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)
“Why haven’t you informed the palace security team of this contract?” Shen Xiao Dan snarled.
“We don’t know who to trust,” West snapped back at him, his control becoming little more than frayed strings under worry for the crown prince’s safety. “The contract contains detailed information about the crown prince’s schedule and habits. It gives every sign that the person who wants him dead is a palace insider. We have already uncovered that royal tech specialist Cai Li Na has placed spyware on Qin Hong Yi’s tablet, and has been using it to collect state secrets. I will not put Crown Prince Jin Long Wei’s safety in the hands of someone I cannot fully trust.”
West closed his eyes and drew in a deep, settling breath. When he could continue calmly, he reported, “We have cleared Qin Hong Yi and a handful of security personnel who had been reassigned to keep a close watch over Prince Jin Ming Tao and Crown Prince Jin Long Wei when it’s not convenient for me to be close. We are still working to locate the person behind the contract and get it shut down. My team has also removed more than a dozen assassins from the royal city of Jin. Crown Prince Jin Long Wei and Prince Jin Ming Tao have both agreed to cut all their public appearances for the time being.”
The emperor lifted the oxygen mask from his face and glared at West. “And that little event in front of the media two days ago?” he demanded, his voice trembling and rough. “The hug in front of the entire world?”
West bowed to the emperor. “My team and I failed to reach an assassin perched across the street from where the crown prince was speaking. Fearful that he would take his shot before we could stop him, I moved in front of the crown prince and inappropriately hugged him as cover so my people could act. They eliminated the assassin.”
“But the assassin did take his shot, which is how you ended up with that tear in the sleeve of your jacket and a hole in the stage’s floor,” the emperor continued.
West jerked upright without thinking, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. The emperor was far better informed than he’d expected.
“Does my son know?” Jin Jiang Yu’s use of the royal we slipped as his tone softened.
He had to lower his head as he replied, “He knows there was a shooter we were struggling to take out. I don’t believe he knows of the shot that missed him. I don’t wish to add to his distress.”
“But this isn’t solely about protecting our son.” Despite his weak heart and being stuck in bed for weeks now, the emperor’s voice was a roll of heavy thunder. “You’ve been sleeping in his bedchambers. You’ve been taking all your meals with him. You’ve engaged in a physical relationship with the crown prince.”
Regardless of Shen Xiao Dan’s words earlier, West dropped to his knees in front of the emperor and hung his head. “I know I am not worthy of the crown prince. I’m not worthy to breathe the same air as him. My years as a sniper and CIA agent have left my hands bloodstained. I have no right to sully the crown prince with these hands, but I will use every skill I’ve gained from those years to protect his life. I understand if you want me to have nothing to do with your son, but I beg you to allow me to remain in Jin and protect him until this contract is closed and the perpetrator is found. Protecting the crown prince is protecting Gaoxing. This is the first place in all of my life that I’ve wanted to call home. Please, Your Majesty, I love him. I love him with everything that I am, and I just want him to be safe.”
The silence stretched, leaving West trembling on his knees, tears slipping down his cheeks. His mind kept repeating that it didn’t matter what the emperor said, he wasn’t leaving Gaoxing. He’d continue to protect Jin from the shadows. He would stay as close as he could to keep him safe, even if he could never touch him again.
All the regret and self-loathing that had accumulated with each pull of the trigger faded because he needed each of those experiences to make him sharper, to make him a better hunter. He would keep Jin alive. Crown Prince Jin Long Wei would live a long life in the service of his people. West would see to it.
But what was left of his heart would be dust if he couldn’t hold Jin, if he couldn’t hear his laughter and see his smile.
“Three.”
West’s head jerked up at the sound of the emperor’s rough voice as he spoke that single word.