Chương 98

Louis found the bar in the corner of the great room. He opened a bottle of whiskey and poured himself a glass. Donya glanced at him from the table.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

"No." Gladice picked up an empty glass.

"Pour me one too." Louis poured a second glass and gave it to her. Angelique took a bottle of water from the fridge.

"I'm going to check on our gear."

"I'll help you," Willa said. The two of them went upstairs. Gladice sipped her whiskey and looked around the room.

"Nice place for a hideout." She took another sip.

"Too bad we have to share it with such charming people."

"Let's hope we don't have to share it for long," Louis said.

"What do you think your father is doing right now?" Gladice asked.

"Probably locating us through the satellite network and sending spies to Virginia while having breakfast." He shrugged. Gladice laughed.

"Sounds like him." Savannah watched them from the table.

"Y'all always drink whiskey in the morning?"

"Only in Dixie," Louis said.

"Right." Savannah got up and went to the window.

"I don't like this. I don't like waiting."

"Download some games from the laptop. That might pass the time," Gladice said.

"Games?" Savannah looked at her.

"You want me playing games while the state out there hunting us?"

"It's better than worrying." Gladice finished her glass.

"Besides, you said that you'd be a streamer. Now's your chance." Savannah stared at her.

"I'm not in the mood."

"Fine." Gladice shrugged.

"Then do whatever you want. But don't make the rest of us as miserable as you are."

"I ain't miserable," Savannah said.

"I'm realistic. And realistic people don't play games when their lives are in danger."

"Maybe that's why realistic people are always so stressed out." Gladice put her glass down.

"I'm going to try the billiard table. You want to play, Louis?"

"Why not? It's not like I have anything better to do." He followed her. The billiard table stood in a smaller room adjacent to the main hall. Gladice racked the balls while Louis selected a cue. He chalked the tip, then broke. The balls scattered across the green felt. He sank a solid and lined up another shot.

"Not bad," Gladice said. She took her turn and missed.

"So." Louis sank another ball.

"Did you mean what you said earlier? About me and Willa?"

"Which part?" Gladice leaned against the wall.

"The part about you enjoying watching me fuck her," he said. She grinned.

"Of course I meant it. I think it's hot to watch you with another woman. Especially a smart one like Willa. I'd love to see her lose control for once." Louis leaned over the table and took the next shot. He missed.

"So you are not jealous?" He looked at her.

"Why would I be jealous?" Gladice stepped forward and took her turn. She sank a stripe, then another.

"I don't mind sharing. As long as I get to have fun too."

"And if I start having feelings for her?" he asked. Gladice missed her next shot. She looked at him.

"Then you'll have to deal with it. And so will she. And so will Angel. We are adults. We can handle it." She paused.

"Are you worried that you will?"

"Yes," Louis admitted.

"I was with many women before all this happened. And it never mattered. It was just sex. This is different."

"How?" Gladice asked.

"Because I care about you. And Angi. And I think I might care about the others too. In different ways. And I don't want to hurt anyone." He paused.

"But I also want to be true to myself. And what I want."

"What do you want?" Gladice asked.

"I want to matter to all of you. Not because of my name, my money, or my body. Because I'm me." He looked at her.

"And I want to have sex with all of you. At the same time if possible."

"You're ambitious, I'll give you that." Gladice laughed.

"How about Donya and Savannah? Would you want to have sex with them too?" He lowered his voice.

"Yes. With everyone." Gladice's smile widened.

"That is a bold confession. I like it. But I don't think Savannah would be interested. And Donya might have a heart attack if you even suggest it."

"I know." Louis picked up the cue.

"I just want to be honest about my desires."

"You are a pervert, Louis. A very rich and powerful pervert." She laughed again.

"I should tell Angel about that. She will be very amused."

"Tell her. I don't care." He lined up a shot.

"I'm tired of hiding my feelings."

"You are in a strange mood today." Gladice watched him.

"Is it because of the hot tub? Or the whiskey?"

"Both." He sank the ball.

"Maybe it's because I almost died yesterday. Again. And I realized that I might not have many chances left to say what I want to say."

"You're not going to die." Gladice's tone was firm.

"I won't let you."

"Tell me about Frank again," he said. She was quiet for a moment.

"What else do you want to know?"

"Did you love him?"

"Yes," she said softly.

"Very much."

"Do you think he would have liked me?"

"I think he would have found you interesting." She paused.

"He was always curious about people from other places. He would have asked a lot of questions."

"About what?"

"About your life. About your father. About the Dominion. He never trusted big governments. He said they always end up corrupting people."

"That's not true." Louis sank another ball.

"My father is not corrupted. He's just pragmatic."

"Maybe." Gladice leaned against the table.

"But you have to admit that the Dominion is not a democracy. It's a dictatorship."

"Democracy is a failed experiment." Louis took another shot.

"It leads to chaos and mediocrity. My father provides freedom of choice in lifestyle but not in politics. That's a good compromise. No offense to the Collective. I just prefer the Dominion's system." Stolen story; please report.

"None taken." Gladice shrugged.

"But I'm still not convinced that he should have that much power."

"Someone has to be in charge. Otherwise, you get what we have here. A failed state and a bunch of religious fanatics in charge."

"I agree with that." Gladice looked at the door.

"But I don't think your father is the only one who can rule."

"Who else then?" He missed his shot. Gladice took her turn.

"Maybe you." She sank her ball.

"One day. When you're ready." Louis watched her. He did not answer.

"I'm not joking," she said.

"I think you would be a good leader. You care about people, but you don't freeze when things get ugly. Most people only manage one of those."

"I don't want to be my father," he said.

"I don't want that kind of life."

"Maybe you don't have a choice." She sank another ball.

"You are the heir. You have a responsibility."

"I have a responsibility to myself. And to the people I care about." He watched her.

"And that's it."

"Is it?" She sank her last ball.

"I win."

"Congratulations." He put the cue on the table.

"Now for the real question." Gladice looked at him.

"Do you think Donya is a virgin?"

"Are you going to ask that to everyone who hasn't slept with us yet?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe." Gladice smirked.

"It's a fun question."

"I have no idea," he said.

"And I don't want to speculate."

"Come on. You must have some thought," she prodded.

"Fine." He sighed.

"I think she might be. She seems too nervous and shy. But I'm not sure."

"Me neither." Gladice nodded.

"But I think we should find out. It would be fun to corrupt her a little."

"Gladie." He shook his head.

"What?" She looked at him innocently.

"She's cute. And she has big tits. I think she would be a good addition to our little family."

"She's not a collectible item," he said.

"I know. But she needs to loosen up a bit." Gladice's eyes lit up.

"Maybe we should have a game night. Strip poker. Or something like that."

"You are impossible." He laughed.

"But you love me for it." She kissed him on the cheek.

"Now let's go check on Angel and Willa. I'm curious to see what they are up to." They went upstairs and found Angelique and Willa in the master bedroom. Angelique was cleaning her pistol while Willa was testing the drone. It hovered in the center of the room.

"Anything interesting?" Louis asked.

"Nothing." Willa looked at him and landed the drone on the bed.

"I'm going to take a nap on the lounge chair for the rest of the day."

"Good idea," Louis said.

"I am going to read a book," Angelique said.

"And maybe take a nap too."

"What book?" Gladice asked.

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

"What?" Gladice stared at her.

"Just kidding." Angelique smiled.

"It's 'The Art of War'. I find it helpful in these situations."

"Good choice." Gladice nodded.

"Forget about the book," Louis said.

"Let's just relax and chat for a bit."

"I'll leave you to it then," Willa said.

"I need my beauty sleep." She packed the drone and left. Louis took a seat on the bed. Gladice sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. Angelique finished cleaning her pistol and put it on the nightstand. Then she took a seat on the other side of Louis.

"So, what are we going to talk about?" she asked.

"Anything," Louis said.

"Tell me about your childhood. I never asked you."

"My childhood?" Angelique smiled.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything," he said.

"Alright." She leaned back.

"It's not that interesting. I was born and raised in Portland. My father taught me how to ride horses. I've known your father since I was a child. He would visit us sometimes and buy me the latest electronics. He's like an uncle to me."

"A very rich and powerful uncle," Gladice said.

"Yes." Angelique nodded.

"And a very busy one. I didn't see him much, but I liked him. He was always kind to me. And he was interested in my opinions. That's rare in adults."

"Especially in powerful men," Louis said.

"Yes." Angelique looked at him.

"Until that day he and my father decided to turn a diplomatic incident into a betrothal between us."

"I'm still sorry about that. If I didn't hit Julian, we probably wouldn't be here at all," Louis said.

"It's water under the bridge now," Angelique said.

"I'm not angry. Anymore. It's just strange to think how life turned out."

"It is." He looked at her.

"Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if we hadn't been kidnapped?"

"Sometimes." Angelique looked at the ceiling.

"I think we'd finish the state visit in Florida and return to the Dominion. I would continue to be your fiancée. The press would follow us everywhere. We would attend banquets and parties and smile for the cameras. And we would probably marry in a year or two. And live a life of luxury and power."

"And I would be the hot girl you slept with once," Gladice added with a smirk.

"When the press found out about it, it would be like 'breaking news: the Prince of the Dominion engaged to the Navarrese princess but sleeping with the daughter of the Mayor of New Orleans. More at 11.'" Angelique laughed.

"Something like that. But the press would never find out about it. You know how Constantine works."

"True." Gladice nodded.

"He's very good at controlling the narrative."

"He is." Louis looked at Angelique.

"I bet he already has a story ready in case we don't make it back. A tragic tale of heroism and sacrifice."

"I'm sure he does." Angelique smiled.

"He's always prepared."

"He is." Louis looked at Gladice.

"What about you? What would you be doing now if you hadn't been captured with us?"

"Probably practicing with a race car at a track near Miami, then a trip to Japan to learn about my grandmother's family history," Gladice said.

"Let's still have the trip after we get out of here," Louis said.

"After Hawaii."

"We will." Gladice leaned her head against his shoulder.

"We have a lot of things to do."

"Yes." He looked at her.

"And I promise we will do them all."

"You better." Gladice kissed him.

"Or I'll be very angry."

"I know." He kissed her back. Then he kissed Angelique.

"I promise."

"I believe you," Angelique said.

"Now tell me about your childhood, Louis. Did you ever have a normal life?"

"I'm not sure what normal is," he said.

"I was born in L. A. My mom gave birth to me when she was seventeen. My dad was a student activist for the independence of California at the time. But the situation was chaotic so he sent me away with my mom to Hamburg to live with my grandparents."

"I remember that," Angelique said.

"You spent most of your childhood there, right?"

"Yes." Louis nodded.

"Until my dad became the President of the Republic of California and later united the West Coast into the Dominion. I studied in a private school. I had everything I wanted. But it was still a lonely life."

"I can imagine," Angelique said.

"I always felt like I was living in a bubble," he said.

"I never had a real friend until I met you."

"Me?" Angelique raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." He looked at her.

"You were the first person who treated me like a person, not a prince. You were not afraid to tell me when I was being a boy in the mud." Gladice laughed.

"He has a point. You are always very direct with him."

"I have to be." Angelique smiled.

"Otherwise, he'd get away with everything."

"I don't mind," Louis said.

"It keeps me grounded."

"Good." Angelique took a sip of her water.

"Now what about your teenage years? Were you always this charming?"

"I was worse," he said.

"I slept with every attractive girl at my high school. And some of their mothers." Gladice's eyes widened.

"Mothers?"

"Yes," he said.

"Everyone wanted to be close to the Supreme President's son. It was easy."

"You dog." Gladice shook her head, grinning.

"Did you ever get caught?"

"Sometimes." He shrugged.

"But it never mattered in the Dominion. People slept with everyone all the time."

"Still." Angelique shook her head, smiling.

"You had a reputation. Even I heard about it."

"I bet you did." He looked at her.

"It was strange that we didn't follow each other on Tengri back then."

"I didn't use it much," she said.

"I preferred to read books and ride horses."

"A true princess," Gladice said.

"Not really." Angelique looked at Louis.

"I was just a girl who wanted to be left alone."

"I know the feeling," he said.

"What happened after your high school graduation?" Gladice asked.

"I went to UCLA for a year. Then I dropped out," he said.

"Why?" Angelique asked.

"Because I was bored," he said.

"And I could always go back to it if I wanted. My mom knows everyone on the board." Gladice laughed.

"Of course you can."

"So how do you spend your days in the Dominion when you are not sleeping around?" Angelique asked.

"Okay." He cleared his throat, feigning seriousness.

"I woke up whenever I liked, usually after noon. My personal assistant, Élise, would come in to give me a bath. Sometimes I would fuck her while she washed me. Sometimes she would give me a blowjob. Then I'd have a light breakfast. After that, I'd usually go for a drive in one of my sports cars or a ride on one of my bikes. I'd spend the afternoon on the beach looking for girls to flirt with. Then I would go to a bar or a club in the evening. And I'd end up in someone's bed most nights.

And I'd wake up to the Dominion Guards knocking on doors looking for me." Angelique listened with a smirk.

"That sounds like a very productive day."

"It was," he said.

"I was very happy with my life before this whole mess."

"I can see that." Angelique looked at Gladice.

"He really is a spoiled brat, isn't he?"

"Tell me something I don't know." Gladice kissed him.

"But he's our spoiled brat."

"He is." Angelique leaned her head on Louis's shoulder.

"Now I want to know more about your sister. I didn't get many chances to talk to her during the trip." Louis took a breath.

"She's a good girl. She has straight As in all her subjects. She likes reading the Prince by Machiavelli and she speaks French, German and Mandarin. She likes to play the piano too."

"That's a lot of skills for a thirteen-year-old," Gladice said.

"Our mom likes to push us to be perfect. She thinks it's good for our image," he said.

"And my dad wants her in the government."

"What about you?" Angelique asked.

"He thinks I can try everything I like until I find something I really want to do," he said.

"That's a nice way to say you are a slacker." Gladice laughed.

"Maybe." He shrugged.

"But I don't think I'm a slacker. I just like to enjoy life."

"And I like to enjoy you." Gladice kissed him again.

"Even if you are a slacker." Angelique smiled.

"Now I'm curious about Élise. What's she like? I mean as a person." Louis thought for a moment.

"She's very loyal. She's been with me for three years. She's the one who taught me how to please a woman, and she's very experienced."

"Is she in love with you?" Angelique asked.

"I don't think so," he said.

"But she cares about my well-being a lot."

"Did you love her?" Gladice asked.

"I wouldn't call it love," he said.

"More like a comfortable arrangement."

"Did you ever have a serious relationship with someone?" Angelique asked.

"Not really," he said.

"I had a girlfriend for six months once, but it didn't work out. She couldn't handle the attention from the press. And she was jealous of other women."

"So you've never been in love before us?" Gladice asked.

"You could say that."

"Good." Angelique smiled.

"I like to be your first love."

"Me too." Gladice kissed him again.

"I like to be your second first love." Louis laughed.

"That's not a thing."

"It is now," Gladice said.

"Alright." He leaned back.

"Let's enjoy this while we can."

"Good idea." Angelique took his hand.

"Then stay with us for a while." They lay on the bed with Louis between them. Angelique rested her head on his shoulder, and Gladice put one leg over his. The sun moved across the wood floor. For a while, they stayed there and said nothing.