The next morning, Dryce awoke to the muffled sound of a conversation taking place in the great room of the suite. He recognized the rumble of Erik’s deep voice, and could discern two other voices out there as well, but was unable to hear exactly what was being said. Wiping the sleep out of his eyes with his left hand, he glanced around the disheveled room. His right arm was numb. Slowly moving his groggy head to look down, Dryce noticed a woman’s head resting in the pocket of his shoulder. Her enormous breast was draped over him and she had her legs tangled with his.

He maneuvered and wiggled his way out from under her successfully without waking her. Dryce sat there on the edge of the bed rubbing his face when he noticed the sound of the shower running. Through his fingers he looked up to see another woman in the shower. Her ass smashed against the glass every time she bent over washing her legs.

Dryce stood up and began walking towards the closet for a robe, tripping over a pair of panties that he accidently stepped into. Kicking the lace off his foot he continued to the closet and opened the door. Before tossing the robe over his naked body, he paused, admiring himself in the mirror. God, I love being twenty-three… I don’t even have to workout and damn I look good, he thought to himself. Plus the added benefit of double or triple the cardio after every party.

Stepping over empty bottles, Dryce started for the bedroom door. Cracking the door a bit before stepping out, he wiped his face again. Then he looked out and saw her. Who is that? Good Lord, she is stunning. Dryce’s eyes widened. She was the reporter from the lock ceremony. Well, he had thought she was a reporter but now, with her standing in his suite’s great room, Dryce wasn’t sure. But he was sure about the fact that she had been there.

Yally stood in front of both Austin and Erik, the trio deep in conversation. The black pumps she wore pushed her calf muscles tight and firm. Her thighs were like pieces of art. The pencil skirt hugged her curves more beautiful than any painting in history. Her core was slender, which only extenuated her breasts even more. Her hair flowed over her shoulders and back like a tropical rainforest waterfall. Even though he was only able to see her from the side profile, he knew her mouth could form the most elegant smile he’d ever seen.

Stumbling back behind the door, Dryce was baffled. Fuck me twice on Sunday. Who the fuck is this girl? Why in the hell am I feeling like this? I’m not shy around women, he thought, smacking himself in the face.

She was talking fast and directly to Austin while Erik stood there listening.

“I gathered what information I could from the cell phone I acquired last night at the parking garage. We’re actually looking for a smaller faction who mostly deal in arms trading. No one I can’t handle and haven’t in the past. They’re actually nobodies. We should be good and your Prince is as safe as a baby in the cradle,” she said.

Erik grinned and tapped Austin in the arm. “See, I told ya she took the cell phone.”

Shaking off the odd feeling, Dryce opened the door and walked out. “Good morning,” Dryce said with a fake yawn, playing it off like he had just woke up and didn’t hear anything.

“Good morning, Your Highness,” Austin said.

“Hey, good morning there, kiddo,” Erik said, then noticing Austin’s face, “ah, I mean… sir.”

Yally turned, “Your Highness.” Her eyes caught her first up close view of Dryce and her composure faltered. When she’d seen him up on stage at the ceremony two days ago she’d been struck by an overwhelming sensation, a pull she was unaccustomed to. His body and face slightly reminded her of someone in her past.

He smiled back and, when he came within arms distance of her, extended his hand to shake. “Please, call me Dryce.”

The pull was back in full force and she didn’t know what to do.

Her eyes rolled off to the side, then looked down at the floor almost behind him, then back up again to his face quickly. His smile sparkled in her eyes. Confused and nervous, Yally left Dryce hanging there without returning the handshake. She turned back to Austin and Erik. “So… Ah,” she coughed, attempting to clear a knot that had built up in her throat. “Ah, I’ll…” She looked at Austin for the answer of what she was about to say.

Austin stood there, confused, politely waiting for her to finish. Slightly shaking his head. “Youuuu’ll?”

“Umm, when I find out more. I’ll be in contact. What… umm.” Yally took a long blink like she was thinking. When she opened her eyes Dryce’s face was still there. Quickly her eyes shied away and down at Austin’s feet. “I… what frequency are you on with the radios?”

“Oh… I’ll get a radio and an earpiece for you,” Erik chirped. “It’ll be easier for you this way.”

Yally and Erik walked off to the back room.

While watching Yally walk away with Erik, Dryce whispered to Austin. “Who the hell is that? She’s stunning.” His eyebrows raised.

“That… that is the bodyguard I hired.” Austin grinned, beginning to understand what had just happened. Turning to Dryce, Austin asked, “So, what’s the plan for today? What kind of shit are you going to get into?”

Dryce looked around the suite and sneered at the mess. Shrugging his shoulders, “I don’t know, maybe just lay low. All I know right now is that I’m freakin’ hungry.” Patting his stomach, “I’m going to get dressed, then let’s go eat.”

“And your guests from last night? Will they be joining us as well?” Austin inquired, watching Dryce closely.

Looking from the closed bedroom door to the short hallway Erik and Yally had disappeared down, Dryce looked at Austin and said, “Get rid of them.”

* * *

Dressed and very well put together, Dryce came out of the bedroom a short time later; after Austin had escorted the two girls out. Walking and looking down at his phone, he read a text from Tom. “Austin,” Dryce called out. “Hey, there’s a party tomorrow night for Tom.”

Austin looked up from the couch. “I thought you said last night that you were done. Last night was the last time.”

“No no no…” shaking his head, “this is going to be for Tom’s investiture. It looks like he’s moved up in the ranks with his family.” Dryce was a bit surprised.

“What happened? What happened to his bajillion brothers in front of him for the line?” Austin said confused.

“I’m not really sure. All the message says is that he’s getting recognized within his family and he wants me there with him.” Dryce scratched the side of his head, “I’m guessing it’s kinda like my coming-to party when I turned eighteen. Just, umm, like five years too late.”

“Well, I’ll tell you this, I’m proud of you. You’re going to the dedication ceremony at the new lock the other day, with almost no arguments, and making the decision to stop all the partying...” His voice started to catch, somewhat thick with building emotion. Austin stood up, fixing his suit jacket, and cleared his throat before he switched gears. “Just let me know the details and I’ll make the arrangements.”

During brunch, and in the midst of making the arrangements for protection at the party the next evening, Austin glanced over at Dryce. Something had changed in the prince in the last thirty-six hours and Austin was trying to puzzle it out.

“What… what are you looking at?” Dryce asked, finally noticing Austin was staring at him.

“You. Just look at you today,” Austin said in a tone similar to that of a proud father. “You’re actually wearing your clothes properly. You actually did something with your hair today. Why, Dryce, you almost look like you care about your appearance for once.”

“Just because I don’t like to, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to or that I don’t care,” Dryce mumbled, playing with the food on his plate.

“So, what’s going on? What’s different about today as opposed to any other day?” Austin said taking a sip out of his cranberry juice.

“I don’t know. Like I said last night. I get it, I understand now. It's not just me anymore. Tom has a ton of older brothers; he’s allowed to show off and not worry about anything. But, me? I’ve only got one brother. What if something happened to him? I’ve gotta step up. I think it's about time for me to start acting like the prince I am.” Dryce laid his fork down on the plate and crossed his arms leaning over the edge of the table. “I think it's about time for me to settle down. I had my fun drinking and gambling. I’ve done the whole street racing scene… and, I’ve had my fun with the women.”

“You have been a menace, that’s for damn sure,” Austin murmured.

“I know you think I’m just a little spoiled punk, but I see everything you do for me. I see how much you work. And it’s all because of me, all because I get some wild hair up my ass and decide to go to Las Vegas or… or even here to Dubai, all on a whim,” Dryce said with a very serious look on his face.

Smiling slightly, Austin leaned forward on the table. “So you’re going to settle down, huh?” A smirk cracked the corner of his mouth. “Who’s the lucky lady? Anyone in mind?”

Dryce’s head dropped, his chin rested on his tie. “I’m not really sure yet.” His head tilted upward slightly, his eyes focused on Austin’s neck. Dropping his voice to near a whisper, he asked, “If I was going to be serious about just one girl, like actually have only one girlfriend, how would I go about doing that?”

A chuckling laugh from Austin burst out, “Dryce… my Prince… that is something that you’re going to have to find out on your own.”

Just then Erik walked up to the table. “Ah, there you two are,” he said taking the seat across from Austin. “Can you believe it? Never in a million years would I have guessed that Yally was a chick. A smoking hot one at that.”

Dryce’s face started to blush. Tilting his head down, so as not to make eye contact with them, he picked up his fork and continued to fumble around with the food again.

Austin sipped his drink. “When I first met her, she was dressed in a business suit. I had no idea, she pulled an ugly duckling on me. For sure.”

Erik signaled to the waitress for a drink. “So, anyway… Mr. Ngo, I got the message about the party tomorrow night.” Erik turned to Dryce, “And look at you lookin’ all spiffy today. Check you out.” He nudged elbows with Dryce, who kept his head down.

Feeling that there was some kind of tension in the air, Erik looked back and forth between the both of them. Austin was still smirking and Dryce was still blushing.

I’ve never felt like that around any girl before. Why am I still even thinking about her? Dryce thought.

“What did I miss here? What’s going on?” Erik started to feel like he was left out of something.

“Our Prince here,” Austin winked. “Our Prince is seeing the light. He’s decided to make some changes in life.”

Dryce stood up from the table. “Come on, let’s go. I’ll let Tom know I’ll be there tomorrow but that I’m staying in tonight.” He wiped his mouth with the napkin and tossed it over his plate before walking away.

“Was it something I said?” Erik questioned, baffled.