the long hall to his private apartments. It was the third time he’d said that as Qin struggled to keep up with the crown prince without actually jogging.
West followed a couple of steps behind, his heart aching for Jin. Since leaving the press conference, the crown prince had been as rigid and unyielding as a piece of steel. Of course, they hadn’t been alone in the car that raced back to the palace.
The guards who traveled with them knew of the assassination attempt on Jin’s life. One had pointed out the new rip in the sleeve of West’s coat where a bullet had torn through it. Right now, no one spoke of it. He prayed Jin was still oblivious to how close it had come. West collected the earpiece from Jin and removed his own. The guys knew they were both safe, and they were focused on cleaning up while West turned all his attention to taking care of the prince.
“But…but Dianxia—”
West placed a hand on Qin’s shoulder and squeezed, stopping his words. He got it. Jin never canceled meetings and always made himself available to whoever needed him. Well, just this time, Jin needed to be alone.
“Cancel everything for the rest of the day. Skip lunch. Have someone send up an early dinner. Something light. If anyone bitches, tell them the crown prince needs some time to himself. He’s worried about his father. Not the emperor, his father,” West stressed at the end. This would buy Jin time, whether or not it was true.
“But what about Prince Jin Ming Tao? He’s asked about Dianxia.”
“Tell him to give us some time. Dianxia is okay. He needs rest. Ask him to join us in the crown prince’s apartment for an early dinner.”
Qin stopped in the center of the hall. “Okay. I’ll leave him to you,” he agreed in a soft voice, watching them continue down the hall.
West closed the doors to the apartment, wishing not for the first time that they had locks, and followed Jin into the bedroom. The crown prince had already tossed off his coat and jacket and was tearing off his tie. West did the same, laying his coat and jacket over the arm of a chair before crossing to help Jin with his tie.
“What the hell do you think you were doing?” Jin shouted in his face as he violently batted West’s hands away. West’s anger never had a chance to rise, as a choked sob attempted to strangle Jin. “They could have killed you today!”
“And you almost were,” West countered, cupping his cheeks with both hands. “Do you think I won’t do everything in my power to keep that from happening?”
Jin squeezed his eyes shut, sending tears spilling over his pale cheeks. West brushed them away with his thumbs and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, the tip of his nose, his lips.
“Unacceptable.” Jin’s voice was thick with emotion. “It’s unacceptable. You’re not allowed to trade your life for mine.”
“So says the man who was going to do that for his entire kingdom.”
Oh, the dark look that statement earned should have incinerated him on the spot, but West was not backing down.
Hello, Pot. Meet Kettle.
“I forbid it. I am the crown prince of Gaoxing. This is my kingdom. I forbid you from risking your life in such a foolish manner ever again. Do you hear me, Westin St. James? I forbid it.”
Narrowing his eyes on Jin, he dropped his hand from his face and took a step closer. It must have been what Ed called his “scary look,” because Jin swallowed hard and retreated a bit. “I hear you, Crown Prince Jin Long Wei, but you have to listen to me now. The people of Gaoxing need you. Your brother and father need you. But do you know what’s even more important than that?”
“What?” That single word was so grudging and petulant, he almost laughed in the prince’s face.