Yuri looked up from his mobile and saw Jacki and Philippe walking toward him with Malcom close behind them.
Jacki enveloped him into a huge hug. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “Those pictures. I can’t believe he did it.”
“Because he didn’t,” Philippe said in a firm yet calm voice.
Malcom remained quiet.
Yuri began to wonder if he was in a dream. Nothing seemed to make sense. “Who didn’t do what?”
“The pictures.” Jacki eyes were very round. “I can’t believe it was Angelo. It just can’t be him.”
“Angelo? What the bloody hell are you talking about?”
Philippe cleared his throat then spoke. “There are… compromising pictures of your highness that have been leaked to the media. The story circulating with them is that they were taken by Angelo and then spread around amongst his friends.”
Yuri snorted. “What friends? He has girls he shags and me.”
“He is close to Roger, on his security team. But I can’t imagine Roger distributing pictures like those. Besides, all of the security are bound by NDAs,” Malcom added.
Philippe gave Malcom a pointed look then said, still calmly, “All of this is moot. The pictures were not taken by Prince Angelo, nor were they distributed by him.”
“It was Francis,” Yuri said miserably. “Who else could it be?”
“Lord Dickface,” Jacki agreed. “Of course it’s him. Asshole.”
Yuri leaned his head back until it touched the wall. “Dad thinks Angelo did this and he won’t speak to me about it until I get home. He’s being completely unreasonable and dictatorial.”
“He’s worried about you,” Philippe said.
“I don’t want to leave and go home. I can’t leave Angelo. I can’t. What if something happens?”
Jacki drew Yuri into a hug. “I’ll stay and so will Philippe. We’ll make sure he’s all right and knows what’s happening. We’ll call you and give you updates.”
Yuri nodded. “Would you, Philippe?”
The older man nodded slowly. “Of course, your highness. I’ll rejoin you when I may.”
“Your father has sent his private jet for you, your highness,” Malcom said. “The sooner we get you out of sight, the better.”
Yuri looked up and noticed that much of the staff in the corridor were staring at him with looks of interest and speculation on their faces. He thought about going to tell Angelo goodbye, then thought better of it. It would only upset him, and then Angelo would insist on coming with him, his health be damned. Angelo needed to stay here and recuperate. Right now, that was more important than anything else.
Yuri hugged Jacki and then Philippe, which he hadn’t done since he was a young child. “Take care of him for me,” he said.
Jacki nodded and Philippe said, “Of course.”
Yuri turned to Malcom. “Right then. We can go.” But as he walked out of the hospital next to his security guard, trying to avoid eye contact with the people they passed, Yuri felt as if he was being torn in two, and the better part of him was remaining behind with Angelo.
There was, predictably, a silver limo with the flag of Mirea waiting for them on the tarmac at the Mirean airport. Not being able to decide between black or white, Yuri’s parents had compromised on silver, which went well with the black, crimson, and silver of their country’s flag.
Malcom opened the back door of the limo for Yuri then sat himself in the front seat next to the driver. At once, Yuri saw the back of the limo was not empty. Alex sat there, waiting for him.
“Hello,” Alex said. “You’ve been causing quite the stir. Archie sends his regards and his thanks. Compared to the uproar those pictures have caused, his little threesome in Monaco has been all but forgotten by our father.”
Yuri flung himself into a seat and slammed the limo’s door shut. “Fuck him and fuck you, too.” So far, there was no word from either Philippe, Jacki, or Angelo and Yuri was wild with worry and in no mood for his brother’s quips or condescending concern.
“Why did you never tell us?” Alex asked, ignoring the insult.
“Tell you what?” Yuri looked out of the window at the Eruvian mountains instead of at his brother.
“That Angelo has been abusing you. We would’ve put a stop to it. No trade agreement is worth what was done to you.”
Yuri wanted to hit something and settled for striking his thigh with his balled fist. “Dammit,” he said. “Angelo didn’t do that to me. He’d never hurt me. Not like that.” Yuri shivered. “I should be by his side. It’s my fault he was stabbed. What’s he going to think when he wakes up and I’m not there?”
Alex’s mouth dropped open then he closed it. Finally he said, “I have far too many questions. If Angelo didn’t beat you then take those pictures, who did? How is it your fault he was stabbed? We were under the impression it was a mugging of some sort and that you weren’t present at the time. What’s going on, Yuri? I demand an explanation.”
“I don’t owe you anything,” Yuri groused. “You may be the heir, but you’re not that much older than me, and I’m an adult. I’d appreciate being treated like one.”
Alex waved away Yuri’s complaint like it was a troublesome fly that didn’t really matter. “Tell me about the pictures. Tell me why Angelo got stabbed. I’m on your side, you know. I’m always on your side. Tell me what the hell is going on and I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
Yuri deflated under his older brother’s persistent concern. “Blackheath. It’s all Blackheath.”
“That duke you were dating earlier this year? What exactly are you saying, Yuri?”
“He’s not a duke. He’s the heir to a dukedom. And I’m saying it was all him. He stabbed Angelo in front of my house. He had to have released the pictures as well, and he made it seem as if they had come from Angelo. I hate him. I wish I’d never
