I huff a laugh. “Why am I not surprised?”
“As his brother, I amvery muchnot surprised. But how’d you manage to keep this a secret from me?”
Otto shrugs. “I don’t tell you everything, brother.”
“Glory holes? Really?” Alex asks, arms crossed. He looks half-intrigued, half-disgusted.
Otto smirks. “You’re just jealous because you know I give a good jobby.”
Alex scowls as Lachlan disguises a choked laugh behind a cough.
“Next?” Sterling asks.
I’m still grinning as Alex walks over to the chair. He sits down reluctantly, slowly looking up at the folder in Sterling’s hands.
“I’ve no idea what you have in there. All of my secrets have been unearthed. My biggest secret was always that I used to shag Otto Thorn years ago. All of my dirty laundry is out there now. Whoever leaked my DNA test has it all–they hacked into every nook and cranny of my life.”
Sterling makes a tsking sound. “Hmm. Maybe you’re right. Or maybe there’s something you’ve hidden deep down in the recesses of your mind… something you haven’t thought about in years. Or,someone.”
Alex stiffens at this.
“It took me a while to figure out if you knew–if you were even aware. After all, it wouldn’t be fair if I had something in here that you didn’t know about. I love a good game, but that’s just unfair. However, after some expert reconnaissance, I discovered that you actuallyvisitedthis person in the States two years ago, before you were ever deemed a bastard child.”
Alex’s face goes white. “There’s no fucking way you could possibly know about that.”
“Come on, Alexander,” Otto chimes. “Tell us your deep, dark secret. I’msocurious.”
“There’s no way you know–absolutelyno oneknows. I made sure. I flew coach with a hat and sunglasses, for Christ’s sake. Even mysisterdoesn’t know.”
“Well? Are you going to confess or do I have to start carving their initials into the skin of your neck?” Alex’s eyes go wide. “Don’t think I won’t,Your Highness.I’ve done much worse for a lot less.”
My eyes flick between Alex and Sterling, who walks over to the former, knife at the ready beside him. Alex’s jaw feathers as Sterling holds the knife to his throat. They stare at each other for a few tense beats, but then Sterling presses the knife into his flesh.
“One more centimeter and you’re dead,” Sterling murmurs.
Alex is breathing heavily now, chest puffing out with every inhale. “Fuck you–”
“Come now, let’s hear it. I’ll give you three seconds,” Sterling grits out, taking his other hand and holding it at the back of Alex’s neck.To make it easier to slit his throat.I don’t even realize my palms are sweating until I wipe them on my dress. “One, two, thr–”
“Fine. Fuckingfine,” Alex spits out. “I slept with a woman four years ago and she became pregnant. Somewhere in Connecticut is my son, who is three years old. I have money sent to them every month, but it’s untraceable–how you found out is beyond me,” he adds, face flushed with anger.
Sterling removes the knife from his throat, and blood dribbles down, staining the white collar of his shirt.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Alex stands up and rushes forward, placing both hands around Sterling’s throat. “Howthe fuckdid you find out?”
Sterling sputters but doesn’t move to remove Alex’s hands. “You forget,Prince.We are–the Lords of–Darkness,” he chokes. “Our order is–older than the crown, and we outrank you–in every–way. There isnothingwe–don’t know. Do you understand?”
Alex removes his hands and takes a step back, running a hand through his hair. He’s breathing heavily as he walks back over to us, not meeting any of our eyes.
He has a son?
Otto has an Only Fans?
And Max watched his abusive father–the King of Denmark–die…
My hands begin to tremble as Sterling cracks his neck and looks over at Lachlan and me.
